Staycation for Families
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Thinking of taking a family staycation? Traveling is fun and exciting, but sometimes a nice staycation can be good for the soul too. Even more, the memories you will make with your family are priceless.
Read below for all the advantages for a staycation for families. Additionally, keep reading to find out all the best ideas for a staycation for families.
Advantages for a Staycation for Families
Cost Savings
Taking a family staycation is significantly cheaper then traveling to another destination. Staying home requires no traveling–no plane tickets, car rentals, or money spent on gas.
Also, you will not have any costs associated with hotel stays or vacation rentals.
You will likely be consuming many of your meals at home so food costs will also be lower.
Additionally, most of the activities you will be doing are at home so you will not be spending as much money on attractions.
Time Savings
A staycation for families does not require any travel to and from a destination so you will have more time to actually relax and spend time with your family.
More Memorable Experiences
Another advantage for a staycation for families are the memories made.
I always think that my kids want to do something new and exciting but when it comes down to it they really just want your undivided attention. They want to do something special with their parents. It doesn’t matter if it is at some amazing theme park or at their own home.
I guarantee that if you plan some special things for your family at home and you give your full attention and excitement to these activities, your kids will remember that forever, and you will too.
They don’t need a theme park, beach, or swimming pool, they need you and that will make for the best staycation ever!
Opportunity to Try Something New
A staycation for families is a fantastic opportunity to try or do something you have never done before.
One thing that I would like to do with our family sometime is have dinner at our kitchenette in our basement. This seems like such a simple thing but with the busyness of the day and maybe a little laziness on my part, I never get to it. I guarantee the kids would think it was so fun to have dinner in a different spot in the house.
Maybe you have wanted to try a new recipe, this is a phenomenal time to do just that!
The possibilities are endless of all the new things you can try and experience during your family staycation.
Staycation for Families: Indoor Ideas
- HAVE A PICNIC INSIDE
Find your picnic blanket and picnic basket and have a family picnic in your family room or basement. Eat the foods you would have at a picnic like sandwiches, fruits and vegetables, chocolate chip cookies, and lemonade. Get the whole family involved in making the food for the picnic and packing up the picnic basket too.
Maybe you could even play some games during your indoor family picnic.
- GET OUT ALL YOUR LEGOS AND HAVE A MASSIVE BUILDING SESSION
We have SO many legos stored in bins and boxes galore. It would be so fun to get them all out and build a massive city. The goal here is to use as many legos as you can! Let the imaginations run wild on your lego build.
This would be an epic activity for a staycation for families!
- PLAY CHARADES WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY
Kids and adults love playing charades. First, have family members each write down a bunch of charade ideas. Then find a hat or bowl and divide into teams if you want. Finally, have the most epic game of charades ever!
- HAVE SOME STAYCATION THEME DAYS SUCH AS SPACE DAY
Kids love a good themed day. During your family staycation, you could make each day a different theme and then do activities and eat things related to that theme.
Our family had a space themed day during one of our staycations. For our space themed day, we made a rocket out of a large cardboard box. The kids colored the rocket, and then played in it for hours!
Also, we read a couple of space books and did a space puzzle we had bought.
Another idea for your themed day is to watch a space movie.
- SPY THEMED FAMILY STAYCATION DAY
Our family also did a spy themed day too. We ordered some “spy” clothes for the kids from Amazon that included a black coat, hat, and sunglasses.
Additionally, we ordered a special activity with invisible ink for the kids to do. We also did a scavenger hunt that day and watched a spy movie.
- PIRATE THEMED FAMILY STAYCATION DAY
Pirate Day is another fun themed day for your family staycation.
We also had a pirate themed day on a family staycation. Since we love cardboard boxes in our house, we built a pirate ship out of one. Then we decorated it and had loads of fun playing in that as well.
Additionally, we made pirate hats too.
Finally, we had ordered a small treasure chest and went on a treasure hunt.
- DO SOME COOKIE BAKING
For some reason I only usually get the kids involved in cookie baking at Christmas time. For your staycation you could get some new cookie cutters and purchase a bunch of frosting, food coloring, and sprinkles and go crazy baking cookies with your family.
Maybe even have a cookie decorating contest too.
- CREATE A HOMEMADE PIZZA BAR
For your family staycation, pick a night and make some homemade pizza with your family. You can put a whole bunch of pizza toppings out on the counter for the kids to put on their pizzas. Maybe even pick some things that you may not normally put on your pizza. Have fun with it! The kids will love it!
If you like the homemade food bar idea, you could do some other types of bars too. Some other ideas include nacho bar, hot dog bar, pasta bar, taco bar, or dessert bar.
- COOK A FANCY MEAL AND DRESS UP TO EAT IT
Pick another night during your family staycation and have the entire family get dressed up in formal wear. Cook or order in a fancy meal and pretend you are at a super elegant restaurant with the family while you eat your meal.
You could also consider having someone come in to cook your family the meal. That would be super special.
- MOVIE DAY OR NIGHT
Plan a day or evening of movies and watch them in your sleeping bags or in the coziest spot in your house. Each family member can pick a favorite movie, and you can have a movie marathon. You could do this inside or outside as well.
Maybe consider getting some special snacks and drinks to have during your movie marathon, too!
- PUT ON A FAMILY PLAY
If your family is into acting and has a good imagination, you could pick a play to perform. The family could write the play together and then prepare costumes and decorations for it or find a play that is already written.
It would be fun to set your phone or iPad up to record the play, and then the family can watch it later. Plus you will always have it for a fantastic memory!
- HAVE A YES DAY
This was actually my kids’ idea. Having a YES day is a dream of theirs.
Basically on a YES day if the kids want to do something, they get to do it. The kids get to plan the entire day. Obviously everyone still needs to be safe. You would need to definitely put some rules and limitations in place, but this could be very fun for the whole family.
For example, if the kids want dessert for dinner, you may decide to say yes to this. Another possibility is if the kids want to dress a certain way, you also may say yes to this.
There are lots of ideas for the YES day. I am sure your kids will have some good ones!
- HAVE A PRETEND BIRTHDAY PARTY
We did pretend birthday parties during Covid, and the kids absolutely LOVED it!
Each kid had a day that was their “birthday”. We decorated for their “birthday”, had their choice of meal, ate cake or cupcakes, and sang to them. We even got each kid a small present for each of their “birthday” days.
We totally went all out celebrating each of our kids’ birthdays on a different day, and they each felt so special.
- DO A SCAVENGER HUNT
There are so many options for a scavenger hunt for your family staycation. You could do one inside your house or outside. Additionally, you could go to a park or anywhere else special in your town.
At the end of the scavenger hunt there could be a prize for the kids. The prize could be something tangible or some type of special experience you could then do later that day or the next day.
- HAVE AN ART DAY
On your staycation art day, get out ALL of your art supplies. The more art supplies, the better. We spread out tablecloths on our kitchen table, countertops, and even the floor.
You could have different art stations like painting at the table, drawing on the floor, and crafting with glue and other supplies on the countertop.
Another method could be simply planning a bunch of art projects that you do together.
There are lots of options and ways to organize for an art day.
- MAKE A FORT WITH ALL THE BLANKETS IN YOUR HOUSE
Gather every single blanket in your entire house. This could be fun in itself. The kids could search every room, closet, and shelf to see how many blankets they can find.
Then you work together to create the most EPIC fort EVER!
- CELEBRATE A HOLIDAY DURING A DIFFERENT TIME OF YEAR
Another activity your family can do for a staycation is celebrating Christmas at a different time of year. Put up your Christmas tree and decorations. Listen to Christmas music. Make your Christmas lists.
There is so much you can do with this, and you should already have all the supplies at home.
You could do this with other holidays as well! How about a little Halloween action over spring break?
- PICK A CITY YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN TO AND GO ON A VIRTUAL TRIP TO IT
A really great idea is to, as a family, pick a city you have never been to and go on a virtual trip to it. I think I would talk my family into choosing Paris, France.
Then look up all the attractions for Paris and go to their websites to experience as much as you can about them. Maybe look for a Youtube video filmed at this attraction.
Another idea for your virtual trip is to make some famous food that would be in that city.
