50 Staycation Ideas for Families Stuck at Home

I absolutely LOVE traveling with my kids. But sometimes we’re stuck at home unable to venture out into the world. Whether we just had a baby or are saving money for a big dream vacation, a family staycation seems like the best course of action to change things up.

Staycations are beneficial for so many reasons. They’re much cheaper than travel vacations because you’re saving on transportation and hotel costs. You have the convenience of your own bed, clothes, and comforts of home. Plus you can spend more on activities and food since you’re saving elsewhere.

Kids love any change in routine that feels special, so instead of resenting the fact that you can’t go anywhere right now, use this time to make lifelong family memories.

With a little planning and creativity, a staycation could be just what your family needs right now.

*NOTE: many of these ideas are perfect for practicing social distancing. Some are not, so use your best judgment and follow local guidelines and stay at home/safer at home orders for those suggestions.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

HOW TO PLAN THE PERFECT STAYCATION WITH KIDS

1. SET A BUDGET

If you want to make your staycation feel like a true break from everyday life, you’ll need to set a vacation budget - no matter how small.

Include categories like:

Groceries
Eating out at restaurants (or ordering in)
Entertainment
Supplies
Gas

Think of all the activities you have planned and make sure you have everything you need to buy included in the budget so there are no surprises.

2. PREPARE TO STEP AWAY FROM CHORES AND WORK

Just like on a regular vacation, you’ll want to clear your schedule so you can truly spend quality time with your family.

Perhaps you’ll still need to work from home during your staycation. If that’s the case, designate a time and place each day so that the rest of the family knows what to expect.

If you can take a few days off from work, make sure you’re prepared. Use an out of office response on your email, contact relevant people to let them know you’ll be unavailable, and tie up any loose ends.

Give your house a thorough cleaning before staycation so you’re not tempted to do any chores other than the essentials - like dishes.

3. CREATE AN ITINERARY

I’ve found that vacations with kids run more smoothly when there’s a plan. The same applies to staycations.

Create an itinerary for the entire vacation at home. Have a theme or schedule for each day. You can be as flexible as you want with that schedule, but it helps everyone know what to expect.

4. CREATE A STAYCATION BUCKET LIST

Have your kids help you create a staycation bucket list. Make a colorful document, print it out, and hang it somewhere prominent like the fridge.

Kids love checking items off a list, AND it will be a chance for everyone to give their input about what they would like to do on your family staycation.

5. GET IN THE VACATION MINDSET

When we travel as a family, I always feel more adventurous and more open to trying new things.

Bring that same spirit of adventure to your at-home vacation.

Say yes as often as you can. Laugh more. Be patient. Create memories and take lots of pictures.

If you want your kids to truly feel like this was a break from your mundane everyday life, then your attitude will set the tone!

STAYCATION IDEAS FOR FAMILIES

1. COOK A FANCY BRUNCH

One of the best parts of going on vacation is getting to eat a delicious breakfast or brunch. Whether you favor continental breakfasts at a hotel, brunch at a local restaurant, or all-you-can-eat buffet brunches, recreate the experience at home. Cook bacon, waffles, pancakes, scrambled eggs, fancy omelets, or cinnamon rolls. Have several juice options on-hand. Indulge in a mimosa or bloody mary (adults only). Don’t rush! Just enjoy the good food and each others’ company.

2. TAKE A VIRTUAL VISIT TO ANOTHER COUNTRY

Be an armchair traveler! If you can’t leave home, bring another country to you! Choose a destination and do your best to recreate the experience of traveling there in your own living room. Cook traditional meals from that country, choose a dessert the destination is popular for, watch a YouTube video of the popular sightseeing spots, or do a craft that represents the destination.

3. HAVE A THEMED MOVIE NIGHT

Choose a movie the whole family will enjoy and go all out with themed snacks, decor, and costumes. For example, if you have some Harry Potter buffs in your house, dress in robes, make your own Butterbeer, make golden snitch Rice Krispy balls, and decorate your house in your chose house colors (Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw.) Light some candles and play your favorite Harry Potter movie.

