Wow, this year is half over. Can you believe it? Have you taken that amazing vacation yet? Maybe you just want to stay at home and do an inexpensive fun staycation this year.

Time goes by so quickly when we are in the middle of work, kids, pets, sports etc. etc. What, you say you don’t have time? Well, I’ve got you covered. Keep reading for some great ideas that you can implement at any time.

First, a little back story, we used to be a family that just took the days as they came. Now, that is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it becomes a problem if you get to the end of summer, or the end of the year, and realize that you did not do anything that you planned to do. Even though your life was full and eventful, it might not have been the events that you may have chosen.

To get up and live life like you want, you have to plan. In the beginning of summer, I got together with my family and decided the must-do things. We then set a plan and scheduled those things on the calendar.

Because our plan was in place, we were able to book several vacations and spend time searching for the best places to stay and the best things to do.

We have taken two of the three trips that we had planned (Check out my Park City post here) and the third is coming up in a week and a half.

Other things that we have been able to do because of our plan:

• more boating, jet skiing, and water time
• more movies
• more time with friends
• more time for typical summer activities such as State Fairs, Rodeos, and Festivals

I have to say, the plan has worked, and we have been having a great time.

But what if you are not the planning type. Yep, that was me. But as I think back, the years that I have had a plan in place seemed to be more fun, enjoyable, and fulfilling.

Now let’s talk about you. Maybe you don’t like to travel. Maybe you love staying home, but just don’t know how to make each day eventful.

Enter the idea of a staycation. Here are 3 fun staycation ideas to try. Get out your planner or your calendar and see if you can fit any of these in before the end of the year.

Plan an Inexpensive Fun Staycation at Your Local Park

Several months ago, I had everyone in my family fill out a favorites sheet. My 9-year-old granddaughter Ty said that her idea of a perfect day was to go on a picnic and play in the park with our entire family.  Who knew that her favorite thing is probably one of the most inexpensive things a family can do?

So how do you make a trip to the park fun staycation worthy?

You plan what you want to do.

First let’s talk about food. What to take. Be sure to take things that are easy to prepare ahead of time. Also think about food safety. Make sure that you pack things that need to be kept cold in a cooler with ice (examples would be salads that have mayonnaise, egg products, or meat).

When you plan food for your day at the park, decide how many meals you want to eat there. If you want to make a whole day out of it, you will want to plan all three meals. Use the lists below to pick and choose the perfect menu.

Here are some suggestions for breakfast:

• Fresh Fruit (Bananas, strawberries)
• Cereal bars
• Muffins
• Yogurt
• Smoothies
• Bottled Water or juice

Some great lunch ideas include:

• PB and J sandwiches
• Egg Salad Sandwiches
• Pasta salad
• Potato Salad
• Fresh Fruit (watermelon, cantaloupe)
• String Cheese
• Fresh cut up vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, and celery)
• Cookies
• Brownies
• Bottled water

Fabulous dinner suggestions:

• Hamburger fixings (Some parks have grills that you can use. Check before heading out to see if this is an option). You can grill the burgers and then have whatever was left over from the earlier meals as sides.
• Chips and Salsa
• Fresh Fruit (Use what is left over from earlier meals)
• Fresh vegetables (Again use whatever is left over)
• Fried Chicken
• Left Over Salads from previous meals in the day
• Cookies or brownies left over from previous meals

Now that you have your menu nailed down it is time to plan for the rest of the day.

• Does the park you want to go to have any fun places to visit such as a zoo or museum? Why not plan to visit both. Check websites for costs or free days and plan your park day around these for the most inexpensive options.
• Play a game such as frisbee, horseshoes, or tennis. Many cities have parks with these options. If you are a sports family, all you will need is your personal equipment (frisbee, tennis racket, or horseshoes)
• Play on the playground equipment. If you have littles, the best thing at a park is the playground equipment. Some of my best memories from childhood are sliding down slides and swinging on swings.
• Create a park scavenger hunt and look for all of the things in nature. Check out this wikihow.com post for some great ideas.
• Run around or go for a walk in the big open spaces and lush green grasses.

Not only will this be a fun and eventful day, you and your family will have created some great memories.

A Great Inexpensive Staycation Idea is to Be a Hometown Tourist

Are there places in your city that you have never been to?

• Spend the whole day getting to know your city. Do an internet search on the best things about your city and jot down a few that interest you.
• Then plan a day visiting and exploring these places in and around where you live. To make this staycation worthy, do a search of the best restaurants in your area and plan to eat at a new one for each meal.
• Take a walking tour of your home town. Often you can find these tours for a small fee or even free. I did this in my city and was amazed at the things that I never knew.
• If you live near your state’s Capitol building, make a plan to visit. These buildings often have museums and are brimming with interesting history. Some Capitols have guided or self-guided tours that you can schedule.

Host a Game Tournament

I love playing games. I could play them all day. At our house we host several games tournaments throughout the year.

We host one with our friends on the weekend of Halloween, and then at the beginning of December we host another one with a different group of friends complete with a white elephant gift exchange.

On Christmas Night after all of the presents have been opened and the wonderful Christmas meal has been consumed, we all gather for our annual family game tournament.

These events are really fun to look forward to. I have already had folks ask if we are still hosting the Halloween party this year. We are, for those of you who usually take part.

For our Halloween and Christmas friend game night, we create a progressive table tournament with four tables playing the same game. Each round you have a different partner, and everyone keeps track of their own scores. At the end of the night the highest and lowest scoring person wins a prize.

These nights usually include dinner together before we start. I make the main dish and have everyone bring their favorite side and a game snack. Then we gather for good food and great conversation before we all get competitive.

The game that we play for these fun nights is a card game called Hand and Foot. The rules of play can be found here.

For our family Christmas Day tournament, we start right after dinner. Earlier in the day 6 games are chosen. The winner of each game wins a gift certificate created by me and the top three winners win prizes at the end of the night.

This is a great staycation idea for folks that want to spend time with family and friends. You can opt out of the prizes if you choose to make this night truly a fun inexpensive experience. This is a great way budget-friendly way to spend the day with family and friends.

Whether you’re looking for a way to save money or just want to take a break from your usual routine, I hope this list of staycation ideas has given you some inspiration. And don’t forget, all of these activities can be done on a budget – so get planning and have fun today!