15 Amazing Staycation Ideas

This post may contain affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure policy here.

Save money while still connecting as a family with a fun staycation! You’ll find 15 amazing staycation ideas to try this year that will fit any budget.

Vacations are a great way to connect with your loved ones but they can also be expensive and finding the time for them can be hard. A great option to try is a staycation.

What is a Staycation?

A staycation is a type of vacation where you choose to stay at home or visit nearby places instead of traveling to distant locations.

This concept allows you to explore local attractions you might have overlooked, indulge in home-based activities, and unwind in the comfort of your surroundings. By opting for a staycation, you can enjoy a break from your routine without the stress and expense associated with traditional vacations.

Planning a Staycation

Just like a traditional vacation you want to plan to make it a successful staycation. You want to start by setting a reasonable budget for whatever amount of time you have decided your staycation will be for.

Make sure to budget for activities, eating out or delivery, spending money, and even consider if you want to pay for some house cleaning so you can skip more of your household chores for the vacation.

Next, you will want to create an itinerary for the staycation. This is a good time to get the whole family involved. Talk about what activities everyone wants to do and try to include something for each person.

It’s also important to prepare your home for the staycation to make things as easy as possible. Make sure the house is clean, laundry is done, and if you aren’t going to eat out or get delivery each day consider having a freezer cooking day ahead of time to have some easy meals in the freezer.

Fun Staycation Ideas

Now it’s time for the fun part, coming up with staycation ideas. There are likely things in your town that you forget about because you live there. It’s time to think like a tourist and explore your local area.

Visit a Local Museum – If you go often to the local museum look to see if there is a special event coming up that you could enjoy.
Visit a Nearby National Park – There are a lot of fun things to do at National Parks. Many have visitor centers with fun activities, you can hike, swim, have a picnic, and enjoy nature. You can use the National Park Service website to find a park near you.
Camp in Your Backyard – My brother and I used to love camping in our yard as kids. We even did so with our neighbor friends a few times. Set up a fire pit to roast some marshmallows (don’t have a fire pit? You can get a portable fire kit that is easy and safe), have a BBQ, get the Night Sky app to identify stars, tell ghost stories, and enjoy a night connecting. Don’t forget to put the phones away.
Have a Progressive Dinner – Go to different restaurants in your town for each course. Appetizers at one restaurant, the main dish at another, and dessert at another. This is a fun way to explore different restaurants.
Book a Night at a Local Hotel – Look for a good deal on a local room and book a night. It can be extra fun to order room service and check out the pool.
Rent a Pool – Did you know you can rent a local pool? The site Swimply is like AirBnB but for swimming pools!
Have a Family Board Game Tournament – Have each person choose a favorite board game and play each of them. Make sure to have lots of snacks and some prizes for the winners.
Home Spa Day – Create a fun spa experience at home. Do face masks, massages, pedicures, and other fun spa activities. Don’t forget some relaxing music and infused water.
Movie Marathon- Watch a series of your favorite films or binge-watch a new TV show. You can also have a film festival by picking a theme and having everyone pick a favorite movie to watch.
Culinary Tour – Cook dishes from different countries each night. You can even take turns cooking and have a contest for what country was everyone’s favorite.
Virtual Museum Tour – If you don’t have a museum nearby you can visit museums all around the world virtually. There are options for many of the top museums.
Picnic in the Park – Pack a picnic basket and enjoy a meal in a nearby park. Don’t forget to bring some fun outdoor games with you.
Photography Expedition – Explore your local area and take photos of interesting sights. After you are done you can turn them into a slide show to enjoy together.
Cooking Class – Take an online cooking class and learn to make new dishes. There are some fun ones offered by King Arthur Baking School as well as Craftsy.
Scavenger Hunt – Organize a scavenger hunt around your home or neighborhood. This can be even more fun during the holidays when you can do a Christmas light scavenger hunt.