15 ideas for a summer staycation

While most of us would love to be able to spend our summer traveling to different tropical paradises or exploring places we have never been, it sometimes just doesn’t fit into our busy summer schedules or our preferred budget. Whatever the reason may be, it doesn’t mean that you can’t create your own perfect summer staycation right in the heart of your home! The Humbled Homemaker has come up with 15 summer staycation ideas for you and your family to enjoy.

Explore a new park

Check the website for your city or state to find local park listings. Bring a picnic or takeout, plus blankets, summer reads, and a soccer ball or Frisbee.

Play in the water

You might not have a resort pool at your disposal, but you can visit a local splash pad or aquatic center, or just play in the backyard with hoses, squirt guns, and water balloons.

Splurge on an activity you wouldn’t normally do

Since you’re not spending money on traveling, do something fun that wouldn’t normally be in your budget, like renting kayaks, going to an indoor climbing wall, or taking everyone to see a movie in 3D.

Make a doughnut run

Check yelp.com to find the best doughnut shops that are local to you, and then go out for breakfast or dessert. Growing up, it was a super special treat to take our doughnuts to the beach for breakfast!

Play really long boardgames

A staycation is the perfect time to play those epic boardgames you remember from childhood! Make milkshakes and spend an afternoon introducing your kids to Monopoly and Risk.

Go stargazing

Gather blankets, a thermos of cocoa, binoculars, and a stargazing guide (see if your library has this one), and head to the backyard. If you can get away from light pollution, (for instance, a friend of yours owns a farm!), even better!

Film a movie

Act out and film a movie together, using whatever props, costumes, and locations your creativity can allow. You can have a script-writing session at the kitchen table with everyone giving input to a designated writer. If you’re not sure what story to film, try a modern retelling of a fairy tale.

Read the full list of summer stay cation ideas.

Anna Young