Also, maybe even consider printing some photos of the city and posting them around the house.
After the virtual trip, each family could talk about their favorite place in the city.
- MAKE AN ICE CREAM BAR AND HAVE AN ICE CREAM PARTY
Most families absolutely love ice cream so why not create the most epic ice cream bar?! Buy various flavors of ice cream. Get a whole bunch of different toppings and make the yummiest ice cream sundae or cone you have ever had.
You can even save the toppings and enjoy another special ice cream on another afternoon or evening of your staycation.
- HAVE A DANCE PARTY
Having a dance party is definitely a must for a staycation for families.
You can order some glow sticks and some other props for the dance party.
Your family may decide to dress up for this dance party as if you are at a wedding or simply be cozy in your pajamas.
For the dance party, play some of the most iconic dance songs like the Hokey Pokey, Chicken Dance, Limbo, YMCA, and more.
It might be fun teaching your kids some of your dance moves, and they can teach you some of theirs too!
- STAY AT A HOTEL IN YOUR TOWN
Another idea for a family staycation is to pick a night and stay at a hotel in your own town or a nearby town. The family could enjoy some swimming at the hotel as well as dinner and a movie in the hotel room.
Staycation for Families: Outdoor Ideas
- HAVE A BACKYARD CAMPOUT
For your family staycation, pitch a tent and grab your sleeping bags for a backyard campout. You can grill hot dogs and have s’mores. Additionally, your family can also sing campfire songs and tell stories.
The kids will absolutely love it, and I bet they will remember it forever.
- PLAY IN THE SNOW
If it’s winter and there is snow on the ground, your family can have the most epic day in the snow.
Your family can build a snowman, go sledding, have a snowball fight, take hike in the snow and look for animal footprints.
Another idea is to make some ice cream with the snow.
There are so many fun things for your family to experience together in the snow.
- GO ON A WINTER HIKE OR ANY SEASON HIKE
Your family does not have to be in a national park or near a mountain to go on a hike. You can hike right in or near your own town. If you can find some woods even better!
If it’s winter your family can bundle up and take a winter hike. I love hiking in the snow. It is exciting looking for animal footprints in the snow. I also love the beauty of the snow and the trees. Your family can take pictures on your hike as well.
If it is fall, you can go on an epic fall hike which is also super beautiful. You can crunch your feet in the leaves and collect different kinds and colors of leaves. Fall also makes for some great hiking photos with all the colors on the trees and on the ground.
Spring and summer also make for great hiking times as well. Whichever time of year it is, remember to take some pictures during your hike.
- HAVE A PICNIC OUTSIDE
See number 1 above, but have your picnic in your backyard or take it to your neighborhood park.
- HAVE AN EPIC WATER DAY
If your staycation is during the heat of the summer, consider having an epic day of water. Get out your sprinklers and hoses and have an absolute blast. You can make your own slip n slide and buy some water balloons.
For your water day, get out absolutely every water toy you have. Get out all the water guns, buckets, and anything else you have.
Another idea is to make an obstacle course with the water. Family members could do various obstacles or challenges while the water is spraying at them.
Add some lemonade and maybe some ice cream to round out your day, and it will truly be one to remember.
- BE A TOURIST IN YOUR HOMETOWN
Have you ever thought about playing tourist in your own town? Find some new spots in your town that you have never been before.
Maybe you want to learn something new about a place or attraction in your town, this is a great time to do it. Additionally, you could eat at a restaurant you have never been to before.
Another idea for this day is to go around and take pictures of places in your town as if you have never seen them before. This might even make you look at your town a bit differently and notice something you never have before.
You could also do this with a nearby town as well. I think this could be a really fun and memorable day too!
- HAVE A PARK DAY
There are a few different ways you could do your park day. If you have many parks in your town, you could do your park day by going to a few or all of the parks in one day.
Alternatively, you could spend half or most of the day at one park and bring a picnic. Also, you could bring some equipment to play baseball or toss a football at the park too. Consider bringing a kite to fly as well!
- HAVE A SPORTS DAY
Another idea for a themed day is a sports day. For your sports themed day you could play the sports in your driveway, yard, or go to a park.
