Planning Your Summer Staycation

With the kids out of school and the weather warming up, we all pine for our traditional summer trips and vacation plans. This year, it's important to prioritize social distancing and staying home, so some summer plans are off the table. But that doesn't mean you can't have a blast with the family this year! Staycation is the word of the season. Families all over the world are making plans to enjoy the nice weather at home or for an isolated outdoor experience. There are so many ways to make this summer special without traveling or mixing with other vacationers. We're here to help you brainstorm some ways to make this summer memorable.

1. Redecorate Instead of Traveling

One of the best things about a vacation is the change of scenery. But you don't need a long road-trip or a plane ride to change the look and feel of your surroundings. Instead of investing time and money into travel, redecorate instead. Declare the dates of your staycation and change up the whole house to reflect your vacation status. Some ideas include:

• -Hang curtains or blankets to change the walls
• -Use colored lights to give each room a new feel
• -Get the whole family involved in hanging decorations, creating centerpieces for the tables, and rearranging the furniture for your 'trip'.

2. Make an Itinerary - Plan Your Days

Don't just let your vacation days drift by. When you're vacationing at home, it's all too easy to accidentally sleep or snack your way through. Why are vacations away from home so action-packed in a few incredible days? It's the itinerary. When you travel, every day counts so you pack a lot of fun into each vacation day. Sine itinerary items for your staycation might include:

• -Making a big hearty breakfast as a family
• -Adventure
  • -Taking a long walk together
  • -Finding a nearby trail
  • -A scenic car ride
• -Afternoon tanning in the yard
• -Trying a new recipe
• -Relaxation
  • -Homemade spa face masks
  • -An evening “dance party”
  • -Watching a movie together

That's a lot of action to pack into one day, but you can do it. Get together with your family to plan out your day and make the most of your hometown vacation plans. Itineraries, as a bonus, also make planning and budgeting much easier. We’ve got some tips on how to plan out these items later on!

3. Take Photos and Build an Album

Just because you're staying home doesn't mean you should miss out on the annual summer photo album. Every year, families take a vacation and capture a few hundred photos of each person along with amazing places and things to remember. These memories are worth capturing no matter where you make them. Don't forget the camera (aka: your phone) and to snap plenty of memorable photos during your staycation adventure. Capture who everyone is, right at this moment. Capture the crazy things you're doing during the Pandemic Summer to have a blast despite travel restrictions. Make memories and then build a (digital or physical) photo album to commemorate this entire summer together. It will be a nice memento to look back on to remind yourself that despite the pandemic, there were some memorable moments as well.

4. Order Takeout from a Vacation-Inspired Restaurant

Some of us vacation for food. When you look forward to a vacation, tasting the exotic local dishes and decadent hotel favorites are a big part of the get-away experience. Why give that up just because you're close to home? Staycations reveal that there are some incredible restaurants in the bounds of your home city. Order food from a restaurant you've never tried before. If your staycation has a destination-theme, let that theme inspire your adventurous food choices. Try the global cuisine made within a few miles of your house to taste the world without travel. As a bonus, you will be supporting local businesses!

5. Have an At-Home Spa Day

For some, vacations are all about spa treatments. You can't wait to have your head wrapped in a towel sipping chilled lemon-flavored water. The good news is that you can recreate many spa treatments at home, especially with the cooperation of your household. Crafty members of the household can mix their own luxurious bath products like bath-bombs or face masks to enjoy during your vacation spa day. Get the whole family involved with mani-pedis and face treatments or plan a special private spa time for that vacation peace-of-mind.

6. Plan a Day-Trip to a Landmark or Trail

Current travel restrictions do not actually stop you from leaving the house. Some of the best ways to enjoy your staycation are to explore your region independently, without the need of crowds or tour guides. Lucky for us, Southern California has tons of great trails that won’t be packed. To see a list of trails and if they are open, visit https://trails.lacounty.gov/. Enjoy the great outdoors, assured that social-distancing is easy to accomplish in wide-open spaces. Day trips to nearby beach towns are also a wonderful way to explore and get out of the house. Though many public gathering spaces and activities are shut down, there is still plenty to see in these popular day trip destinations from Los Angeles. Turn your staycation into a real adventure without putting your family at risk with travel.

7. Explore Your Town with Landmark Scavenger Hunts

Take your day-tripping one step further by getting interactive with your exploration. Instead of going indoors, appreciate the architectural beauty of your city with a landmark scavenger hunt. Los Angeles has plenty of interesting and hidden treasures. Split into adult-led teams and compete for the most landmarks found or work together to tour every single landmark on your list, with photos, to commemorate your summer. Avoiding travel this year doesn't have to mean giving up your summer vacation. There are so many fun family activities you can do to transform one week or all three months into a great adventure. Change your scenery, explore your city, luxuriate at home, and don't forget to take plenty of photos. You deserve a vacation this year. Make your staycation unforgettable.