Staycation Ideas

Future Leader Field-Trips

Cynthia Igasan — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:31:11 +0000

Set up a field-trip with one of the local companies, and tour with the class or your own children. Gain insight, and give the children an opportunity to see how a business operates.

This post was submitted by Cynthia Igasan.

Visit an Art Museum

Attend a Farmers Market

Paul — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:45:03 +0000

Produce, flowers, crafts, entertainment, baked goods—today’s Farmers Markets have something for almost everyone. It’s much more than just garden vegetables. If you haven’t been to one in a while, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

How to Make it Happen

Call your local Chamber of Commerce to find out the locations and times of markets in your area. Some markets are large enough that they may have their own website. Arrive early to find the best deals––if it’s a popular market merchants may sell out of goods early. If you become a regular, booth operators may hold back special items for you upon request.

Buy whatever looks good that week, or make a weekly meal list before you go and buy items for the week. Buying from local producers is a great way to eat fresh. But don’t assume that all produce at a Farmers Market is organic. If it is important to you, ask.

Once you have what you came for, just take the time to stroll around. Grab a drink, enjoy the entertainment, and watch other people go about their business.

Additional Activities

Consider growing your own vegetables in a backyardgarden.
If you can offer a product or service you think people would like, consider renting your own booth at the market.
Go to an open fish market for fresh fish.

Host a Croquet Tournament

Paul — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:40:26 +0000

Croquet is one of those great backyard games that no one is completely sure how to play. But trust me, it’s worth learning. All you need is a croquet set, a copy of the rules, and a group of willing players. Spend an hour learning the rules, and you’ll spend the rest of the summer challenging family and friends to a game of croquet.

How to Make it Happen

If you don’t already have one, inexpensive croquet sets—and other backyard games—are available through sporting good stores or discount store chains. Look for these in the spring, or discounted by mid-summer.

Croquet is best played on short grass. Basically, it involves knocking your ball with a mallet and trying to hit the ball through a series of wickets that are set in a figure-eight pattern. For a list of croquet rules, visit www.croquet.com.

If croquet isn’t your style, try other great backyard games, such as badminton, bocci ball or horseshoes. Always remember—safety first! Some games might not be safe if small children are around.

Additional Activities

Combine a backyard game tournament with a neighborhood barbecue.
Enter a horseshoe contest at a state or county fair.
Croquet Australia has a great set-up for kids: http://www.croquet-australia.com.au/Kids/

Learn to Fly

Paul — Thu, 13 May 2010 18:57:22 +0000

If humans envy any other animal it would be birds for their ability to fly. The Wright Brothers made it possible. And now the sky’s within reach for almost anyone who wants to try.

How to Make it Happen
There are a lot of misconceptions about taking flying lessons and becoming a pilot. And let’s set the record straight about two common myths: You don’t need a lot of money and you don’t have to have perfect eyesight to learn how to fly.

Want to get started? Now is a great time! Saturday, May 15, 2010 is the first annual “Learn to Fly Day”. Learn to Fly Day is about sharing the joy of flight with everyone. Learn to Fly Day is happening all over the country at participating flight schools, airports, and with independent flight instructors so that YOU can learn more about the wonders of flying! In fact there are over 300 locations in 147 cities participating in Learn to Fly Day. And you want to know the best part of Learn to Fly Day? It’s totally FREE!

This Saturday, flight schools and other aviation organizations will host a variety of events including learn to fly seminars, tours of the schools and/or airport and even first flight experiences.

Want to attend or get some more information? Here are some links:

All about the Learn to Fly Day: http://www.learntoflyday.com
Free Learn to Fly Kit: http://www.pilotjourney.com/learntoflykit/

Take a introductory flight lesson

Attend Baseball Spring Training

Paul — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:31:53 +0000

The Boys of Summer are…well…not back, but on their way. In the months of February and March they’re in Spring Training, which makes going to watch them a perfect Spring Break weekend get-away. Visit your favorite Major League Baseball team as they hone their skills for the upcoming season. If you want to meet and greet your favorite players, collect autographs, and commune with fellow fans, a Spring Training break is the perfect plan.

