I don’t know about you, but my kids are halfway through their summer break already. They start school on August 9th and I’m more than slightly bitter about it. I’m one of those parents who loves summer break. In fact, one of the thing I miss about homeschooling the most is the “relaxed” schedule and more time at home with them. Or really, more time having adventures with them. Whether you’re having those adventures in some far off locale, or staying right in your own backyard, here are 20 summer staycation ideas.

the best ideas for a summer staycation

Even though I love the summertime, it doesn’t mean certain things don’t drive me crazy. One of those things is hearing them say “I’m bored” to me–even once. I’m like–“dude, we have a pool, bikes, crafts, books, etc., etc., there’s no reason to be bored!” I also don’t think there’s anything wrong with a person being bored. I think it’s important for us to be able to be alone with our thoughts and use our imaginations and not constantly being entertained. All that being said… even I go a little stir-crazy sometimes and need some fresh ideas for family-friendly adventures right in our own backyard. So here are some ideas for a summer staycation I think you’ll love.

20 ideas for a summer staycation

ideas that are free

host your own baking competition

Do your kids love baking competition shows as much as my kids do? Purge your pantry and let your kids have some fun at the same time–that’s what we call killing two birds with one stone, folks. Have all your kids work collaboratively, or set them against each other. But be sure to remind them–it’s all in good fun! Are you looking for some easy recipes for them to enjoy? Check out these s’mores recipes, these apple cake pops, or this simple homemade ice cream cake!

tour model homes

Before buying a home of our own Mike and I used to love touring model homes. It gave us great ideas for our future home and we had fun daydreaming as we walked through them. Our kids love it too! Find a new neighborhood in your area and tour some model homes while you daydream. It also gives you a good opportunity to remind your kids how nice it is to have a tidy, clutter-free home, wink wink.

school tour and picnic

This activity is perfect for the very end of summer. Your kids might be heartbroken over the fast that their carefree summer days are coming to an end. Or maybe they’re excited for a new school year, new school supplies, and new friends. Either way, you can help fuel their excitement and take advantage of the long summer evenings. Load up the family and a picnic and head to the school to take your own private tour. Chat about all the things your kids have to look forward to while you enjoy a picnic dinner on the school grounds.

make a park bucket list

Do you have favorite neighborhood playgrounds you still haven’t made it to this summer? Or maybe even some in neighboring towns that have been on your radar for awhile but you still haven’t made it to? I know we do! Gather the family together and make a park bucket list. Try to make a list of five and visit one each day for a week. If you’re local, check out this blog post of Placer County playgrounds that we love to visit!

crafting day

This idea is a great way to have a literal summer staycation by not even leaving your house! My kids love crafting and somehow we always end up with extra, unmade projects laying around. I usually have no problem throwing things away, but leftover crafts? I always keep those for a rainy (or summer) day! Pull out all those leftover projects and let the kids go crazy! Plus, you’re clearing out your cupboards at the same time. Does this sound like fun, but you’re not a craft hoarder like I am? Check out how to make you own sidewalk chalk, fun bath bombs, or how to tie die with ice!

family film festival

If you’ve got a go-pro, old camcorder, or retired cell one laying around that your kids are always begging to play with–this one’s for you! Have each family member spend a week shooting an independent film and then editing it together. Obviously, younger kids might need the help of a parent or older sibling. Then have a family film festival at the end of the week–complete with popcorn and candy, of course. You could even take it a step further and set up your own drive-in movie theater with cardboard cars!

utilize your library

Your local library is such a great, free resource! We don’t visit every week in the summer, but try to plan a visit every 2 or three weeks to get new books. Along with checking out a big bag of books, my kids love participating in the summer reading program and simple crafts they switch out each week. Our local branch also has a ton of puzzles, puppets, and train tracks in the children’s area that my three year old can’t get enough of… even though we have all those things at our own house. Kids.

create a fairy garden

Of course, you can go to your local craft store and buy a bunch of items to make a fairy garden. However, I recommend that you just use what you have! Scraps of wood, pretty rocks, old seashells from previous travels, these can all make beautiful fairy gardens! Plus, it really encourages kids to use their imaginations.

