5 Staycation Ideas (Toddler-friendly!)
A week's vacation makes me want to book a flight, find a hotel, and pack my bag. But there’s also something to be said of a staycation, especially if you live in an area where tourists flock to anyway. Not only are you saving money from not buying the pricey flight and accommodations, you get to look at your hometown in a different light and then go home to your own bed.
Last April, B.G. and I took a New Orleans staycation. Here were my favorite activities from the week (adaptable to any location!).
Explore Main Street/Downtown. We took a walk along Magazine Street, the “Main Street” of my neighborhood in New Orleans. There’s something to be said about strolling through a shopping district, slowly. We didn’t buy anything but enjoyed window shopping!
Utilize local tickets. In New Orleans, locals can access free tickets to the zoo, aquarium, and museums on particular days. We went to the zoo, an art museum, a young children’s theme park, and the botanical gardens.
Go out to eat. We went out to both a lunch spot (a place I’d never been and had wanted to try) and a cafe (a place I went to a few years ago).
Find new playgrounds. Since we were in neighborhoods we don’t usually frequent, we tried out two new playgrounds!
Have a rest day. One of the benefits of the staycation is that you can take a day at home to rest. Of course, hanging out at home is different with a young toddler than as a single person, so we still went to our regular playground, but it’s nice to have some time to rest at home and not be constantly on-the-go.
Also consider:
Where do tourists go in your area?
What outside activities are available?
Look at your town/city’s event’s calendar. Also, look at places like the library.
Is there anyone you can arrange a playdate with? We met up with a friend who has a girl similar age to B.G. when we went to Storyland.
Tips:
If you are looking to really do a staycation on the cheap, pack snacks or even a lunch! Picnics are very sweet.
Does your child nap well on the go? B.G. stroller naps. We have a reclining stroller and she took her naps while we were walking. I also brought along a book and she naps in the shade.
We were lucky because the weather was beautiful. If you have inclement weather, look into museums, libraries, and malls.
Utilize public transportation. It can be a good life skill for older kids, you don’t have to worry about parking, and it can be an adventure all on its own! B.G. regularly asks for the “bus”.
Thanks for reading!
💜
Laura