How to Make it Happen

Location. Location. Location. That’s the key to pulling off this Staycation without spending a lot of money. But if you live near one of the hosting southern states, it can be done. Admission is charged for Spring Break scrimmages, but it is still considerably cheaper than regular season games. If you are staying overnight, be sure to plan ahead as hotels will fill up. Budget in money for food, although if you are road tripping from a nearby state, save money by packing a cooler with sandwiches and drinks for the car ride.

For a complete list of where and when your favorite team will be practicing and playing, consult the Major League Baseball website, MLB.com, or visit individual team websites (you can link to these from the MLB site). Arizona and Florida are the hosts for all Spring Training sessions. If you do live up North—or just too far away to drive––you still might want to splurge a little for the chance to see your favorite players up close. Look for organized air/hotel packages arranged by team travel agencies that often provide discounted, group deals. But start looking in early winter––you will need to plan ahead for this.

If a trip to Spring Training is just out of the question, try to attend a Fan Appreciation Day hosted prior to Opening Day. Teams will list these events on their websites.

Follow-up Activities

Attend an actual baseball game—MLB, minor leagues or even college.
Join a company or neighborhood softball team.
Play catch with the kids in the backyard and maybe help them start a baseball card collection.
Host a baseball movie night. Some suggestions include: Bull Durham, Eight Men Out, The Natural, Major League and Field of Dreams.

Go Ice Skating

Paul — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:05:51 +0000

You don’t have to be Michelle Kwan to enjoy a little time on the ice. No triple-loops are necessary. If you love skating, haven’t done it since you were a kid, or never learned—now’s the time to get out on the ice. And don’t forget the hot chocolate when you’re done.

How to Make it Happen

Do an online search or call your local Chamber of Commerce for locations of public ice rinks in your community. They can provide information including admission prices and hours. Check to make sure they rent ice skates if you need them. Most facilities will.

Some ponds and lakes at municipal parks allow ice-skating if ice conditions are right. Call your city parks department to find out about availability.

Additional Activities

Join a hockey or broomball league.
If you’re new to skating, sign up for lessons.

No related posts.

Stage Your Own Production

Paul — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:01:21 +0000

You don’t need an audience to put on a play—perhaps its even better that way. Just have fun with absolutely no inhibitions or stage fright. Most of us have a secret wish to be an actor, and staging your own home production is a fun way to act out that fantasy. Enlist the whole family or invite willing friends to star in your production.

Have fun with this and invite no divas! Don’t invite anyone to participate around whom you might be self-conscious, or who might be overly critical of another’s performance. It’s okay to want to do well, but the emphasis should be on fun. Now, pick a script and put on a show.

How to Make it Happen

First, go to the library and check out a book of plays or a script if they’re available. You can also just act out a scene from your favorite movie. Many Hollywood scripts can be found on www.hollywoodbookcity.com. Once you’ve picked your performance piece, assign every participant a part and start memorizing your lines.

From there you can make it as involved or simple as you please. For added fun, go to a costume shop to rent your wardrobe. You can also try second-hand stores for cheap clothes. Your living room will do just fine as a stage and you can add scenery if you want. Try painting on old sheets, or create cutouts from cardboard boxes—ask your local grocery store for extras they will just discard. Other art and craft supplies, or inexpensive props, can be found at hobby stores and discount chains.

To practice learning your lines, host special “rehearsal” nights. If it’s a family affair, order in pizza and run lines over the pepperoni. If you’re inviting others, make it potluck, and rotate the location between houses. Pick a night for the big event and “break a leg”.

Additional Activities

Attend a touring production of a Broadway play or musical in your area.
Pick one of the great playwrights and devote yourself to reading through his or her collection at the local library.
Support local theater troops by attending a play. Local troops are often very professional, and the smaller venue creates an intimate audience experience.

