You can still have a vacation at home if the cost of travel and lodging is too high. Yes, right outside your door. Many of us live close enough to museums, campgrounds, historic sites, and beautiful state parks that we can easily visit them. You might be surprised by what you find close to home.
Do some research to find free or cheap things to do and see in your area. Plan something to do every day of the week, even if it's just a picnic in the park. Some places have public beaches close by. Plan a trip to a public beach near you. See historic places. Many of these are free, teach kids and adults something, and are fun.
You can even plan things to do at home that are just like what you would do in a faraway place. Each day should have a different theme. For instance:
On a beach day, you can sunbathe, play volleyball, make fancy icy drinks to drink in the sun, and go on a picnic.
Camp day: Sleep in a tent or sleeping bag under the stars, build a fire if it's allowed in your area, roast marshmallows, make smores, and sing campfire songs.
- Cultural Day: Learn about different cultures by living, celebrating, dressing, and eating. You could have an Irish, Native American, or Spanish Day as an example. Another great chance to learn. Try to add some games from different cultures to make it more fun and interesting.
- Have a fair in your backyard. Set up booths with games like "ring toss" and "pop the balloon" to win small prizes.
- Dress up and live in another time on Colonial Day! It's a lot of fun. When the power went out one day, I came up with this one by accident. The kids said it was "cool" to live like they did "back in the day." No lights except for candles and lanterns, no TV, radio, video games, or computers. Sounds boring, but they had fun coming up with ways to keep themselves busy. A good way to teach, too! Don't say anything to the kids.
These "theme days" at home will take some creativity and work, but everyone will have a great time. Let everyone help make it. Making it will be half the fun. With some creativity and imagination, you can have a great vacation right in your own yard. You might even have more fun than if you were in another country.
