Parenting Summer Break: Family Vacation @ Home

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Family reunion planned?

Beach house rented?

Mickey ears embordered?

Whether or not you have a big trip planned for summer break, you can still enjoy the fun of a stay-cation! Often times it’s easy to overlook the fun that is right in our own neck of the woods!

Here are a few ideas to try out…

Visit Local Sites

How many times do you drive past the local sites and say, “We should go check that out someday!” but you never get around to it? Summer break is a great time to stop and learn more about your own area!

Take a closer look at local public murals and sculptures. Look up the artists, and learn more about their stories, and other works that you can check out.
Do you have a National or State Park nearby to explore? Is there a ranger station where you can sign up for a class, tour, or grab a map to explore on your own?
Take a tour of a local business! Here in Denver, we can tour Hammond’s candy factory or the Celestial Seasonings Tea company.
Visit a local stadium or theater for a behind-the-scenes tour!
Find historical, or memorial sites in your town to learn more about!

Take a Trip Down Memory Lane

Why not re-live all of the past family trips you have taken?

Remember all the excitement?

Laugh at all the mishaps or jokes that Uncle Fred told at the last reunion?

Watch old vacation videos as a family. Pick a night and pop some popcorn.
Go through all your old trip pictures. Pass them around the dinner table during a family dinner.
Pick a few of those trip pictures to frame and display on a wall in your home. This way the memories can live on in your everyday life. (see photos below)

Another way to think back on family trips is to bring out the souvenirs! Do you collect pins to trade? Maybe key chains or magnets are more your style? Take them out! Use them! Do a family show and tell with your favorites!
Have some unused postcards? Send them to a family member or friend for fun!
Read souvenir books to the kids for bedtime stories!

Vacation Moments @ Home

While it’s not the same as being in a hotel or at a resort, you can add a little fun to the family stay-cation by trying some of these tips…

Fold towels into animals as they do on cruise ships. This YouTube video shows you how! Get out the towels and washcloths and let everyone in the family try it!
Take a pretend airplane flight. Grab the neck pillows! Draw airplanes on the napkins! Have one of the kids do the safety briefing. Pass out some pretzels and beverages and begin a movie! (photo below)
Backyard camping is especially fun, as you can still operate dinner and breakfast from your full-service kitchen in the house if you like! Grab some flashlights and leave the electronics in the house for the night!
Get out your favorite vacation clothes to wear. A favorite t-shirt, hat, or Hawaiian shirt?
Have a suitcase relay! Fill in 2 suitcases each with the same types and amounts of clothing. Place them at one end of the yard. Line up in 2 teams on the other side of the yard. Here is an old PBS Zoom video to show you how it’s done. You can play as a family, or sibling against sibling, or invite the neighbors over!