10 Ideas for a Rejuvenating Summer Staycation
Make your time spent at home this summer feel like a vacation getaway
Becky Harris
July 5, 2020
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
Many are stuck at home this summer, with no vacation getaway in sight. With lots of pools closed and summer camps canceled, it’s time to get creative and make special memories at home. Ideas from resorts, camps and other favorite summer places can be adapted for a staycation. See if any of these ideas inspire you, and please share your own staycation ideas in the Comments.
1. Hang a Hammock
Lots of folks tend to reserve swaying back and forth while gazing up at branches for vacation. So it’s just the thing to add at home for a relaxing feel. If there isn’t a good spot in a yard or on a balcony, consider finding a spot indoors.
Shop for outdoor products
Lots of folks tend to reserve swaying back and forth while gazing up at branches for vacation. So it’s just the thing to add at home for a relaxing feel. If there isn’t a good spot in a yard or on a balcony, consider finding a spot indoors.
Shop for outdoor products
2. Plant an Edible Garden
Planting and tending to an edible garden are rewarding activities. Fresh ingredients are wonderful to have on hand, especially for those who do a lot of meal prep at home. If there isn’t a good space for a plot or you don’t have a yard, look into a community garden space.
12 Tips to Help You Start an Edible Garden
Planting and tending to an edible garden are rewarding activities. Fresh ingredients are wonderful to have on hand, especially for those who do a lot of meal prep at home. If there isn’t a good space for a plot or you don’t have a yard, look into a community garden space.
12 Tips to Help You Start an Edible Garden
Or try a mini edible garden in the kitchen. Plant herbs in pots in the kitchen or in a window box. Basil, rosemary, parsley, lavender, sage and mint plants are good options, and they are usually available in the produce section of grocery stores. Be sure to place them in a sunny spot.
3. Turn Cooking Into a Family Contest
This idea came from a teacher friend who is having some fun with dinners during her staycation. Stocking up during the pandemic has left her family of four a bit overstocked with food, especially in the freezer. In response, they have banned takeout and are holding a “Family Chopped” contest, inspired by the TV show Chopped.
Each family member is in charge of one dinner. The family members can use only what they have at home in the fridge, freezer, pantry and garden, starting with the ingredients that are closest to going bad. Once they go through a good amount of the food they have at home, the winner gets to choose where they’ll pick up a special takeout meal.
This idea came from a teacher friend who is having some fun with dinners during her staycation. Stocking up during the pandemic has left her family of four a bit overstocked with food, especially in the freezer. In response, they have banned takeout and are holding a “Family Chopped” contest, inspired by the TV show Chopped.
Each family member is in charge of one dinner. The family members can use only what they have at home in the fridge, freezer, pantry and garden, starting with the ingredients that are closest to going bad. Once they go through a good amount of the food they have at home, the winner gets to choose where they’ll pick up a special takeout meal.
4. Dine Alfresco
Nabbing a seat outdoors at a restaurant is one of the best things about vacation. Make at-home meals feel special by serving them outside. Include summer vacation staples like watermelon, hot dogs, hamburgers, frozen pops and ice cream during staycation time.
Browse outdoor dining furniture
Nabbing a seat outdoors at a restaurant is one of the best things about vacation. Make at-home meals feel special by serving them outside. Include summer vacation staples like watermelon, hot dogs, hamburgers, frozen pops and ice cream during staycation time.
Browse outdoor dining furniture
Put some extra effort into the outdoor lighting for alfresco dinners. Good lighting will also allow you to play after-dinner board or card games outdoors.
5. Host Campfire Nights
Summer camp rituals include nightly gatherings around the campfire. Singing songs, performing skits, laughing and toasting marshmallows for s’mores are great ways to end the day.
Find the right fire pit
Summer camp rituals include nightly gatherings around the campfire. Singing songs, performing skits, laughing and toasting marshmallows for s’mores are great ways to end the day.
Find the right fire pit
6. Encourage Outdoor Games
Pick up the kinds of easy-to-transport sports equipment that can either fit in the yard or be set up in a park. Cornhole, badminton, croquet and horseshoes are easy to carry, set up and enjoy. If you’ve expanded your bubble to include nonfamily members, be sure to sanitize any equipment touched by another person, or designate individual birdies, beanbags and mallets to individuals.
How to Keep Kids Engaged While You’re Socially Distancing
Pick up the kinds of easy-to-transport sports equipment that can either fit in the yard or be set up in a park. Cornhole, badminton, croquet and horseshoes are easy to carry, set up and enjoy. If you’ve expanded your bubble to include nonfamily members, be sure to sanitize any equipment touched by another person, or designate individual birdies, beanbags and mallets to individuals.
