Sometimes, every family needs a break. Whether it's a random three-day weekend during the school year, a dull summer weekend, or the time between Christmas and New Year, there are plenty of opportunities to get away. But if you don't have the money or the desire to drive or fly to a destination, there are lots of fun ways to do a staycation with your family. Just remember to pack everything you need!
1. Check Out a Nature Preserve in Your Area
©rbkomar/Shutterstock.com
This is almost always cheap or free, and you can be just minutes from your house and feel like you're in another world. Start by searching for national parks, state parks, or county forest preserves in your area. Then, choose whether you want to hike for a few hours, camp, or find some other rustic accommodations for an overnight trip. We like Postcard Cabins, but there are also fun options on VRBO or Airbnb.
If you decide to hike, pick a preserve with trails that match your family's hiking abilities. My kids surprised us by being able to walk more than two miles, even in preschool and kindergarten, and almost all kids can make it half a mile if there's something interesting at the end, like a waterfall or a cave. Also, pack snacks and water to fuel your adventure. Aside from being enjoyable for the whole family, spending time in nature is also beneficial for children's mental health.
2. Visit a Museum (or Museums) in Your City
Most big cities have a history museum, an art museum, a children's museum, and at least one other specialty museum. Many of them also offer free days throughout the year. Find one you haven't visited before and pick a day when it's inexpensive. In some cities, several museums are clustered together, so you can pick a couple to see on the same day if your kids have the endurance.
If you've seen a lot of the big museums your city has to offer, check out some of the newer experience-based spaces that are popping up in every city. For example, my kids have loved The Color Factory and The Museum of Ice Cream in Chicago. Neither are learning heavy, but they're amazing ways to get away for a couple of hours and appealing to people of many different ages (read: you'll have fun, too)!
3. Make a Day Around a Play
Find out what plays are showing in your city or town, and make a day out of it! Go to brunch or dinner before the show and explore the nearby shopping after. If you have preschoolers, search first for children's theater productions in your area. Many venues offer plays that are pared down to an hour specifically for children. Even kids as young as first grade can start enjoying some longer musical theater productions.
For bigger kids, you can even expand this to music performances. Look for symphonies, instrumental music productions, or family-friendly concerts to expand their appreciation of different kinds of music. Local music schools may be a good resource to find kid-friendly music in your area.
4. Find a Hotel with a Cool Pool
Nothing says vacation like swimming in a hotel pool. If you're looking to save some money by not staying the night, find a Resort Pass so you can swim for the day. Many water park hotels also offer day passes, which you can maximize by arriving as early as possible. This is a great way to break up a long winter break for those of us who live in colder climates.
If you live near a beach, you can also make a beach day into a staycation! Make a plan to stay at the beach the whole day by bringing picnic foods and drinks, or find overnight lodging so you can string two beach days together. Bonus if it also has a cool pool.
5. Go Country
©EvgeniiAnd/Shutterstock.com
Find out what kind of produce is in season near you, and find a U-Pick farm specializing in that produce. Many of these farms have cute little towns with shopping and restaurants nearby. You can also look around for a drive-in movie theater in the area to truly make it feel like a trip back in time.
Extend your farm-day fun by renting a cabin nearby, or by making treats from all of the produce you pick. My kids love picking strawberries in June and then making them into ice cream and jam to last through the fall and into the winter.
6. Have a Spa Day
This can be accomplished at many different price points. You can buy a bunch of beauty items at Ulta and have a DIY spa day, go for a little splurge at a local nail salon, or visit a luxurious spa for a half or whole day of relaxation.
If you choose to make it a DIY day, you can even make your own candles and bath bombs to add to the fun. These can be interesting science experiments for kids who aren't as into the chill parts of the spa experience.
7. Camp at Home
If you have a yard, you can rent or buy a tent and pitch it in your backyard. REI offers lifetime memberships for $30, and many of their locations rent tents to members for minimal fees. If you don't have an outdoor space, get out the sleeping bags and have a family sleepover on the living room floor. Find everyone's favorite movie and make popcorn, or turn on the yule log on Netflix and pretend it's a campfire.
You can also check ordinances at local parks and forest preserves to see where you're allowed to camp. Many are inexpensive, and some have taps, outhouses, and fire pit sites to make camping a little less rough for parents.
8. Visit an Amusement Park
Many amusement parks are open throughout the year. Go for a full day, or stay overnight nearby and visit again on a second day, or find another fun venue to visit, like a mall or an arcade nearby. If you're planning for the winter months, look for indoor water parks or amusement parks. Even a trampoline park can be a full day of fun for younger kids.
Complete this adventure with amusement park foods throughout the day. Nothing says fun to kids like eating hot dogs, pizza, and nachos, or ending the day with a giant shareable milkshake or sundae.
9. Check Out a Zoo or Aquarium
Indulge your animal-crazy kids by visiting a local zoo or aquarium. Make it extra special by splurging on an upgraded experience like an animal meet-and-greet or behind-the-scenes tour. Double down on the animal-themed fun by visiting a petting zoo or pet store the next day.
You can make zoo or farm experiences extra special by visiting during the holiday season, when many offer special treats and events. Or go during the summer and look for splash pads or other water features throughout the grounds.
10. Visit the Nearest College Town
From Chicago, we can be in several Big Ten college towns within two hours. This allows us to see top-tier sports (even those that don't have a major league, like gymnastics and volleyball), see interesting little museums or arboretums, and check out historic buildings.
If your kids have any special interests, many big universities have plenty of learning opportunities for kids. We've seen events about agriculture, engineering, art, architecture, and storytelling at colleges near us. We've also enjoyed concerts from the marching band and glee clubs, most of them low-cost or free.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Sergii Kozii/Shutterstock.com