You don’t need to take a vacation to make it a summer to remember with your family. Try these staycation ideas for summer fun at home – or close to it.

By Jessica Turner, Founder of The Mom Creative.

Sponsored by Regions Bank, Member FDIC. All thoughts are my own.

This summer, many people will be choosing to stay home as much as possible to help minimize the spread of coronavirus. Many public pools and parks are also closed or have limited visitation policies and families are opting to not go on vacation this year.

If you are planning to not take a vacation and also stay close to home, consider saving some of the money you would have spent on vacation and using it to create a “staycation,” complete with summer experiences like the ones above. Also remember, just because that vacation doesn’t happen this summer doesn’t mean it can’t ever happen. Consider opening a vacation savings account to help save for a future trip or take on the 52 weeks savings challenge as an easy way to have extra money for summer 2021.

Try one (or all!) of these staycation ideas to make it a special summer to remember for you and your family.

1. Have a wet and wild day. From inflatable pools and sprinklers, to water balloons and squirt guns, endless entertainment can be had using classic summer toys. And while no one will be jumping off the diving board, everyone can still get soaked and have fun at the same time.
2. Plant a garden. A garden is something that will give to your family throughout the summer. Gardens teach hard work, patience, the “magic” of growth and reward with tasty foods for the table. Give your children opportunities to contribute to the gardening process, including picking the plants you are going to grow, watering, weeding, etc.
3. Go to the drive-in. Research if your area has a drive-in movie theater nearby. This is an easy way to practice social distancing, have fun and make a special summer memory together. Some drive-ins are also hosting concerts this summer. Depending on how far away the drive-in is located, it might even make for a fun afternoon or evening long drive together.
4. Make an outdoor obstacle course. Since the summer games were postponed this summer, host your own backyard version. Using supplies you have around the house, like rope, sidewalk chalk, buckets, cones, etc. make an outdoor obstacle course for your family to enjoy.
5. Camp in your backyard. Enjoy a campout in the convenience of your own backyard. If you don’t have camp gear, ask neighbors or friends to borrow a few basics. Plan for special “camp” foods, like hot dogs and s’mores to make the time extra special. Don’t forget to tell scary stories, too. This is an easy way to get your family’s camping fix in while not traveling.
6. Chase waterfalls. America is filled with lakes, rivers, streams and waterfalls. Take a daytrip to discover and enjoy some water. This summer our family is touring different waterfalls and rivers located within two hours of our house. The simplest memories are always found outside. Remember to social distance when you are experiencing these beautiful wonders.
7. Plan a movie marathon. Some of my family’s favorite memories are curled up cozy with blankets watching movies together. Plan a movie marathon day and/or night and go all out, with movie theater snacks (popcorn and candy, anyone?), a schedule, etc. You could even plan out costumes to wear to go with the movie or theme!
8. Cook a themed meal. Bring the world to your kitchen by planning and cooking a themed meal. Plan a menu with everything from a certain city, region or country that you love or would love to visit. Other ways to make the meal special — listen to music, play a game and/or read a story from that region.
9. Tackle a DIY project. While painting a room or building a shelf might not feel like a good vacation alternative, the idea of investing time and energy into a project together can be a fun bonding opportunity. Choose a project that has been on that to do list for a long time and work on it together as a family. Everyone will feel proud in the result because of the togetherness that happened while completing it.
10. Enjoy yard games. Popular yard games like corn hole, horseshoes and croquet are a fun way to make memories and enjoy the day outside. Also, consider setting up a net for volleyball and badminton or having fun with double dutch jump rope. Tag is another easy way to burn off some energy and have fun as a family. If you want to increase the fun, try glow-in-the-dark tag at night.

Remember to have fun and make the most of your summer staycation with your family. Sometimes the best memories can be made right in your own backyard.