25 Ideas For A Fabulous Staycation

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Before moving to Germany, I can’t say I really ever had embraced a “staycation” beyond the required lockdowns of 2020. However, after moving, Charlie and I have had many friends and coworkers enjoy time off simply to be at home. Sometimes that first half of their vacation is used for exploring and the second half for hanging out, but often time is built into their schedules to prioritize time to recoup and enjoy where they live. As this summer includes so much travel for Charlie’s work, we too are particularly appreciating the merits of a staycation for some desired time at home even though we typically love getting out and about to explore. That being said, whether you have a schedule booked full of travels this summer or are spending more time at home for a low key break due to cost, health, schedules or any other reason, I thought it might be fun to explore 25 ideas for a fabulous staycation! While staycations certainly can be used for checking off items on your to-do list, sometimes it is nice to give the same freedom and attention to your time spent at home to actually make it feel relaxing and enjoyable like a vacation would. So, let’s dive into these 25 easy ideas for a great staycation! 

Preparation Is Key

Before taking a vacation, much time, energy, thought and research is typically given into your vacation location, activities, budget, packing etc. You clean the house before you leave to ensure it’s ready when you return. You pack your bags and plan your snacks. You find fun games to bring or books to enjoy. You book your tickets, get reservations and make any other plans necessary to make your trip as enjoyable as possible from the first moment you leave. While this can take some time and effort, the preparation for a vacation often is what makes the vacation successful once on the trip and can help leave the worries of planning behind. 

What if we treated staycations with a similar mindset? What if we cleaned the house before it started and planned to catch up from laundry in a few days. What if we set our out of office notifications and planned our snacks and books and tickets to just enjoy time being at home. Obviously staycations can be taken in a million directions, from tackling a to do list to total embracing being off the clock until your vacation time is up. Either way, I would challenge you to maybe think less of just “being at home” to more how can you make time at home be both relaxing and engaging for you and your family or friends. 

25 Ideas For A Fabulous Staycation 

Be A Tourist 

The first category of ideas for a fabulous staycation is to become a tourist in your own town! Sometimes our hometowns are the places we do the least research to find out what makes them really special, so check out local event calendars and highlights of your area to spend some time being a tourist right where you live! Do you go to your favorite ice cream shop every night you’re at the beach? Why not embrace the same in your staycation? Whether it’s tickets to a concert, sports game or a nightly ritual of ice cream after dinner, adding a few of those rhythms that you enjoy when out on vacation to your time at home can provide a lot to look forward to. 

Get Outside 

If being a tourist isn’t as much your thing, don’t forget to get outside! Take a hike, go for a bike ride, find a pool, make s’mores or even camp in the backyard to embrace a little time outside. Making a good s’more over the fire, talking late into the night and camping under the stars in your backyard can bring both great memories and conversation without having to head off to a national park. 

Embrace Being Home

Lastly, but certainly not least, embrace some activities within your home! Whether starting new puzzles, reading a book, learning something new like a game, dance, language or skill, trying a spa day or attempting a craft, embracing a few new rhythms within your space can help your time feel both relaxing and engaging. 

Final Thoughts

While a “staycation” may not feel as glamorous at first as perhaps exploring a new location, it can come with many perks including recoup time at home, your own bed and pillow, no travel time and typically less expense. Certainly some seasons are full of travel and others not so much, but there are a plethora of ways to make being at home fun, relaxing and restorative to the soul! Do you have a favorite way to enjoy a staycation? I love so many of these it is hard to choose, but especially a good book, ice cream shops and fire pits with s’mores. Please let me know your favorites in the comments below and if you have any you would love to see added to the list! 

Happy staycationing!

Chloe 

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