make an outdoor play kitchen

Here is another fun project you can make with items you already. Scrap wood, old pallets, plastic milk crates, broken dishes or pots–all of these are perfect for making an outdoor play kitchen for your kids. A great thing about this project is that you have fun building it together, and then your kids can have fun for awhile afterwards making mud pies and all sorts of creations the rest of the summer!

walking tour

Take a walking tour of your own town or a nearby one. Lots of towns will have a free walking tour guide on their tourism board website. You may even live somewhere that has guided tours on certain days each month that you can participate in for free, like I do! Make sure you start in the morning to beat the heat, and bring plenty of water. If your budget allows, stop in that mom and pop café or small antique store you’re always saying you want to check out but never seem to find the time.

ideas that might require a small budget

have an alphabet day

What is an alphabet day? You pick a letter of the alphabet and plan the whole day around it! For example, if you pick the letter “T” maybe you go for a train ride and have tacos for lunch. If the letter is “P” then maybe you make pies together and visit the pet store–you get the idea. And you get to make the rules–whether there’s a budget for the day or a limited number of activities (i.e. we can pick 3 activities to do today). A fun variation of this is to let each of your kids have an alphabet day that’s based around the first letter of their name.

bowl a few frames

Visiting a local bowling alley is a classic activity that seems to stand the test of time. I loved it growing up, and my own kids love it today! Many bowling alleys will even have special discounts in the summer for kids. Or, if you’re located in northern California or the Reno area, check out the Get Out Pass and use code LITTLEDOVE for a big discount on your pass!

mini golfing for the win

Another classic summer staycation idea is mini golfing. Best of all, this is also an activity that you can find on the Get Out Pass! If you don’t have a mini golf course near you, or don’t want to spend the money, make your own! My kids love this cute Curious George episode where they make their own mini golf course of their rooftop. This is a great activity for kids to use their imaginations!

have a progressive dinner

Have a progressive dinner, but make it totally easy and kid-friendly. Start at one fast food drive through for drinks, another for the main meal, and another for dessert! If you’ve got screen sin the car play a favorite movie so it’s like a drive-in theater. Or, pick a family-friendly podcast to listen to while you’re driving around to all the different locations.

celebrate Christmas in July

It’s July and that means Christmas in July! And I mean, go all out! Pick a day and plan a “Christmas Eve” and “Christmas Day”. Blast the Christmas music, hang the stockings, have a little special present for your kiddos (it does not have to be extravagant), and bake some cookies! Speaking of cookies, I’m sharing two of my favorite Christmas treat recipes in this Christmas Favorites bundle from the Mm-hmm Shop! You can use JUSTINEYOUNG for a discount on anything from her shop!

mall madness

I’m not talking about the game from my childhood that I loved. I’m talking about the actual mall, with all of its glorious free air conditioning. My kids always want to go to the mall, for some reason. Me? Not so much. So, if your kids are like mine, planning a mall day would be a dream come true! Let each kid pick a store of their choice to visit. Then, end your mall morning (or afternoon) with everyone picking out a treat or lunch item from the food court!

choose your own adventure day

I’m sure you’ve seen this activity on social media before. You write out activities on cards and have someone choose between two at a time to plan out a fun day of activities. The best part is that you can control where you go and what you do, but your kids will think they’re in charge. Some fun options include choosing between which lunch places to go to, which park to play at, or which movie to watch at the local theater.

host a lemonade stand

Hosting a lemonade or cookie stand is such a classic, childhood activity. You can keep it simple with a folding table, or make it a big summer activity by building a stand with some leftover scrap wood. For a fun twist on classic lemonade, check out this recipe for frozen strawberry lemonade.

explore a local state or national park

If you live close to a state park or national park than count yourself among the lucky! These are such great spots to explore. So, plan a day trip, pack a picnic, and go have some fun! If you have a 4th grader, you can even find out how to get into our national parks for free by reading this blog post.

visit a local theme park or waterpark

This activity is definitely the most costly, but if you live near a theme park then it’s practically a summer must-do, right? Our family loves visiting theme parks and we’re lucky that there are lots in California to choose from! In fact, here is a fun printable bucket list of California theme parks and waterparks!

Which of these summer staycation ideas would your kids love to try? If you share on Instagram, make sure you tag me @littledove.justine, so I can see what you do!