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Saturday, November 7, 2009

Spring staycation: Have fun on the cheap

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Travel deals may be easier to find this year, but for many families, traveling over spring break and later in the summer—or at all this year—is just not possible. Staycations are looking better than ever, and that's not a bad thing. I remember lots of spring school vacations when our kids were little and I just loved a break from the routine, even if it meant we couldn't get to Florida just then to see Nana and Pop-Pop.

A fun, stay-at-home vacation requires the same thing as a cash-swallowing, miles-away journey: planning. So that means not letting everyone veg out in front of the TV or the computer all week, and play video games until their thumbs hurt. Which leads to this first tip for a fun yet cheap close-to-home break:

1. Turn off the TV. And the computer. It is so easy to let some channel and web surfing turn into an hours-long siege, and before you know it, days are swallowed up with too much sedentary activity and too little together time. So...

2. Go for a hike. Or a bike ride. Together. Guaranteed, there are some pretty nice hiking and bike trails near where you live. If you don't know of any, check out this local hikes website, or check with your local recreation office. Explore the natural world of where you live beyond a car window.

Getty Images

Getty Images

3. Go camping...in your backyard. Pitching a tent a few feet from your back door is a surprising way to transport yourself from home without leaving it. Spend time planning what you need to to survive in the backyard without running into the house every half hour. Bring books, strory-telling creativity, healthy snacks and comfy sleeping supplies. (No long extension cords for TVs or computers allowed, S'more makings a must.) Plan meals that can be cooked and prepared outside, as if you really were miles from home and not a few steps away from the fridge. My youngest and one of her close friends are planning a week of "camp" at home over the summer, half in our backyard, half in her friend's. I'm all for it.

4. Be a tourist. Take one day out of the week for a trip to  one or more local tourist-y places. This could be the one day you do spend a bit more money, so plan what you truly want to see, how much it will really cost, and make sure it fits into your budget. You'd be surprised how one day of sightseeing can move you worlds away from the everyday.

5. Dinner with friends—at home. Invite friends you haven't seen in too long over for dinner. Divvy up what everyone can bring to dinner so all of the cooking and spending doesn't fall to you. Everyone is happy to pitch in to make a night together possible. If the weather is warm enough, eat outside, light some candles, relax and talk. One night with good friends is a vacation unto itself.

6. Help others. We all know these are tough times for many of our neighbors, the ones we know, and the many we don't. Set aside one day to help in your community, and do it together. Call your local soup kitchen to see if you can help serve a meal, or check in with a local Salvation Army chapter to see what kind of help is needed during your break week. Guaranteed, you will remember whatever good you do together duing your staycation.

Are you planning any staycations this year? What are some of your favoriate stay-at-home vacation ideas for having fun on the cheap?

Related: vacation, staycation, saving, money

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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 18
  • Ashley's Avatar
    Posted by Ashley Mon Apr 6, 2009 8:07am PDT

    We've done a lot of dinner at home with friends recently. Really is a good time.

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  • BeachLvr's Avatar
    Posted by BeachLvr Mon Apr 6, 2009 10:11am PDT

    I love the idea of staycation, but we do end up spending money on landscaping and patio gear for our large yard. Sometimes I think going away and getting a break from spending on the yard is a good idea.

    Camping in the yard sounds fun...might be too easy to wimp out and go get in your own bed though.

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  • Barbara's Avatar
    Posted by Barbara Wed Apr 8, 2009 6:23am PDT

    Many people miss out on things close to home simply because they are close to home. Take advantage of what others travel many miles to see!

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  • angel p's Avatar
    Posted by angel p Thu Apr 9, 2009 5:27am PDT

    Try going to your local town museums. They are less expensive than the bigger ones, and has a lot of information to your area. My daughter loved the thought of the civil war was in "her back yard."

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  • KIMH's Avatar
    Posted by KIMH Thu Apr 9, 2009 5:45am PDT

    We use our home for fun all the time. Every Sunday we have a big dinner with family and sometimes friends. We enjoy our deck and watching the kids run around the backyard. We mostly love that we are enjoying what we work so very hard for every day. A family and a home. Don't get me wrong, we go on vacations and plan to this summer as well, but for us there is nothing more relaxing than enjoying our home. I hope our children get the message.

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  • Cheryl's Avatar
    Posted by Cheryl Wed May 6, 2009 1:28pm PDT

    Another planned out staycation idea is to travel to another country..without leaving home. Prepare ahead of time ... go to the library or search the internet for books, dvds, etc about the country and stock up. Search for the food recipes and purchase the supplies for the week or two of staycation.. look up some of their customs and see if you can do it like they do .. you might know someone in the community from that country..invite the family to come talk about it and have dinner in the style that they would have it. Get creative and decorate your home with a few items that draw in the atmosphere..easily done if you look on craigslist wanted section or post on freecycle community..someone might have lots of what you are looking for and you just have to go pick it up. Make crafts related. Write to an organization or someone from that country and request materials in advance. Say a prayer and you'll be surprised how things will just fall into place. Alot of fun...

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  • Cheryl's Avatar
    Posted by Cheryl Wed May 6, 2009 4:08pm PDT

    I forgot to ad to the above post that you can also get tapes on learning the language of the other country for a bit more fun to try.

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  • Carolyn's Avatar
    Posted by Carolyn Wed May 6, 2009 4:40pm PDT

    some of these ideas sound more like PROJECTS than vacations...you are supposed to be RELAXING on vacation, not working even harder

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  • Gloria G's Avatar
    Posted by Gloria G Wed May 6, 2009 5:43pm PDT

    Im really looking forward to camping in the backyard as IM a mountain gal and want my little girl which is 9 yrs old to enjoy the outdoors more and for Daddy to relax a little bit. Thanks so much for sharing fun things to do without leaving home... what a lifesaver for the summer months... have a great life everybody and enjoy your freedom..

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  • Judee's Avatar
    Posted by Judee Wed May 6, 2009 6:58pm PDT

    We will be having more get-to-togethers around the pool this year instead of going out of town or eating out.Also cheaper to rent movies and have friends over for movies and eats.

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Comments 1-10 of 18

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