You could also just do a general “Hollywood Premiere” themed movie night. Get dressed up in your fanciest dress clothes, walk the red carpet, and get ready for some old school Hollywood glamour. Have individual bowls of popcorn and personal candy boxes ready at each person’s seat.

4. TRY BACKYARD CAMPING

Set up your tent in the backyard or in your living room and have a blast camping at home! Do an outdoor scavenger hunt, make smores or indoor smores, grill out, and spend the evening around the campfire. Finish the day off with a family sleepover in the tent!

Check out my whole blog post about at-home camping for even more family fun.

5. HAVE A SPA DAY

If you’ve ever visited the spa at a hotel, you know it’s a very luxurious experience. Recreate that feeling at home! Get in your coziest robes and do facemasks, paint your nails, give each other back massages, and sip on lemon water. Pamper yourselves!

6. CREATE A WATER PLAY DAY

If you can’t get to a water park, set one up in your backyard! Even if you don’t have a pool, order an inexpensive kiddie pool or splurge on a backyard water playground. Get out the water guns and fill up some water balloons for an intense water battle. Set up a water table or just fill a bucket with water and use cups, kitchen utensils, bowls, and bath toys to facilitate water play.

If you have one, get out a waterproof camera like the GoPro to create a video montage of your day.

7. DO A DISNEY DAY

Everyone loves a Disney Vacation! If you can’t afford one yet or you’re still abiding by social distancing, recreate the magic of the parks in your own home.

There are several YouTube channels with virtual recordings of all the Disney Rides. Use Magic Bands from past trips (or create your own) to do “fast passes.” Make your own Dole Whip or Mickey Mouse shaped waffles. Grab Mickey ice cream bars from the local grocery store for an afternoon treat. Wear your mouse ears and let kids dress up in Disney costumes to really get the most out of your Disney day.

Finish the night by watching the fireworks on YouTube and picking your favorite movie from Disney+.

8. TAKE A DRIVE THROUGH YOUR HOMETOWN

Whether or not social distancing is going on, you can explore your hometown from your car!

Some cities have audio tours, so just do a Google search for audio tours of your hometown. If you have a National Park nearby you can also find audio tours of those! Explore the parks without even getting out of your car.

Even if you don’t have an audio guide, have the kids do a scavenger hunt from the car (include local shops, restaurants, and landmarks), or just cruise through neighborhoods and parts of the city you rarely visit. You’ll be surprised at what you find!

>> Check out this post for road trip activities for kids! (Including a FREE road trip scavenger hunt) <<

9. EXPLORE THE LOCAL OUTDOOR SCENE

No matter where you live, there’s something cool outdoors that your family is sure to enjoy. Some live near the beach, some have great hiking trails, some have wonderful local parks, lakes, or rivers.

Go for a walk or hike and enjoy the natural beauty around you.

10. SET UP AN AT-HOME WELLNESS RETREAT

Get healthy and refreshed at home!

Start the day with healthy smoothies and breakfast foods, plus a tall glass of lemon water. Try sunrise yoga (use a youtube video or app to guide you) while playing soothing music.

Set a block of time during the day when no screens are allowed. Read, meditate, nap, or just spend time together as a family. (We all know toddlers are NOT going to be conducive to meditation).

Take an afternoon or evening walk as a family or try a new online exercise class.

11. DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

Sometimes the best part of vacation is doing absolutely nothing. While it’s not always possible to completely shut off your brain when kids are around, give everyone permission to spend the day how they see fit. If that means extra screen time for the kids - fine! If that means reading in a fort you built - great! If that means taking a 2-hour family nap - wonderful!

Just take the day to not be productive. Take the pressure off. Don’t even change out of your pajamas or sweats. Just enjoy doing NOTHING.

12. TRY A NEW MIXED DRINK

Maybe you have always wanted to try your hand at making a certain craft cocktail. Good news! Pinterest is full of intriguing recipes. Don’t be afraid to get fancy. Buy all the strange ingredients you wouldn’t normally have on hand and get to work!

Make it even more fun by creating a virgin option for the kids so they can feel fancy, too! Make sure to put the drinks in beautiful glasses with garnishes. Bottoms up!

13. HAVE A HOTEL NIGHT AT HOME

Whether you don’t want to spend money on a hotel or social distancing is in effect, you can recreate the hotel experience at home!

