My Staycation in 2021

by Heidi Khalil April 1, 2022

Staycation…what does it mean? For my family, last summer it meant that we got to have a relaxing fun-filled week, even though a lot of vacation destinations and activities were closed or made entirely unavailable because of the pandemic. A lot of people in this world are longing for a break. The last 2 years have been INSANE, to say the least!

First, let me say that we had no intention of spending a lot of money, and had decided that this staycation would be as economical as we could make it.

A Staycation is when you sleep at home each night, but treat your days like you are on vacation, and have a full itinerary of fun-filled activities to do each day. It can be as inexpensive or as expensive as you want to make it. If you take the time to plan well, it can be such an upgrade to the length and quality of vacations you have taken before. Last summer my family and I had our very first ever STAYCATION. We had a blast!

These are my top 10 favorite Staycation ideas:

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1. The Beach/Lake…Go play in the water, and the sand….soak up some sun. Most people have some type of “water escape” within driving distance. Many are even free. Some require a small fee for parking or entry. This is nothing compared to spending even one night in a hotel or cabin. Pack a cooler of scrumptious food. Some choose to go out to eat. The choice is up to you. You can make it super simple and economical, or high end. It is up to you. We actually did this for 2 of our 5 days of staycation at 2 different destinations. You can take balls, frisbees, floatation toys, etc. Make sure you have a plan if you don’t find a shady spot.
2. Bowling/Laser Tag/Skating Rinks…call around to get the best deals. You would be surprised how much cheaper deals you can get during the “normal workday” hours. Just don’t forget to ask if they have any “specials running”. We actually found an older bowling alley, and we had no waiting, and full service. The guy did work with us on the pricing, since they needed the business!
3. Horseback Riding…patient planning is the name of the game here. Call around, ask intelligent, pre-planned questions, and be super friendly and polite. I have gotten tips from employees many times that saved me time and money. You need those details. Many state parks have stables, and you have to call the stable master and see what the fees are like. There are also ranches that offer this for a fee. Keep in mind that keeping horses up is not cheap, so this would definitely be a little more expensive than some other activities.
4. Hiking…. this can be a lot of fun. Make sure you always go with others though. This can be dangerous at times, especially if you are a beginner and try to hike on an higher level than “beginner”. I have been on group hikes before, and found it to be so rewarding. Make sure you study up and have proper shoes & clothing, First Aid, and water with you. Some places have cave exploration experiences as well.
5. Cook out at the park with friends or relatives…..Plan in advance right down to your menu, and everything that you would like to take with you. Remember to keep it to where it is still relaxing. Don’t invite your frienemy! If you don’t eat meat or don’t want cooking to be a part of it, just pick up a premade salad or favorite food, and bring either physical or table games to play with your family or friends.
6. Day Trip to a tourist area…. plan for exploration, food options, experiences such as museums, musical shows, shopping, animal attractions, and more. Just make sure that you don’t over extend your driving capability for one day.
7. Put Put/Golf….a fun option for many. Remember, with put put….the more the merrier.
8. Film Festivals….. if you can’t find one, you can make your own at home. You can plan your own line-up, put dark sheets over your windows if needed, and plan food to you and your family’s liking. We ended up doing this on our last day of the staycation, because we were kind of worn out. So, that day we watched movies and ate pizza and salad. It was great.
9. Theme Night….Plan to dress appropriately for whatever theme you pick, and then eat an elaborate dinner that corresponds…with plenty of friends and family…..like a party at home or at a restaurant…maybe even getting to see a local play that night after all is said and done.
10. Agritainment…..This can be very enjoyable. Planning is key. Check it out. Many things can come up…such as corn maze, sheep farms, pony rides with petting zoos, hayrides, fruit groves where you can pick your fruit yourself, etc. Keep an open mind, and you will be surprised at what you find.

Photo by Yulianto Poitier on Pexels.com

The biggest thing to remember is to think outside of the box…and plan well in advance. It will surprise you! Don’t forget to start your staycation with a clean house. We used disposable dishes all week, and had the laundry caught up, so that we only had to do very minimal upkeep. We were gone for the better part of most of the days, so we actually came home to a clean house each day.

Also, keep in mind that it is very economical to tent. There are endless nice campgrounds for tenting. If you like the outdoors, it may be very worthwhile for you to invest in a good tent. But everyone is different. God made us all unique, and that is alright.

MHP;hk

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