5 Ideas for Summer Staycations

With the economy still in the dumps and the price of gas still in the stratosphere, we are staying close to home this summer. However, that doesn't mean we can't have a summer vacation, right? I wanted to share some tips and family fun ideas that we are considering for our summer "vacation" to inspire you to take some downtime, relax and have some fun with your family.

Now, here are five ideas for Summer Staycation fun in your own backyard.

1. Build a Backyard Mini Golf Course. If your kids love mini golf or you want to encourage them to practice outside of their golf lessons, set up a course in your backyard or neighborhood. Here’s how.
2. Camp Close to Home. I am a huge fan of camping in the backyard. Why? I hate camping. However, the kids love it, so camping close to home keeps us all happy. We set up the tent in the backyard, grill out, roast the marshmallows, read comic books in the tent by flashlight, and play flashlight tag. But we get to use our own bathroom and at 11:30 p.m. I can go inside and sleep in my own bed. Win-win!
3. Create an Outdoor Movie Theater. Summer means blockbuster movies and what cooler way to watch favorite movies than outside? Remember the drive-in? I vividly remember going to the drive-in as a kid and I loved it. If you don’t have one near you, here's how to create that same experience in your backyard.
4. Go to the Beach or Create a Backyard Water Park. We are lucky enough to have beaches within driving distance. If you don’t want to drive, it’s easier than you think to create a fun water park in your backyard.
5. Organize a Neighborhood Olympics. I’m a firm believer that more people equals more fun. There are bound to be other friends and neighbors staying close to home this summer that would love to help you plan a little family fun. Stage your own Olympic Games in the yard to get everyone up and active. Take a look in your garage for bocce ball, baggo games, horseshoes, or obstacles for a relay race. Grab some prizes and snacks. Here’s a list of some easy, outdoor fun games for kids of all ages.