Put on fluffy robes and slippers, use travel-sized amenities, and order in for dinner to make it feel like room service.

14. DO A FAMILY GAME NIGHT

Pick out some board games that the whole family will enjoy. Try several different games or have a tournament to determine the ultimate champion.

Some great family games include:

Charades
Spoons
Uno
Guess Who
Trouble
Connect 4

15. SET UP A FAMILY OLYMPICS EVENT

Choose 4-5 events for your competitions. They can be both physical and mental games. Think: bean bag toss, water balloon toss, balancing an egg on a spoon, humming a tune and having your team guess, or password.

Split up into teams (you can do each individual for themself, pairs, or 2 teams depending on how big your family is). Think of a way to score each event, then have a prize for each place.

16. EAT OUTSIDE

Nothing breaks up routine like eating outside! Whether you grill out or not, dining al fresco makes everyone feel more relaxed and brings the true vacation spirit to any ordinary day.

Spread a picnic blanket on the ground or eat at your outdoor dining set and enjoy the beautiful weather!

>> This is BY FAR our family’s favorite picnic blanket! <<

17. HOLD A COOKING OR BAKING COMPETITION

One of my best memories for a family staycation was the year we did a baking competition. Each team was assigned one “strange” ingredient, then had a table full of normal baking ingredients to choose from.

Without using a cookbook or the internet, each team had to come up with their own dessert concoction. The results were hilarious and tasty!

18. ORDER IN

At a hotel or eating out at a restaurant on vacation, no one has to worry about cooking or cleaning up.

Bring that same spirit to your staycation by ordering in as often as you like.

Bonus points if you try new cuisines or local restaurants you’ve never tried!

19. GET DRESSED UP AND TAKE PICTURES

I love photos and memory books, so I come back from every trip with hundreds, if not thousands, of pictures on my memory card and camera roll.

>> See my best family photo tips HERE <<

Why not apply the same principle to your family staycation? You can take pictures throughout the entire week or weekend, or you could designate a special day where everyone gets dressed up and you take the time to pose for family pictures.

You might want to make sure you have a tripod, a remote starter, and a selfie stick!

When social distancing is over, you can also go out into the community to take pictures by all the famous tourist spots! Google “Instagram spots in [insert your city]” for plenty of ideas.

20. ROAD TRIP!

If social distancing is still going on, you can still get in your car and take a drive. Go find scenic highways, cities you’ve never visited, parks, or really anywhere within driving distance of your house. It’s a great way to break up your day if you’re going stir crazy at home.

Once the quarantine is over, go ahead and plan a day trip to nearby cities. Find free or cheap things to do in the area, try their signature restaurant or dessert shop, and take plenty of pictures to commemorate the day.

>> Check out this post for road trip activities for kids! (Including a FREE road trip scavenger hunt) <<

21. SET UP A DESSERT BAR

Nothing gets my kids more excited than a dessert bar! Make ice cream sundaes, decorate cupcakes, do an assortment of candies or cookies, or add your own toppings to waffles, soft pretzels, or yogurt.

22. MAKE A SCAVENGER HUNT FOR YOUR KIDS

Create an elaborate scavenger hunt for your kids to complete. They will relish the challenge, and you’ll love getting a little bit of peace and quiet as adults while they work on the hunt.

You can be as creative or as vague as you want. Make a list of items around the house, do a color scavenger hunt, a photo scavenger hunt, or hide letters or words around the house.

You could also turn it into a treasure hunt with clues or riddles for clues to lead them to the ultimate treasure (something fun for them to enjoy like a treat or a bubble machine or a new game).

23. ENJOY QUIET INDOOR ACTIVITIES

You don’t always have to have an agenda. You can set aside time to enjoy quiet indoor activities that you rarely make time for.

Put together a tough puzzle, read books, or binge a new tv show. This is especially appealing for families with young kids that still take an afternoon nap.

24. GO FRUIT PICKING

If you have a local farm that offers fruit picking, head out to gather some produce! Apple farms and berry farms are popular choices! Make sure to enjoy the gift shop afterward and see if they sell any specialty desserts or drinks that incorporate that fruit.

