With gas prices skyrocketing out of this world our summer vacation plans may need to be adjusted a little in order to stay within the budget. Don't worry this doesn't mean your summer vacation has to dull and boring! Instead you may find some places close to home worth spending your vacation time and dollars. With a little creative thinking and some help from Google you and your family can have an amazing vacation this summer!
Don't let these barriers keep you from taking a vacation! You don't have to travel very far, or at all to have the best vacation yet this year! Imagination, creativity and a little pre-planning is all you need to gave a relaxing, fun and memorable vacation this year.
Family Fun Summer Staycation Ideas
Here are some great ideas to help you plan a vacation this year that you can take from the comfort of your own home.
This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!
VIRTUAL STAYCATION
Are you a history buff who loves to visit historical sites or maybe you prefer visiting museums when you go on vacation? Why not do both? Many museums, zoos and historical places now offer free virtual tours that you can visit from the comfort of your own home.
To make your virtual vacation seem more like a vacation why not go BIG and use a projector to watch a tour of your vacation destination. No longer are projectors those big clunky machines found in a classroom. Today's projectors are small, sleek and affordable making it easy to use anywhere you need to project a movie or picture.
If buying a mini projector isn't in the budget why not make your own using your smartphone? Get your kids involved and create a memorable vacation project to go along with the virtual tour. Check out this simple tutorial on YouTube from HooplaKids.
Here are some great places to visit on your virtual tour vacation:
Don't Forget The Souvenirs
Just because you are vacationing from home doesn't mean you should skip the souvenirs! Below are three free posters you can print from three great virtual tour locations.
Check out the printable posters below from Apartment Guide (for more decorating tips visit their blog).
 |
| click to download |
BACKYARD CAMPING
If you can find a campground that is open this summer chances are they are booked solid throughout the summer. No problem, how about camping in your own backyard under the stars. No need for fancy camping supplies since your home kitchen and bathroom are just a few feet away. A tent, some sleeping bags and a flashlight can make your at home camping adventure memorable.
Don't forget the campfire! Campfires are always a highlight to any camping trip. If you don't have a built in bonfire pit why not get a portable one. There are so many to choose from, I'm sure you will find one your family can use and enjoy for years to come.
If a portable fire pit is not in your budget this year why not make your own table top mini campfire. Here are two great tutorials you can follow to make your own with just a few simple and inexpensive supplies:
Option #1 - Charcoal Tabletop Campfire
Slice off a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the inside of the Terra Cotta pot. If you need to use more than one piece go ahead, just make sure the entire inside of the pot is lined with foil. I prefer to use the heavy duty aluminum foil. Next place several bricks of charcoal inside the pot filling it to the top but not enough so any can fall out. I recommend placing your pot on top of the drainage plate to prevent the pot from scorching your table top. Squirt a little bit of lighter fluid on the charcoal then light them with the lighter.
Grab your marshmallow sticks, marshmallows, and s'more fixings and start toasting!
Be Careful! This small table top campfire will be hot. Please supervise your children at all times. Once you are done using the campfire make sure to fully extinguish the coals.The pot will be hot so do not touch it until it is completely cool.
Option #2 - Sterno & Terra Cotta Pot Tabletop Campfire
This second option for building a tabletop campfire uses a slightly different heat source than the first option. You know those small cans of sterno that you see under a platter that a caterer uses to keep food warm? That is what this option uses as the campfire!
To build your campfire place the Terra Cotta pot on top of the drainage plate then place a layer of small stones in the bottom of the pot. Next place the can of sterno on top of the rock layer. You will want the opening of the sterno container to be level with the edge of the pot so you may need to add a few more rocks. Fill in the space between the sterno can and the pot with additional small stones. This layer of stones will help keep the sterno can from being wobbly.
When you are ready for your table top campfire just unscrew the lid of the sterno, use your lighter to ignite the sterno and start enjoying a fire roasted marshmallow! After you have stuffed yourself silly with marshmallows and s'mores place the lid over the sterno can to extinguish the fire. Again, remember this sterno can may be hot so please let it cool completely before touching it.
AT HOME LUAU VACATION
Did the dream vacation you wanted to take to a tropical island change due to the increased cost to fly? Don't let this change of plans wreck your tropical island experience instead, why not create a tropical island of your very own right at home?
With the help of Pinterest you can get some great ideas to help you create a tropical oasis right in your own back yard. Check out and follow the Pins on my PARTY Luau board to get you started!
Here are some supplies you need to get your at home Luau Vacation started:
Medium size cardboard boxes (empty Amazon boxes work well)
Brown butcher paper (or paper grocery bags)
Make a beach in your yard with a few bags of play sand. If you have a sandbox you can use this as the beach but if you don't, find a spot in your yard that you don't mind covering in sand and empty a few bags of play sand there. Place beach chairs, tiki torches and even a banner of beach balls around your new beach!
Every tropical island needs palm trees. To make some for your backyard luau cut a hole the same diameter as a pool noodle. Insert the pool noodle into the hole then cover the pool noodle with brown craft paper, bunching it up to make it look like palm tree bark. Use the colorful tissue paper to make the tree foliage and don't forget to make a few coconuts with balled up brown craft paper or tissue paper.
Don't forget to make some island luau food to go along with your new beach and luau party! Here are some great ideas for luau party food I think you might like:
 |
| A Bountiful Love |
Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes from Kitchen Dreaming.com
 |
| Kitchen Dreaming |
 |
| 3 Boys and a Dog |
No matter what type of vacation you decide to take this summer the memories you make will last a lifetime for you and your family. A vacation at home can be relaxing and fun! I'd love to hear your staycation ideas, please leave me a comment telling me your ideas and experiences.
Need more help planning a Family Staycation? Check out this post The Ultimate Family Staycation with a bunch of helpful ideas including a budget, meal plan and activity worksheets!
I really wanted to develop a small remark to appreciate you for some of the lovely solutions you are showing at this website. My time intensive internet research has finally been rewarded with incredibly good information to talk about with my two friends. I 'd state that that most of us site visitors actually are undoubtedly endowed to be in a good website with many wonderful professionals with insightful advice. I feel quite privileged to have seen your website page and look forward to really more enjoyable times reading here. Thanks again for all the details.
ReplyDeletediscount womens swimsuits uk
Thanks for your comment - it is truly appreciated! Enjoy reading more posts and feel free to leave more comments.
Delete