Thank you Moscato Mom for inspiring this post….
As a single mom of a competitive cheerleader, vacations were usually tied to cheering competitions out of state. Always a lot of fun but not very relaxing. We were always on the hunt for budget-friendly options. Today, they are know as “a stay cation” and are often dreaded! Honestly, we live at the shore, who wants to stay at the shore with all of the “shoobies”.
Check out some awesome ideas for having the best staycation this summer.
Camping
This was not an option for a LONG time when my daughter was little. She was definitely a hotel and room service kind of girl. Then she went camping with one of her best friends and her mom. Despite some hiccups, she had a good time. Camping memories are some of the best for me growing up. There are many great sites for camping at a low cost in our area. Some of them even offer it for free! You could even pop up a tent and camp out in your backyard. Camping is a great, cheap way to enjoy the outdoors with your family this summer. Don’t forget to pack the makings for s’mores!
Beach
Pack up the family, the swimming gear and the sunscreen and head to your local beach! Living at the shore, this is not on the tops of my list since everyone else is headed this way. When we lived in South Jersey, we used to go to the Bay or the Lake. Most cities around the country have lakes that allow for swimming, fishing, boating and relaxing at the beach. Fill a cooler with lunch and snacks and just spend the day enjoying the water and the sun.
Museums
This was definitely not for us ….If hanging out in the heat is not your favorite thing to do during the summer, you can still have some fun in your local area without spending a ton. Check out your local museums. You can walk around in a nice air conditioned building to beat the heat while having fun learning about history. Admission to most museums is only a few dollars!
Explore 
Pretend you are a “shoobie”. Are there some new restaurants in town you haven’t been to yet and would like to try? Are there some local parks you haven’t been to before? Another great staycation idea is to spend the day exploring your town. Go to some parks, take a long walk, try out some new local food, grab some ice cream cones, whatever your heart desires. This will possibly be one of the more pricey staycation options but it is far less expensive and stressful than traveling.
Movies
Another option for beating the heat this summer is to head to the theater! A lot of new movies come out during the summer months so it is a really good time to go. Check your local theater’s websites for coupons to save on tickets and snacks. Another alternative to going to a movie is to attend a live-action play. Check out your local playhouse to see what their current productions are.
What is your best “staycation” idea?
Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!
Hope Wissel 