Wouldn’t it be delightful to have the resources that enabled you to travel, whenever and wherever you chose? Of course! So, does that mean that you’re doomed to stay at home all summer just because the washing machine is making funny noises, there are bills to pay, or you’re short on vacation time? No Way!
Plan A Summer Staycation Instead!
The concept of an at-home or close-to-home “getaway” has been around since the early- and mid-2000s when gas prices across the country rose sharply and the U.S. financial industry suffered its historic crisis, making it difficult for families to travel. Over the years, the staycation has come include the enjoyment of activities within driving distance of home, day trips to nearby tourist attractions, attending a local festival, or never even leaving the neighborhood.
Come Up with an Itinerary
The key is to do some planning, just like you would for a more traditional vacation, and set expectations for everyone in the family.
Brainstorm a list of things to do or places to go and ask family members to rank them or vote on their favorites. Explore different themes for each day or outing.
Try to avoid your normal routine so the occasion feels special. Avoid checking in at work, running errands, and other tasks that make the time feel like any other typical day.
Set aside a day or days and let others know that you’ll be “on staycation” during that time.
Want to earn bonus points? Put your itinerary on paper and make it look like it came from a travel agency or resort. “Send” a copy to each member of the family with hand-drawn tickets to an event or attraction appearing on the schedule.
Some Themed Examples to Get You Thinking:
Festival Frivolity
Check the Holly Springs town calendar for special events like TurtleFest at Bass Lake Park (May) and Independence Day at Sugg Farm (July).
Head “out of town” to nearby Fuquay-Varina over Memorial Day weekend for the Freedom Balloon Fest. Or experience food, music, and dance from around the world at the International Food Festival in downtown Raleigh (June 9).
Artistic Endeavors
Spend the morning exploring an art exhibit at the Holly Springs Cultural Center or visit the NC Museum of Art (Raleigh) or Ackland Art Museum (Chapel Hill). Encourage family members to take sketchpads and draw a favorite painting or sculpture. In the afternoon, try and replicate the artwork at home in unique ways using craft supplies.
Visit the library and check out children’s books about different art styles. At home, assign a different style (i.e. cubism, abstract, etc.) to each family member and supply a centerpiece arrangement that everyone should draw depicted in their assigned style. Hang the finished drawings around the house and after dinner have a gallery showing. Serve sparkling grape juice and a snack using your special occasion dishes.
Celebrate Nature
Meander down the Holly Springs greenways and create a scavenger hunt. Give everyone in the family a bag or pail and a list of items to find. Assign points to each item. Provide an assortment of easy things (a yellow leaf or a pine cone) as well as more difficult things (a bird’s feather or a fern frond). At home, tally the points and give extra credit for unique objects that weren’t on the list. Select a nature show or DVD for your after-dinner entertainment.
Borrow from the library a field guide to birds or flowers (or both) and visit two or more of the public gardens in the Triangle area. Take your time and see how many species you can identify in each place.
Historical Exploration
Take a walking tour of historic downtown Holly Springs. Download a self-guided tour brochure from the Town of Holly Springs website and explore the old homes, stores, and monuments that celebrate our town’s rich history dating back to the early 1800s.
Pack a cooler of sandwiches, snacks, and water bottles and head into downtown Raleigh. Visit the Museum of Natural Sciences and check out the bones, bugs, and beach treasures. Take a break for lunch before walking across the street to the Museum of History where you can explore North Carolina’s past in sports, agriculture, invention, fashion, and more.
A Hop, Skip, & A Jump
Prepare a picnic and head to any one of the parks in Holly Springs. Save the playground for another day and instead try boating or fishing at Bass Lake Park, horseshoes at Parrish Womble Park, or the fitness stations at Veterans Park.
Plan a family bike ride on the American Tobacco Trail or a hike through Umstead Park or Swift Creek Bluffs Nature Preserve. Don’t forget to take along water and bug spray.
Music & Movie Magic
Blankets and picnic baskets are welcome at the “Summer at the Springs” outdoor concert series courtesy of the Holly Springs Cultural Center.
If Hollywood is more to your family’s liking, take in a morning film during the “Summer Movie Express” showings at the Regal cinemas in Apex (Beaver Creek Commons) or Cary (Crossroads). For evening entertainment under the stars, take lawn chairs and snacks and catch a moonlight movie at Koka Booth Amphitheater (Cary) or the NC Museum of Art (Raleigh).
Enjoy Good Eats
Plan the day’s meals around wholesome healthy ingredients then head to the farmers market (on Saturdays in Holly Springs or daily in Raleigh). See what’s in season and enjoy celebrations of berries, peaches, melons, tomatoes, and other produce. At home, let everyone help prepare food that’s fresh from the farm.
Turn your kitchen into a classy bistro or fine dining
establishment. Let the kids design a menu and set the table. Use mismatched dishes on paper placements for an eclectic look or break out your rarely-used china and cloth napkins. Offer water in wine glasses and put a flower in a little vase (even a dandelion will do) on the table. Designate a server to take orders for anything from breakfast-for-dinner to macaroni and cheese. The meal will feel elegant even if the options are simple.
Need more?
Think about the things your family enjoys during the summer months, and then figure out how to spin those activities into something different. Even a typical day at home can be special.
If you normally spend an hour at the pool in the morning, make it a staycation by packing lunch, books, and board games and making a day of it.
If you usually reserve your tent for camping trips, make it a staycation by setting up camp in the backyard, making s’mores over a grill, and playing flashlight tag.
If it’s a rainy day, make it a staycation by planning a “speed-fun” event with puzzles, paints, and crafts. Set a timer and every 15 minutes everyone has to move on to the next station, leaving the next person to add to the previous person’s project.
If your kids have a silly streak, make it a staycation by creating games for a Family Olympics competition. Try crab-walk races, spoon relays (teams transfer a marble, plastic egg, etc. from start to finish without dropping it), balance games (who can stand on one foot or balance a couch cushion on their head the longest), or card tosses.
Your staycation plans are limited only by your creativity and imagination. Start planning and have as much fun as you possibly can!