Some ideas include playing basketball, tennis, baseball, kickball, or even setting up a little bowling game or four square.
Maybe add some concession stand type food for lunch like hot dogs, popcorn, nachos, etc.
Also, do not forget to put on some great music while you play these sports with your family.
- GO FISHING
Fishing is not something our family normally does so going fishing would definitely be a unique and memorable staycation activity for us.
You can pack a picnic to take with you fishing, too.
- FLY KITES
How fun would it be for each of the kids to pick out a kite online to purchase, and then go fly them as a family?!
Find a humongous open field, and let them fly!
- GO CREEK SPLASHING AND WALKING
We are lucky to have lots of amazing creeks in our town. One thing your family could do in your city or a nearby town is creek splashing and walking.
The kids would surely enjoy that. Make sure to get some good water shoes or even water boots depending on the time of year.
- HAVE A POOL DAY
Another idea for a family staycation day is to spend the day at your community pool or one nearby.
- GO ON A FAMILY BIKE RIDE
Load the family’s bikes up if you can and take them to a place you have never been biking before. Maybe this is a new trail or a different part of town. It could even be a nearby town.
For your family bike ride you could bike to a new park or to a restaurant. There are tons of possibilities of unique places to go on your bikes!
If you do not have the ability to transport all your bikes somewhere to begin a bike ride, just go a different direction than you normally do. Maybe bring some small speakers and use bluetooth to jam to some music as you bike.
Anything you can do to change up your normal bike ride will make it feel special and different for your family staycation.
- RENT A BOAT
Rent a paddle boat, canoe or kayak with the family. You could also try stand up paddle boarding if the boat rental facility has it available.
Another option, if available, would be to rent a pontoon boat.
You can bring a picnic to have before or after boating. Again, there are so many small ways that you can make this feel special and extra memorable.
- SET UP A CAR WASH
Another unique idea for a staycation for families is to set up a car wash. The kids would have a blast with this.
Get out the sponges, buckets, and hoses, and you can have the cleanest cars on the block.
One way to add a bit more to this is to get the neighbors involved and wash their cars too.
As with all the other family staycation ideas, do a couple of things to make it extra special like add some music or have popsicles afterwards.
- PLAY IN THE SAND
For your family staycation, you could also have a sand day. Find the nearest beach to you and bring all your sand toys, lounge chairs, balls, and have a blast at the beach for the day.
Don’t forget to pack a delicious lunch and drinks!
If you don’t have a little beach near your town, maybe you could find a sandbox at a park.
- SIDEWALK CHALK
Another idea for a staycation for families is to have a fun day with sidewalk chalk. You could draw your best picture or play games with chalk such as hangman or tic tac toe.
Your family could have a drawing contest or work together to make one large family mural. Again, there are so many options of how you could spend part of your day outside using sidewalk chalk.
My kids once made a Floor Is Lava game that they drew with sidewalk chalk.
Once you get involved with the sidewalk chalk and are excited about it, the kids will too!
- SPEND THE ENTIRE DAY OUTSIDE
For your family staycation you could have a day where you spend the entire day outside. Pick up some donuts and have them outside for breakfast.
Then do a morning activity such as sidewalk chalk or a family walk around the block.
Next, have a picnic lunch. After lunch, play some board games or read a book as a family outside.
If it’s a hot day, cool off in the afternoon with some sprinklers and hoses.
Then plan on grilling outside for dinner. Finally, you can end the day with a family game of kickball or bring a projector out for an evening movie.
If you want to put an extra cherry on top of your outside day, you could sit by the fire and make some s’mores.
Plan Your Family Staycation
I hope these ideas inspire you to have your own family staycation. Consider sitting down as a family and discussing these ideas to put together an itinerary for your staycation.
The most successful family staycation as with any other trip or vacation is carefully planned out. If you plan it ahead of time, then you can gather all the supplies you need for your staycation. The more you have planned, the less stressful it will be for you as well!
You can post your staycation schedule up a couple of weeks early so the whole family can see it and look forward to it!
SAVE and PIN this post so you can make your own family staycation bucket list.
May you love your adventure! KW
