We all know that taking breaks and going on a vacation are really good for our health. Oftentimes, though, time or money forces us to put a traditional vacation on hold. Still, we all need a break. And that’s where the staycation comes in.

Simply put, staycations are vacations you take close to or at your home. Sure, you can do some traveling, but the idea is that you either return home at night or stay somewhere local. That makes staycations more cost effective since they don’t typically involve flying. Plus, they give some extra flexibility in terms of the kinds of things you can plan. Wanna plan a day trip and do some much needed lawn maintenance? Then a staycation might be for you.

If a staycation is in your near future, here are 5 ideas for how to spend it.

Do tourist-y things in your town

This is a great option if you live in a city. But even if you don’t, it’s likely you’ll be able to find interesting sights or places to explore that are close to home and well worth the effort. 

Are you a foodie? Try a walking tour of your city so you can sample foods from local restaurants, cafes, and bakeries. If you like history or art (and maybe air conditioning?) and feel comfortable being indoors in crowds, you might check out a local museum. Or if the weather permits, head to a local park for a picnic and a nature walk. 

Depending on what you’re interested in , you might find it makes sense to book a hotel or vacation rental so you can spend more time discovering the city you’re in, even if you already live there. That might give you more time to explore a part of the city you haven’t experienced before without the worry of driving home too late.

Plan a day trip

Interested in checking out a city or town that’s close by? Great idea! Day trips are another awesome way to spend a staycation. 

Start by finding a location that’s no more than one or two hours away. The goal is to find a place that has enough stuff for you to explore in one day’s time, but isn’t so far away that you spend all your time traveling. 

Once you’ve got the city or town selected, decide what you want to do! You’ll most likely need a few restaurants or cafes for food throughout the day if you don’t plan to pack some lunches. 

After that, consider checking out museums, parks, beaches, shopping centers, or other destinations for your day trip. Many cities and towns have travel boards that maintain websites that list the top tourist destinations in that area, and you can use that information to help guide your planning for the day. You might even consider looking for interesting places to explore on your way to and from your destination to make the drive more interesting.

Go camping

Most of us think of camping as pitching a tent in the woods or by a lake, but there are lots of different types of camping. That means you can decide which style of camping works best for your family and your budget.

If you want to go the traditional route and have a local campsite nearby, consider taking advantage of that! Because, in addition to the actual camping grounds, campsites often offer other kinds of outdoor activities like hiking and swimming, which can make the whole experience more exciting.

But if a campsite isn’t available, or doesn’t feel quite your speed, feel free to set up a tent in your own backyard! That gives you the excitement of camping with the comfort of your own home just feet away. If you don’t have the proper gear, ask friends or family if you can borrow theirs.

Still, if sleeping on the ground out in nature doesn’t sound appealing, ‘glamping’ might be up your alley. Because glamping involves sleeping in a furnished tent or small cabin, you’ll still get to enjoy most of your creature comforts while getting a chance to experience life in the great outdoors.

Plan a movie day

If you already have access to streaming services, then this is an inexpensive way to spend a day (or two) of your staycation at home. 

Have members of your family each pick a movie and then plan for your back-to-back(-to-back-to-back) movie session. Make yourselves the full theater experience by making or purchasing your favorite movie snack fare ahead of time.

Have a board game night

Feeling up for some competition? Plan a family board game session. This works great if you already have games at home. If you don’t, ask friends and family if you can swap so you can test out some new ones. Be sure to check out your local library, since they might have games that you can check out with your library card.

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As you can see, there are many different ways you can spend your staycation, and there are many more that there wasn’t space to list. But no matter what you choose, be sure you’re saving up for it with an Annual Envelope in Goodbudget.