Summertime is when you see people packing their bags and jetting off to new places to make memories that will last a lifetime. For those who can make a beautiful summer vacation happen for their family, it’s exciting and a great way to bond.
Just because you can’t afford or don’t have the time to travel somewhere during the summer doesn’t mean you can’t have a great summer vacation at home! These are some of our favorite staycation ideas if you’re looking for ways to have an incredible summer vacation at home.
1: Camp in the Backyard
Even if going camping isn’t something you generally enjoy, there’s nothing like pitching a tent in the backyard and camping out back there for a night or two.
You can get affordable tents online and at many retailers as well as other things to make your backyard camping experience more authentic. You and the whole family can get your sleeping bags out, roast marshmallows (or make s’mores in the microwave if you need to), tell stories, and stargaze from the comfort of your yard.
One of the best parts is that you can head inside to use the bathroom whenever you want or if it starts to rain. Don’t forget the bug spray!
2: Transport Yourselves to a Foreign Country for the Night
If you’ve been dreaming of an international vacation, but it’s not in the cards at the moment, having themed nights at home based on the countries you want to travel to is a great idea.
You can do this several times throughout the summer with different countries, so it feels like a whole international trip! Some great ideas would be to decorate your home like the countries you want to pretend to be in, which can be done on a budget.
The best way to do this is to listen to music from a specific country and make food that is traditional to said country to eat throughout the day. It’s also a great way to learn more about different countries and cultures.
3: Have a Spa Night or Weekend
Nothing is quite as relaxing as a trip to the spa, but they can be pricey, and sometimes you just don’t have the time to get to one. That’s why creating a spa day or weekend at home is one of the best staycation ideas.
You can do this solo or with friends and family. You can go to the store and purchase face masks, facial scrubs, eye masks, and all the spa essentials that you want. When you get home, you can put on some calming music or whatever music you’d love to listen to since it’s your spa day!
Besides facial care, you can paint your finger and toenails, and if you have a friend with you, give each other some shoulder massages.
4: Plan a Dance Party
You can do whatever you want on vacation, and if you love dancing and listening to music, you can throw a dance party in your living room, backyard, or wherever you want in your home.
All you need is an excellent playlist with whatever songs you want, a fun outfit, and the energy to dance until you drop. You can get creative with this idea by doing themed dance parties based on music genre or artist, getting fun lights, and inviting friends to participate.
You can even throw yourself a dance party if you don’t want to host a bunch of people at your home. Either way, you’re in for great music and fun day or night.
5: Have a Backyard Water Day
Whether you have a pool or not, you can have a water day in your backyard. If you have a pool, that’s just a bonus water activity to include in your day, but don’t be discouraged if you don’t.
You can find affordable inflatable pools online and at most stores so that you can fill that up and lounge in or let the kids if you have them, play in it. Besides an inflatable pool, you can create a slip-and-slide, make water balloons, and play games outside.
Be sure to stock up on sunscreen and popsicles and drink plenty of water to compensate for being outside.
6: Go on a Walk or Bike Ride on New Trails
Finding the magic in where you live can change your mindset when planning a little summer staycation activity. Finding new walking or biking trails that you haven’t been on before can be exciting and a great way to get some fresh air.
Even if there’s not a new trail you can use, going on one you usually do but taking the time to observe things that you normally wouldn’t make for a great time, you can use this time to take plenty of pictures to document your summer and things that you usually don’t notice on your walks or bikes on the trail.
7: Host a Family Game Night
Lastly, why not host a game night for family and friends? If you’ve ever traveled with a group of people before and have spent time playing games at your hotel or vacation rental, you know just how fun and memorable those nights can be.
You can play whatever games you want, like board games, card games, or video games. We recommend having a variety of snacks and beverages to choose from while you play.
If you don’t want to provide all the snacks, having everyone bring something different to share is another fun way to spice up your game night and get everyone involved.
Final Thoughts
There’s no need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a trip somewhere if you don’t want to. These are just the tip of the iceberg of things you can do right at home to make your summer memorable.
By incorporating one of the staycation ideas above, you’ll be setting yourself and your family up for a great summer vacation they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.
Related: 5 No Spend Ways To Show Dad You Appreciate Him for Father’s Day 2023