*There are some farms that offer social distancing-safe fruit picking.

25. ORDER A KIT ONLINE FOR YOUR KIDS TO TRY

If your kids have a specific interest like art, crafts, jewelry making, science experiments, building things, etc, order a special kit to do together with them during your staycation.

My kids love bracelet making and Magformers.

26. REDECORATE A ROOM TOGETHER

If you have the budget for it, let your child pick a new paint color or new decor for their room, then spend a day or two completely redecorating their room.

You can also rearrange furniture or “shop your own house” for more inexpensive ways to spruce up a room.

Kids will feel so special, and it really will feel like they’re in a new place once their “new room” is complete.

27. GO FOR A FAMILY BIKE RIDE

Hop on your bikes and find a local trail to enjoy together. If you have little kids, use a bike trailer to include them, too. Everyone will get some exercise, enjoy the fresh air, and see their town from a new perspective.

28. SET UP A MUSEUM AT HOME

If you’d rather be at the Louvre in Paris or the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., try recreating a museum at home.

Print out replicas of famous works of art. Have everyone research a historical event and create an exhibit. Make artifact displays with collections you already have at home (seashells, rocks, foreign currencies, souvenirs from other countries, etc.)

29. LOOK TO THE SKIES

Spend a lazy afternoon looking at the clouds and trying to figure out what shapes you see.

You could also study constellations and spend the twilight hours stargazing to see if you can spot any of them!

30. TAKE AN ONLINE COURSE TOGETHER TO LEARN A NEW SKILL

Websites like Skillshare offer tons of online courses to learn new skills like photography, calligraphy, drawing, interior design, writing, arranging flowers, and pretty much anything you could think of.

Choose something that several members of your family would enjoy and spend time each day of your staycation learning your new skill.

>> Get 2 months of free courses with Skillshare using my link!

31. MAKE YOUR BACKYARD A PARADISE

Do some light landscaping or invest in a few items that will turn your backyard into a relaxing paradise. Set up a hammock, pick up some lounge chairs, or create a peaceful garden you’ll enjoy for years to come.

32. CHECK OUT VIRTUAL AQUARIUMS, ZOOS, AND MUSEUMS

So many zoos, aquariums, and museums offer online live stream or video events you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. If you’ve got a budding zoologist, marine biologist, artist, or historian, indulge their interest by visiting the destination of their choice online.

33. LEARN TO MAKE FANCY COFFEE DRINKS

Buy a few extra ingredients and kitchen appliances so you can learn to make fancy coffee drinks together. You’ll need flavored syrups, milk or half & half, creamer, a frother, an espresso machine, and coffee. Search YouTube and Pinterest for ideas!

34. CREATE A STAYCATION ROUTINE

One of my favorite things about traveling to another country is falling into a new routine in a foreign country. In France that looked like sitting at a sidewalk cafe for my morning cafe au lait and croissant. In Germany that looked like afternoon Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake) at a local coffee shop. In England that was afternoon tea.

The purpose was to sit at a table and enjoy each other’s company along with a tasty afternoon pick-me-up treat.

Find your own version and make it a priority each day!

35. TRY A “YES” DAY

Pick a day on staycation and make it the day you say “yes” to anything your kids ask to do. (Obviously use your judgment - if they ask to do something dangerous or harmful don’t let them). But within reason, say YES to everything!

If they want candy for breakfast - go for it. If they want to watch movies ALL DAY - yes! If they want to paint and you usually hate dealing with the mess - today’s the day to do it! Kids will never forget the day you felt like the most fun parent ever!

36. CREATE YOUR OWN DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATER

You’ll need a projector for this, otherwise, this is super simple to set up! Aim the projector at your garage door, back your car into the driveway, and fill the trunk with blankets, pillows, and snacks.

If your trunk isn’t big enough to sit, use it as the snack bar and set up your camp chairs or lounge chairs.

37. MAKE A STAYCATION SCRAPBOOK

Print your pictures or use an Instax camera, then create a scrapbook of everything you do on staycation. You can tape pictures into an album or special book, write captions in colorful pens, and don’t forget to add in ticket stubs or art projects you create.

