How to Plan the Perfect Staycation!

Are you considering taking a staycation this year? I know we’d all love to take a cruise, stay on the beach or visit the mountains but sometimes those trips just aren’t feasible. We’ve taken many a staycation and the awesome thing is that doesn’t have to include being stuck at home! You can save a lot of money by taking a staycation and still have just as much fun! Here are 10 more ways to save money while the kids are home this summer!!

How many times have you drove past a local museum, park or other attraction in your own hometown and said:

“I can’t believe we haven’t even been there yet…we just live right down the street!”.

I know we’ve done that often. For instance, I live less than an hour away from a ski resort and I have NEVER been there!! There are so many great things to do in your own local area and why not visit them?! Make a list of all the attractions in your neck of the woods and choose things that everyone in your family would enjoy. You could pick one or more things a day and have a whole week long staycation!

Here’s what a sample week long staycation might look like: (check for free or discount admission for each local place)

Day 1: Waterpark Day

Day 2: Camping & Hiking

Day 3: Visit local Museums

Day 4: Zoo Day

Day 5: Fun in the Sun at the Beach or Lake (rent a boat, go water skiing, snorkeling, etc.)

Day 6: Local history…visit your local national parks and learn about your local animals and plants.

Day 7: Kids Choose Day! Let the kids choose the last day’s event. Even if it’s to go back to the waterpark ;)!

Day 8: Parent’s Day! Mom and dad get a babysitter and visit a local restaurant that you’ve never been to before, go for a movie, spa, something for just the 2 of you!

No matter where you live, you can Google “things to do in (your state)” and all sorts of things will pop up. More than likely a lot of things you’ve never even heard of! We live in Indiana and when I googled that, I was shocked at all the awesome things that popped up!

Here is a list of fun things to do in Indiana:

• Indianapolis Motor Speedway
• Indiana Beach
• Indianapolis Zoo
• Clifty Falls Park
• Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari
• Huber’s Orchard and Winery
• The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
• Marengo Cave
• Conner Prairie
• Derby Dinner Playhouse
• Spring Mill Park
• Hardy Lake

…and the list goes on and on and on!! More than a handful of these places, we have never even visited and there are tons more that I didn’t even list. Plus, Thomas the Train is making his way to Connersville soon!! We’ll be spending a Day out with Thomas. I will post more about that later on!!

Each location or attraction that comes up in your local searches, you can visit and see their schedule of events. Plan around those to make your staycation fun. Most of the National Parks will have free admission and awesome things for the kids to do. Attend your local water parks and take friends…it’s always more fun when there’s a crowd! Plan a camping adventure in your own backyard or at your local campgrounds/lake areas. Here is a great Waterpark packing list and tips post and sun safety is a very important thing. Here are some Sun Safety Tips!

There are all sorts of ways to make the perfect Staycation – you just have to use your imagination, do a little digging to find out what kinds of things are going on locally, and plan them out. What kinds of things do you do to plan a fun staycation? We’d love to hear…leave us a comment!

~Jenni

Topic: How to plan the perfect Staycation