checking out one of the local museums
Whether it is Spring Break, Christmas break or summer vacation, it can be hard for a family to sneak away for a vacation. It can be difficult for any family to coordinate work schedules with vacation time and then factor in if your children play sports. Often times there are tournaments and practices even during vacation. Even if the stars align for everyone to have the time off together, airplane, hotel and other travel expenses can add up. One of the great alternatives to going away is doing a family staycation. It can be a great way for the family to spend time together and have fun. Here are some fun ideas to spice up your staycation!
- Designate the days of the staycation. This will help everyone protect the time even though you are at home. Just like a vacation where you would be going out of town that has a beginning and an end, share the timeline with the family. You might want to share some of the highlights of the activities planned or keep it as a surprise. Some families might find it helpful to turn off the devices or have designated time to check email and phone messages. We say whatever works best for your family!
Try out some new restaurants. If you are doing multiple days, give each family member an opportunity to pick out a new restaurant to try out. Be adventurous. You might want to try the cuisine of a country or spot that you would like to visit in the future or a restaurant that has fun ambience. Our Famtourage tried out the Hard Rock Cafe Restaurant. We enjoyed checking out all of the Rock n’ roll memorabilia. The boys loved the motorcycle in the restaurant and couldn’t stop saying, “Vroom.” The kids’ meals were served on guitar shaped plates, which our little rockstars enjoyed. From the burgers and shakes to the ribs and drinks, everything hit the spot for our tribe. The adults enjoyed watching the nostalgic music videos playing in the background, trying to remember which song it was.
Rocking out with their guitar plates at Hard Rock
- Discover treasures within your city. Whether it’s a museum, show or a park, there are so many hidden gems within your city. Brainstorm together as a family and research as well. We love looking at lists that have been put together highlighting what each city has to offer. And sometimes the best spots are through word-of-mouth so ask your friends too! Many places offer local discounts or reduced rates on certain days if you ask. One fun thing to do is to do a photo scavenger hunt as part of the visit. You can come up with a list of things that the family has to do together or spots within the place to take photos at. Then at the end of the day, you can share your photos and even print them out as a fun memory of the day.
- Get out and be active. Go on a bike ride, hike or try a new sport together as a family. If your family all enjoys doing a specific sport or activity, maybe try a new twist to it. For example, if you enjoy mountain biking, find a new trail. You don’t have to be a professional athlete to enjoy a good competitive round of mini-golf as a family or go for a walk at a park or the beach. If your family is competitive, create a competition with different activities and sports throughout your staycation.
- Rest! Often times when we do a staycation or vacation, we are so busy trying to cram all of the things in that we want to see and do that we forget to rest. Build time into your schedule to rest as a family. It might mean watching a movie together, playing board games or just taking a nap in the hammock. But don’t be afraid to slow down together as a family just because you’re on a staycation.
Thank you to the Hard Rock for having us out for dinner. All of our opinions and thoughts are our own.
