4 MIN READ
9 Family Staycation Ideas Your Family Will Enjoy
Typically as Oregonians, the end of summer means one last beach, mountain, or nature trip. It’s something to look forward to before kids go back to school. With this year being different and no in-person classes for a duration of time, wrapping up summer means much more. Our suggestion is to try to enjoy the sunshine, good weather, and have the best family staycation possible while you can!
With COVID-19 keeping people at home, we took some time as a team to talk about how we have stayed upbeat and made our house a vacation spot we can enjoy, a “family staycation.” We understand we cannot just turn our home into a vacation at Cannon Beach, Bend, or Oregon Wine Country. But, we can create a memorable time that is budget-friendly and enjoyable for the whole family. Here is a look at some of our suggestions, so staying home does not have to be boring; it can be filled with fun and adventure instead!
Backyard Picnic
A picnic in your backyard can be an excellent way to lay some blankets down, soak up some sunshine, have ice-cold beverages, and enjoy delicious food. It’s a different way to enjoy lunch, the company of your loved ones and nature.
Have A Cook Or Bake Off
A cooking competition is a fun way to be creative and work together as a team. You start with the same ingredients, pick a dish, and have a contest of who made it best. Or you could add a mystery ingredient to a simple list of ingredients and see what the teams can make.
If desserts sound like a better option, you could have a bake-off and create different desserts to taste test. You could even make it more challenging by adding design restrictions or limiting the dessert options to more complicated options.
Water Themed Party
On a hot summer day, no better way to cool down and feel like a kid again than a water-themed party. Sprinklers, pools, waterslides, water guns, and water pools are just some of our ideas for your afternoon fun! If none of those sounds like fun, you could even add games like water balloon piñata, water balloon baseball, or water balloon dodgeball.
Turn Your Backyard Into A Family Carnival Area
Carnival’s are a great way to spend time with the family and continue summer traditions. Bring out the inner kid in you and enjoy carnival music, food, prizes, games, and decorations. Ideas include, but are not limited to:
- Music: circus or carnival themed
- Food: corn dogs, fries, cotton candy, popcorn, and shaved ice
- Prizes: candy, stuffed animals, spinners, rubric cube, keychains, and temporary tattoos
- Games: picking a duck, balloon pop, bobbing for apples, spin the wheel, corn hole, and ring toss
- Decorations: balloons, streamers, flag pennants, raffle ticket booths, candy stands, and carnival signs
Camp Out Or Build A Fort
Your backyard is a great place to pitch a tent, roll out the sleeping bags, or build a fort to camp for the weekend. You don’t need much for this experience, some blankets, pillows, twinkle lights, camping chairs, a fire pit, chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers for smores over the fire. P.S. don’t forget to bring your scary stories to tell under the starlit sky!
Find A New Hobby Or Passion
With this “new reality,” it is a great time to learn something new or find a new hobby. Some of the things we recommend include taking an online class, learning a new craft or skill, play a different outdoor game, learn a new language, or look into getting a new pet for your home.
Art Competition
Art has no guidelines, rules, or restrictions, making it a great activity to relax and showcase your creative talents. Since the options of what kind of art you can make are endless, here are some of our favorites; matching tie-dye T-shirts, beaded bracelets, water painting, or sidewalk chalk!
Volunteer
In Oregon, many people in the community need our help! Whatever we can do is beneficial and can help change the community one step at a time. A few suggestions for at-home projects include making tied fleece blankets, supporting our troops with letters, or help a family in need by either donating food to people in need. With kids needing school supplies and the challenges our community faces, any help we can provide could make a massive difference in someone else’s life!
Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt around the neighborhood, house, or in dedicated rooms could be a fun way for people in the family to get small gifts, toys, snacks, or money. Making up clues, rhymes, and maps are fun ways to get people to think and move around.
Movie Night
Whether you set up a projector with a sheet to present off or set up a tv, movie night in the backyard is a great experience. It’s different from going to the movie theatre and a drive-in movie, giving you another shared experience with your family.
At-Home Vacations Are A Great Way To Stay Safe!
While we know a family staycation may not beat any of the vacations you had planned, they allow you to enjoy time with the family and your beautiful home. Whether you are enjoying your backyard with food and games or throwing a summer deck party, we hope you have a great time! Just as a friendly reminder, no matter what you decide to do, remember to stay safe, wear a mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance.