10 Ideas for a Winter Staycation
What even is a staycation?! “Staycation” is a term to describe the increasingly popular trend of staying at home for vacation. More and more, people are choosing to stay home for their holidays and breaks from work and school. For some, it may be due to financial reasons. For others, it may be due to time and scheduling restrictions. You also might just want to avoid the stress of holiday travel!
Whatever your reasons are for not traveling this year, a staycation can be a fantastic way to spend your winter break. Here are 10 great ideas for how to have fun and stay cozy during your staycation.
Have a Movie Marathon
Everyone has a list of movies they’ve been meaning to watch all year but can never get around to. Now is the time! Bundle up in your favorite comfy sweats and turn your living room into a cozy theater with extra pillows and fleece blankets.
Make it themed! See how many spooky horror movies you can watch in a row or watch a bunch of old Christmas classics.
Have a Spa Day
Turn your bathroom into a luxurious spa! Stock up on Epsom salts and essential oils to soak in, line your bathtub with your favorite scented candles, and indulge in the ultimate at-home relaxation.
Put your favorite plush bath towels in the dryer for a few minutes before your bath for extra warmth and coziness when you’re ready to dry off. Try out some DIY facemasks and give yourself a mani-pedi. Indulgence doesn’t have to break the bank!
Get Creative
Break out the craft supplies and have an arts and crafts day with the whole family. Build a birdhouse or make your own Pinterest-worthy greeting cards to send to friends and relatives. The possibilities are endless!
Host a Virtual Sip and Paint
If arts and crafts for the whole family aren’t on the table, reach out to friends and family and host a more adult version of arts and crafts night: a sip and paint! Sketch or print out a themed outline (some companies will deliver a pre-printed canvas to you), pop open your favorite bottle, and hang out in a virtual paint party with your buds. Wear your favorite special occasion dress to really make it feel like a party.
Play Tourist in Your Own Town
Having a staycation doesn’t mean you have to be stuck at home the whole time. Get out on the town and see your hometown from a whole new perspective. Go to an art gallery or museum, go for a hike, or visit a local park-whatever your unique town or city offers, take advantage while on your stay-at-home vacation!
Book a Hotel or Airbnb Nearby
It may seem silly to think of at first, but staying at a hotel or Airbnb close to home can give you that out-of-town vacation feeling without all the hassle of traveling far. Whether it is a romantic night away at a swanky hotel for you and your partner or renting a house for the whole family, staying away from home but close to home can be the perfect compromise between vacation and staycation.
Go Camping
Find a local spot such as a state park to explore and stay the night at. In addition to your camping supplies, don’t forgo your favorite winter accessories and packable down coats for when the temperatures drop at night.
If packing up all the camping gear and driving across town seems like too much hassle for your staycation, have an at-home camp night in your backyard! Roast marshmallows by the fire and stargaze beneath an open sky.
Build a Pillow Fort
If the great outdoors isn’t your cup of tea, camp indoors with a blanket and pillow fort! Whether you have young kids in the family or not, get in touch with your inner child and turn your living room into a cozy cove to read your favorite book in.
Just grab some clothespins, your favorite throw blankets, and throw pillows and get to building!
Cook with the Whole Family
Try a new recipe! Dig up the old family recipe book, take a virtual cooking class, or cook alongside your favorite foodie’s YouTube channel. Be bold and daring! You can always order pizza if it isn’t a hit.
Do Nothing
Hear me out: do absolutely nothing. Rarely do we have the opportunity to bask in the peace of having a few days off of work with little to no responsibilities, so why fill it with more activity? Rest. Relax. Meditate for hours, zone out on your favorite daytime television, or just stare at your favorite towel rack for a while. When do you ever get to quietly enjoy the subtle details that make your home yours? Enjoy your time off!