With inflation continuing to rise and gas prices increasing, many are looking for ways to have a summer vacation and take some time off without breaking the bank. For many this means finding creative ways to make their home and local city more interesting. Prioritize your summer wellness with some of these innovative activities that will definitely jazz up your summer at home.

Summer Activities and Staycations

1. Be a Tourist in Your Own City

Be a tourist in your own city and explore all of the tourist attractions you never go to as a local. Check out history and art museums, landmarks, zoos, and natural attractions. You can learn more about the city you live in and treat yourself to a staycation experience by simply driving downtown.

2. Backyard Camping

Packing up the car and taking the whole family camping can take a lot of preparation, time and patience. Not everyone has the right equipment or can take the time off to go camping with the family, but camping in the backyard is much more doable! You have access to your house, a bathroom, running water, and cell service. Even if you choose not to sleep outside, having a fun camping day in the backyard with a tent, hot dogs, and s’mores is a great way to upgrade your weekend and promote summer wellness.

3. Geocaching

Geocaching is essentially world-wide scavenger hunting. Geocaches are hidden all around the world and are a perfect way to explore new locations in a city. Geocaching involves downloading the geocache app and picking a cache to search for! You will get instructions about the level of difficulty it requires to find various geocaches. They range in size and will be accompanied by a log signed by people who have also found the cache. Larger containers also tend to have trinkets for trading, so if you are geocaching, be sure to bring a small trinket to trade! This is a great activity for all ages and the perfect way to explore a new place.

4. Fruit and Flower Picking

Take a day trip out to a fruit or flower farm. Look up what fruits and flowers are native to your area and if there are any farms nearby that allow locals to come pick their product. Try berry picking, apple picking, or finding a sunflower field. This will get the family outside, connected to nature, and learn where our food and flowers come from.

5. Homemade Ice Cream

Homemade ice cream is an amazing example of hard work and patience pay off. Homemade ice cream only requires a few ingredients and can be made a number of different ways. Having an ice cream maker or a stand/hand mixer is easiest, but there is also the option of using a plastic bag and shaking it. This can be a fun option for the kids if they want to participate. They can customize their ice cream by picking their own mix-ins and toppings. This is a fantastic activity for a hot summer’s day.

6. Fort and Movie Marathon

Spice up a regular movie night by building a living room fort and making homemade popcorn treats. Gather up your extra blankets, sheets, pillows, and furniture. Use tables and turn couches around to make the walls of your fort and drape sheets over top to create the fort ceiling. Then don’t forget to add ambiance like string lights and snacks. This can turn an average evening into a fun, memorable activity.

7. Day Trips

Take a look at all the cities/towns within one hour of your home and pick one you haven’t been to before. Day trips are a great way to travel and experience a new place that doesn’t involve multiple days of travel and planning. Check out festivals, art fairs, rodeos, and other town celebrations happening in your greater area to meet new people and enjoy a brand-new place.

summer wellness