How to Keep Kids Engaged While You’re Socially Distancing
7. Get a Summer Reading List Together
One of the best things about a week away on vacation is the luxury of having time to read. Encourage kids to complete a certain number of books over the summer, placing gold stars on a list as they complete them. Determine a goal and reward them when they hit it.
For adults, book groups are a great way to stay connected. Meet up for discussions online or, if it’s possible to socially distance in an outdoor setting, get together in person.
One of the best things about a week away on vacation is the luxury of having time to read. Encourage kids to complete a certain number of books over the summer, placing gold stars on a list as they complete them. Determine a goal and reward them when they hit it.
For adults, book groups are a great way to stay connected. Meet up for discussions online or, if it’s possible to socially distance in an outdoor setting, get together in person.
8. Explore Local and State Parks
Plan special day trips to local and state parks. Hiking, bird-watching, biking, picnicking, fishing and kayaking are just a few of the enjoyable activities parks have to offer. If you plan to go often, look into annual passes to save money.
Some parks are limiting the number of people they will admit or may be closed during this time. Be sure to check park websites for updates and for information regarding things like fishing license requirements. And visiting on weekdays is a good way to avoid large crowds.
Plan special day trips to local and state parks. Hiking, bird-watching, biking, picnicking, fishing and kayaking are just a few of the enjoyable activities parks have to offer. If you plan to go often, look into annual passes to save money.
Some parks are limiting the number of people they will admit or may be closed during this time. Be sure to check park websites for updates and for information regarding things like fishing license requirements. And visiting on weekdays is a good way to avoid large crowds.
9. Send Mail
My grandparents used to bring a roll of postcard stamps with them on every trip. Sending postcards to family and friends was a part of every one of their vacations. But unfortunately this has become a lost art. Think of how much fun it is to get personal mail — it can make someone’s day. And the great thing about postcards is, it takes very little effort to scribble a few lines in the limited space.
Postcards can also be an art project for kids — have them make their own staycation postcards. The U.S. Postal Service requires that postcards be at least 3½ inches high, 5 inches long and 0.007 inch thick, but no more than 4¼ inches high, 6 inches long and 0.016 inch thick.
My grandparents used to bring a roll of postcard stamps with them on every trip. Sending postcards to family and friends was a part of every one of their vacations. But unfortunately this has become a lost art. Think of how much fun it is to get personal mail — it can make someone’s day. And the great thing about postcards is, it takes very little effort to scribble a few lines in the limited space.
Postcards can also be an art project for kids — have them make their own staycation postcards. The U.S. Postal Service requires that postcards be at least 3½ inches high, 5 inches long and 0.007 inch thick, but no more than 4¼ inches high, 6 inches long and 0.016 inch thick.
10. Start a Sunset Ritual
Sunsets are taken in and appreciated more on vacation than at home. But oceans, lakes and mountain ranges aren’t needed to appreciate something beautiful that happens every day. We miss sunsets at home because we busy ourselves with other things. Switch off devices and choose a special place at home to relax and enjoy the show every evening.
Share: How you are enjoying your leisure time at home this summer? Share your ideas in the Comments.
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Sunsets are taken in and appreciated more on vacation than at home. But oceans, lakes and mountain ranges aren’t needed to appreciate something beautiful that happens every day. We miss sunsets at home because we busy ourselves with other things. Switch off devices and choose a special place at home to relax and enjoy the show every evening.
Share: How you are enjoying your leisure time at home this summer? Share your ideas in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read the most popular stories on Houzz
Hire a local design pro
Shop for your home
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sitting by campfires at home means braving the howling armies of mosquitoes. this is forest fringe Saskatchewan and we either drench ourselves in OFF or we just don't go outside. its sad because weather is absolutely glorious in summer when its not raining. our evenings are cool and perfect for campfires. and mosquitoes. sigh. more and more I am learning to live with the howling armies of mosquitoes becaise I love my yard so much. we put quite a lot of effort into it and its a stupid waste to not take time to enjoy it then to
There are natural powders made from marigolds which help. Also you could check if some local birds eat mosquitos and install bird houses. We have a lake place in middle Georgia and had the same problem. We installed 13 purple Martin bird houses and in 6 months the houses were full. These birds eat thousands of mosquitoes a day
Then we planted marigolds all around the yard and added a fan. Now we sit outside
Mosquitoes are a problem at my house too. They are less of a problem when it is windy, because it's harder for them to zero in on your scent and the carbon dioxide you exhale. Therefore, I use fans when I entertain outdoors. Mosquitoes are most active at night, but will hang out in a shady area where they can be a problem even during the day.