A relaxing vacation is often exactly what we need when work, family and social obligations seem to take over. Although we all would love to put our feet up on the railing of a mountain cabin or sip a cool drink on an exotic beach, many times our wallets simply won’t allow for those luxuries. The good news is that you can have a relaxing break with “staycation,” or a vacation at home. These four simple ideas can help you create a fun, relaxing break for the entire family without ever leaving your home.
Create An Outdoor Tropical Paradise
One way to enjoy a staycation is to create a relaxing, outdoor paradise. Creating a tropical look in your yard does not have to be expensive. Purchase a few tropical plants at a local garden center. You can find inexpensive hammocks and deck furniture at big box stores in your area. Add a small fire pit by digging a small hole and surrounding it with brick, stone or cinder block for those cool evenings. Pour yourself a glass of bubbly or blend a pitcher of frosty frozen drinks, grab a magazine or good book and spend your days relaxing in your hammock, ending the day with a fun bonfire complete with s’mores.
Create Another Room On Your Porch
You probably spent a warm Saturday sweeping and cleaning your porch. Why not create another living space that you can enjoy on vacation. If you have an older home with a large porch, add cotton panel drapes on rods along the edge of the ceiling that you can tie back for warm summer breezes or close on cooler, rainy days. Install an indoor-outdoor ceiling fan as well as standing fans that will keep your family cool. A dining table with comfortable chairs as well as soft outdoor furniture perfect for curling up with a good book can finish off the look.
A Make-Shift Theater Room
If the heat is more than you can handle outside your home on vacation, consider spending your staycation inside. Large throw pillows can be purchased inexpensively at department stores and tossed on the floor. Add some thick, soft blankets, popcorn and boxed candy for a make-shift theater room. You can spend the days in the cool comfort of air conditioning watching old classics, the latest releases or binge-watching shows you have missed due to your hectic schedule. You want to be sure that your air conditioning is working properly, so professionals, like those at Apollo Heating & Air Conditioning, for a tune-up before planning a movie staycation.
Become A Master Chef
One of the best parts about traveling while on vacation is the delicious foods you get to try. Instead, use your staycation to improve your own cooking skills. You can try those new recipes you haven’t had time to try or find a local butcher or seafood shop to pick up something you’ve never tried before. Not much of a cook? There are many companies that will ship foods from various localities. You can order blue crab dinners complete with mallets or fresh crab cakes from Maryland. A delicious lobster roll or whole lobster shipped from Maine could be the perfect dinner one evening. A simple search online will find you a plethora of options for shipped-in foods.
These are just a few ideas for enjoying a relaxing “staycation” in your own home. Turn off the cell phone, unplug the computers and forbid anyone from turning on the news to make it even more enjoyable.
