Take a Family “Stay-cation”and Save Money!
Ever feel like you need a vacation after your vacation? The purpose of a vacation is to rest and relax and get away from it all. Instead, we often end up feeling more stressed and exhausted from trying to cram in more than is humanly (or financially) possible!
Just the thought of preparing for a vacation is enough to make me want to stay home! And given the cost of gas right now, a “stay-cation” is looking even better than ever.
A "stay-cation” helps you rest, relax, AND save money while taking a vacation right in your own “backyard.” You can even sleep in and take the phone off the hook if you like!
Planning a stay-cation is a family affair. Each person can suggest two or three activities they would like to do. Be flexible with your schedule. I have often had to work around the weather to fit in everything.
I find the key to planning a successful stay-cation is to alternate between our most active days and those which are more sedentary. For example, if we go whitewater rafting one day, the next day we might sleep in, take in a movie in the heat of the afternoon, and visit an old-fashioned ice cream stand.
I try to plan simple meals that can be simmering away in the crock pot while we are away, or something quick and easy we can throw together when we get back.
Like summer camp where each camper is assigned a specific duty, each family member is assigned a duty so mom can be on vacation too! Certain children are responsible for making our to-go lunches, others are responsible for setting and/or clearing the dinner table, each person gets their own breakfast, everyone helps clean up after meals (paper products can speed up this process), and everyone is responsible for putting away their own things, and hanging any wet beach towels out to dry. I keep the duties to a minimum,however. Remember... we're on vacation!
Because we have made so many wonderful memories while on our family stay-cations, we hope these ideas will encourage you to plan one of your own this summer:
Have a craft day
Go swimming
Take a hike
Go on a picnic (lunch or dinner)
Go to a summer movie
Go whitewater rafting or tubing on a river
Go horseback riding
Roast hot dogs and marshmallows
Take a tour of a manufacturing facility
Make your own bubble solution and blow bubbles
Attend an outdoor concert or theater production
Let the kids make their own video
Go camping
Go berry picking and make a pie when you get back home
Make some ice cream or go to an old-fashioned ice cream stand
Read a great book together
Take a bike ride
Put out some coloring books and crayons
Plan a treasure hunt
Have a girl’s spa night
Build your own sundaes
Have a tea party or go to a tea room
Go to a baseball game
Have a family game or movie night/pop popcorn
Go to a water park
Play croquet
Have a fondue night
Go bowling
Visit area attractions and museums
Tye-dye T-shirts
Attend a local horse event
Make some homemade lemonade
Go out for lunch
Go to a drive-in movie theater
Have a cook-out
Go square dancing
Play mini-golf
Work on a puzzle
Go gem mining or shell collecting/organize and label your treasures
Summer blessings to you and your family!
Sharon
