Fun-Filled Family Staycation | Parks Family Travel

Whether it’s your busy schedule, school classes, or budget constraints, it’s just not possible for most of us to travel far and wide all the time. Never fear, I’ve compiled a list of things to try nearby that will help scratch that travel itch. Try some of these five fabulous staycation ideas.

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Key Takeaways

Backyard Camping

Pitch a Tent, fill it with blankets, pillows, and sleeping bags, eat hot dogs or tin foil dinners, make smores in the microwave or oven, and tell funny jokes or spooky stories with flashlights. Camping at home is the classic staycation. Even if you live in a big city and have no personal green space, have a sleepover in the family room. No tent? Make a blanket fort. Just like in real camping, the mess and lack of sleep are worth the memories your family is making. Usually.

Hotel Getaway

If tents and sleeping bags aren’t quite your style, try a nearby hotel. Grabbing a weeknight rate in a less in-demand area (away from Downtown or any major visitor sites) can be a relatively inexpensive way to feel like you’re traveling, even if you’re only five miles down the road. Bonus points for booking a hotel with a pool and complimentary breakfast. Kids are happy, parents are happy, the economy is happy. Win-win-win.

Pro Tip: Many hotels and booking sites offer rewards programs. Some give bonus nights after so many stays at their brand or by using their site. Credit cards may also have benefits like a statement credit if you book through their portal. A little research might save you some good money, or help you get closer to traveling outside your city limits.

Museum Membership

My son and his grandma at a local museum looking at a replica of an elephant

Take a look at the museums in your area. Do any of them offer reciprocal entry to other museums out of state? If so, grabbing a family membership may not only offer your family a chance to have fun locally but in other locations where you may be traveling. We had a family membership to a local museum and were then able to get in either free or at a reduced price to museums in California and Arizona. Two museum reciprocity groups are ASTC and NARM.

City Passes

Many larger cities have some version of an attractions pass. It may be a Get Out Pass, CityPASS, GoCity, POGO Pass, or something similar. Definitely do a quick search for any kind of discount code to use when purchasing one of the passes. While buying a pass like this for every family member can add up, if purchased during a promotion, these passes can get you into many attractions that would cost significantly more if you bought the tickets individually. The best part of these passes is they provide an opportunity for a small staycation here and there, but you only pay once.

Be an Out of Towner

Try to see your city with new eyes. Do a quick internet search as if you have never been there before and you are going there for vacation. Check out the top sites on TripAdvisor, find a new favorite place to eat on Yelp, or see if there is anything near you on Atlas Obscura. Make a weekend of it or create a hometown bucket list to work on over time. Help others who will venture to your area by writing detailed reviews of where you go. Sharing is caring.

Simple and Purposeful

Our kids really just want some attention and quality time. A memorable staycation doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated. Just find some time to dedicate to having a unique family experience and get going!

What are your favorite staycation ideas?