Plan a Sledding Party

Paul — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 11:00:44 +0000

Let’s face it. We can’t predict the weather. So planning a sledding party is hard to do but with all the snow that has fallen just about everywhere, now is as good as time as any! Nothing beats the laughter of kids “flying” down a hill at top velocity. Their happy shouts make the frostbite worth it. No kids? Adult friends will have just as much fun. Think of it as a second childhood!

How to Make it Happen

Even spontaneity takes a little planning. In this case, as winter approaches and snow days become inevitable, make sure you have the necessary equipment, which includes:

A sled, toboggan or even an inner tube (Inexpensive plastic sleds are available at large chain discount stores)
Winter clothing, including a coat, boots, hat, gloves and snow pants.

After that, all you need is a hill. Locate a nearby school or park with treeless hills. Then if it snows—go!

Some areas have winter sports parks that cater to sledding parties. They often have the advantage of being able to manufacture snow, which might be a nice feature for schedule-sensitive adults. And why not try night sledding? It might be colder but the feeling of flying down a hill is even more intense by moonlight.

Follow up your sledding party with hot chocolate. Or make chili in the crock-pot before you leave so you’re all ready to get something warm in your bodies upon your return. For adult parties, mix the hot chocolate with some peppermint schnapps or serve coffee and Kahlua®.

Additional Activities

Make the most of a snowy weekend. Have a family snowman-building contest or work on one big snowman together.
Build snow forts in your back yard and have a snowball fight—just like when you were kids.
Build a fire in the fireplace, pop the popcorn and watch a favorite movie. Stick with the snow theme and try Grumpy Old Men, Ground Hog Day, or Snow Dogs. For adults try Fargo, Dr. Zhivago or Ice Storm.

Family Cook Night

Paul — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:58:57 +0000

Here are the statistics: Children from families that regularly dine together are more likely to stay out of trouble in their teen years. And, kids that participate in preparing their own food often make healthier food choices. So here’s the plan: you’re going to schedule a Family Cook Night.

How to Make it Happen

Get the whole family involved from the beginning by letting everyone help plan the menu. Try to honor everyone’s choices. You may end up with several menus—just use them for future dinners. Some suggestions for easy group projects include pasta with salad and fajitas with grilled veggies. Assign everyone a task—even small children can wash veggies and mix a salad. Be sure and supervise young helpers when they are using the stove or sharp utensils. As you prepare the meal together, enjoy what happens. Talk, tease, laugh and share your lives.

Additional Activities

Pick a new recipe and try to make it.
Attend a Farmers Market together
Go out to eat. Many family-friendly restaurants offer kids-eat-free nights. (visit MyKidsEatFree.com)

Visit an Art Museum

Paul — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 19:52:37 +0000

Here’s a winter staycation idea you can do with your kids. If you haven’t been to an art museum since your grade school field trip, you owe it to yourself to go back. Museums are whole different experience as an adult. If you are taking kids, rest assured that modern museums are much more interactive and kid-friendly then they used to be. Plan a day to visit an art museum near you.

How to Make it Happen

Do an online search to find art museums and fine art institutes near you. Check for hours of operation as many museums are closed on some weekdays. You should also check to see if there is an admissions price. Some museums will simply ask for donations instead of charging an admission.

If you remember art museums as stuffy and uptight, you’ll be happy to know that museums have become more interactive. Many museums provide kid-friendly exhibits and activities, and some even devote entire wings to children. Museums are developing creative ways to get people “into art.”

You should also consider visiting a local gallery. Many of these host artist receptions and display special collections as part of their business. You just might find that great work of art you’ve been searching for.

Additional Activities

If your local art museum offers classes, consider taking one.
If you discover an artist you really like, do research and learn more about him or her.
Express yourself. Choose your medium and create your own art.