Creative Ways to Vacation at Home Right Now

What would you do if your kids were suddenly out of school and home for an extended period of time? Also, how about if your vacation plans were cancelled or postponed? I have some ideas for creative and exciting ways you can vacation at home, instead of feeling stressed, overwhelmed or bored. 

What should I do on vacation at home?

Now, I know vacations can be a much needed getaway, but unfortunately life happens and sometimes traveling isn’t possible. Especially now with the world having been turned upside down (thanks a lot pandemic). If you are traveling, please make sure you stay healthy.

That doesn’t mean you still can’t feel like you took a little trip, relaxed, explored, created some new memories and more, right at home.

Vacation doesn’t always have be about booking airfare, packing travel essentials, taking a road trip, staying in a cool hotel or doing adventurous activities.

Sometimes vacation is actually about the things you are NOT out busy doing. Then you and your family can bond in a different type of way.

Hopefully these tips will help so you don’t lose your mind being stuck at home!

If you easily sign up for my newsletter (at the bottom of this post), you will be instantly directed to a free “travel cheat sheet” that you can download, for all the important information you need before your next trip. 

7 Creative Ways to Vacation at Home Right Now

1. Go Camping 

I will be honest and tell you that camping is one of my least favorite ways to travel — UNLESS it’s glamping or at home. The best part about camping at home is no bug bites!

Grab a pop up tent that is super easy to set up (and put away), along with some comfy sleeping bags and flashlights. Let the kids help put together some s’mores for the oven. 

Play a variety of games (UNO, Guess Who, Mad Libs, Scrabble, Monopoly, crossword puzzle), watch some movies on Disney+, then stay up late telling scary stories or jokes. 

2. Create a Spa Experience

You don’t have to spend a fortune on beauty essentials or head to a spa in order to feel a little bit like you have taken the family on a pseudo island getaway.

Make a relaxing oasis at home by putting on fluffy robes or comfy clothes, doing manicures and pedicures, putting on sheet masks and soothing music.

My teenage son even loves to get in on the spa action by switching up his shower for a soak in the tub, complete with a bath bomb. 

3. Make a Travel Journal 

What better way to feel like you are on vacation (besides actually traveling) than reminiscing over past family trips. The kids and I will be creating a travel journal together from our last trip to Orange Lake Resort. 

Print out your favorite pictures to include, and give each member of the family a different color pen to write their favorite vacation memories in the journal. 

4. Vacation Themed Movie Marathon

Have everyone pick a family friendly movie to watch — that either has to do with travel, or dream vacations you hope to go on someday.

Let the movies transport you to different places in the world during your vacation at home. They can provide inspiration for your travel bucket list, while fueling your wanderlust.

Here are some great travel-inspired movie ideas:

• Crazy Rich Asians
• Moana
• Madagascar  
• Ratatouille
• National Lampoon’s Vacation
• Vegas Vacation
• Johnson Family Vacation
• The Great Outdoors
• Back To The Future
• Up
• Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
• Mary Poppins 

Pop some popcorn and make travel themed snacks from your favorite places around the world to enjoy during your travel movies watch fest. 

5. Explore Your Local Area

I always say that to travel doesn’t mean you have to go far. A great way to vacation at home, especially if the weather is nice, is to get outside.

Visit a park, have a scavenger hunt in your neighborhood, rides bikes, head to a nearby city and do some free things there, pack food and take a blanket to enjoy a picnic style lunch outdoors. 

6. Globetrot Without Leaving Home

Tell the whole family it’s time to go and see the world (well sort of)! The globetrotter puzzle is your passport to the world, with over 40 incredible destinations to see.

Once everyone is all done putting the pieces together, you can talk about which places you want to plan a vacation to and make sure to put them on your vision board. 

7. Have a Virtual Tea Party

Since taking an International trip to London right now for some sightseeing and a proper spot of tea isn’t a possibility, have a virtual tea party. Get your family members to make a list of people they would want to hang out or travel with. Then contact them to set up a time. 

When it’s tea party time, simply make a hot (or iced) cup of tea, in a cool mug, and then FaceTime / video chat the person you picked while enjoying your tea “together”.

It’s a unique way to connect without leaving your home. You can talk about funny travel stories, your favorite International travel essentials or places you both dream of visiting someday. 

Believe me, travel ruined my life a long time ago, so I know it’s not easy to feel stuck in the house or like you can’t get away, even for a quick trip.

These vacation at home tips definitely can’t replace the feeling of actually traveling, but they can certainly help, and may even inspire new travel ideas once you are ready to start planning some trips.