If scrapbooking is not your thing, make a digital version by creating a photo memory book on Shutterfly or Chatbooks.

38. SET UP AN AT-HOME ESCAPE ROOM

Escape rooms have been super popular for a while now. Make your own escape room for the kids to enjoy. You can just do a Google Search for at-home escape room kits and you’re ready to go!

39. GO KAYAKING OR CANOEING

Head to a local park with a river or lake, rent a canoe or kayak, and spend the day out on the water! This is a fun way to get some exercise, see the natural world in your area, and work together as a family.

40. BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN

Once social distancing is over, you’ll certainly have a new appreciation for your community. Get out and see your city through the eyes of a tourist.

Pay for a trolley tour, visit local museums, take a cooking class, attend a festival, sign up for an Airbnb Experience, ask fellow locals for their favorite spots around town, or go on a hunt for the best ice cream (coffee, donuts, whatever) in town.

>> Read the rest of my post with ideas for being a tourist in your own city here! <<

41. STAY OVERNIGHT AT A HOTEL

Staying in a hotel is the ultimate vacation activity for kids. Even if you can only afford one night at a hotel in your own city, it will be so worth it!

Kids will love swimming in the hotel pool, ordering room service, watching tv in bed while eating snacks, and exploring the hotel grounds.

42. BINGE-WATCH A FAMILY-FRIENDLY SHOW

Pick a show on Netflix or Disney+ that the whole family will like and watch a bunch of episodes. I personally think game shows make the best family binge-watches! You’ll be surprised how having that shared experience will bring you together as a family - rooting for the same people or competing against each other is so fun!

43. LET KIDS STAY UP PAST THEIR BEDTIME

Pick a night of your staycation to let kids stay up as late as they want! You can play games, watch a movie, or have a late-night snack. No matter what you do, it will feel special that they’re allowed to stay up late like the grown-ups. (Bonus points if they fall asleep on their own and you don’t have to do the bedtime routine).

44. WATCH THE SUNRISE OR SUNSET

Get up early and head somewhere beautiful in your town to watch the sunrise. Take pictures or do a timelapse video to capture the beauty of the moment. You could also do the same thing for sunset if you’re not early risers.

We live by the beach, so we like to head to the beach with our coffee mugs in our pajamas for a sunrise over the ocean.

45. GO TAILGATING AT HOME

Whether you’re planning to watch an athletic event or play games in your backyard, set up a tailgate just like you would before a baseball or football game. Bring out the portable grill and cook up some hot dogs and hamburgers, play some music, and play bean bag toss in the driveway.

46. PLAN YOUR NEXT REAL VACATION

I get so much joy out of researching travel destinations, and so do my kids! If you’re saving up for a vacation, start the planning process together during your staycation. Watch YouTube videos, create a saving progress tracker, and make a vision board of all the things you want to do on your trip.

>> How to Plan Your Best Possible Family Vacation Itinerary <<

47. MAKE A FAMILY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Do you have all kinds of home videos saved on your phone? Are your kids begging to do TikTok dances? Do you like making birthday interview videos of your kids or montages of your family vacations? Why not start a YouTube channel to upload your videos and share them with family and friends? Don’t worry, you can make your channel private if you want!

Check out my channel here!

48. PAINT ROCKS

We always see beautifully painted rocks with inspirational messages around our community. Why not make your own? Gather medium size rocks and get painting. If you live in a touristy city, make some that tourists can take home as a souvenir. Go and hide them around your community. If you’re not artsy, try this rock painting kit!

49. NEW BOOKS FOR EVERYONE

Whether you’re ordering at home through Amazon or visiting the local bookstore, have each family member pick a brand new book they’ve been wanting to read or that catches their eye.

You know how excited kids get for those Scholastic Book Fairs at school - bring that same spirit to your staycation, then spend a day snuggled up reading together.

50. INVENT A NEW HOLIDAY

Come up with a fun new holiday to celebrate on your staycation. Make decorations, come up with “traditional” food, and even exchange gifts. If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas, Google what “National Days” are happening during your staycation (National Pancake Day, National Talk Like a Pirate Day, etc), and celebrate it with enthusiasm. Who knows? It might become a new family tradition!