Y'all I must admit- my family is broke! LOL no joke though, we have been trying to save money for a house- which makes it difficult to spend money any where else- like vacations for example. So this summer my hubs is going to take off for a weekend (shocking if you know him!) and we are going to have a "staycation" with the kiddos.
For those people that can afford big beach vacations each summer or cruises twice a year (uhhm mom!) a staycation is when you take time off and enjoy the freedom of a vacation but at home or within a close proximity of your home.
This year our plans are to take one full day, leave early in the morning and make the hour and a half drive to Cincinnati, Ohio and spend half of the day at the zoo there- the kids love animals, then leave there and go to Newport, KY and spend the other half of the day at the aquarium. Something that I know we can get discounted tickets to because they run specials all the time. This is something my kids will get such an excitement out of and not break the bank at the same time. On the other day we are going to go to Louisville, KY and spend a day out with the kids. The Louisville Slugger plant is there and you can tour it, the Cheesecake factory is there and well let's be honest- that's for me not them! LOL!
There are lots of things that you can do around your own town to enjoy a staycation though. Some of my favorite ideas are:
*Picnic- pack your favorite lunch and find the best tree near the playground (if you have kids). Eat then let them play and run out their energy.
*Hike- here in Kentucky we have Raven Run or Natural Bridge that you can take a nice hike (easy or hard they have both options!) and enjoy the peaceful nature and sights that it holds.
*Camp Out- this can be your backyard, an actual camp ground, or if you're redneck enough the bed of a pickup truck! (I don't put anything past anyone anymore lol) Start a small fire, or light up the fire pit and make some marshmallows and tell stories.
*Game night! My kids love this on a regular basis. But invite some friends over and make it more interesting. Whoever loses has to buy dinner that night. Have fun with this one. The kids will remember this when they're older.
*Tour local museums- I mention this and my kids all get excited we have a children's museum near us that you can easily spend 5 hours in and still miss stuff. Find a local art gallery if you're looking for a date night near home, there are many ways you can go with this one.
*Hire a maid- just for one day to clean the whole house while you spend a day at the park with your family, or out shopping, or even dinner. Coming home to a freshly cleaned home will make you feel more relaxed.
*Amusement or Water parks- oh yes, everyone has one somewhere near them within a 2 hour drive, take advantage of it! Get on their websites and see what specials they might be running- you might be surprised!
*Throw a Party- why not? Organize a party just for the heck of it. Serve some cocktails and finger foods, let the kids hit up the back yard and have at it. There's nothing wrong with enjoying friends and family for no reason.
*Local Scene- take it all in! Tour your own city, see what you might be missing. Go to that little mom and pop diner you've never eaten at before, go see that random peddlers mall your friends have told you about, find the smallest book store near you and spend an hour looking. Taking a staycation near a holiday? See if your city has something planned for that- maybe go see a parade or go watch the tree lighting, take it all in.
*Local Hotel- heck yes! I'd love to find a good priced place near me with a pool- let the kids play and I can take in their smiles as well as some sun. (I'm really pale- I need it! LOL). This is another way to get away with not cleaning for another day. New scenery is nice too, look at surrounding cities when thinking about this option.
*DVD Day, bust out those old movies and some popcorn and enjoy a full day of nothing but movies and chatting with your family. These are lasting memories.
*Go to a Game- being from central Kentucky we are typically raised on basketball, and we love to watch it as much as we love to play it. But why not go see a game? Grab a few hot dogs for dinner, or nachos from your favorite snack stand and take in a local sports team doing what they do best.
*Beach it up! If you live within driving distance of a beach, of any form, take a drive and let the kids play, or soak up the sun yourself. Personally I'm about 2 hours from Lake Cumberland and it has a small beach area, that would be perfect for those who want to stay close to home. Heck maybe even get your hotel night in near the beach.
Keep these things in mind when you are planning your next staycation.
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-SC
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