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Vacations with kids are… a lot. Between the packing, planning, pet care, and trying to meet everyone’s needs on the road, it can feel more exhausting than relaxing. Instead, we focus on what matters most—being present, making space to rest, and finding joy in simple moments through a staycation.
Every time we plan a staycation, I notice a shift in our home. Things slow down. The kids are more relaxed, and my husband and I get a chance to step out of “go-mode” and simply enjoy our time together.
Living in North Georgia, we’re lucky to have mountains, lakes, and lots of local events nearby. But even that can be a lot with four kids and a dog. We can still find ways to rest, connect, and have a good time in our own home.
Let me share how we do staycations in my family, and why they’ve become one of our favorite ways to slow down and enjoy each other.
What’s a Staycation?
A staycation is a vacation spent at home or close to home, where the focus is on taking a real break from your usual routine without the stress of packing, travel, or planning.
It’s an opportunity to slow down, enjoy time with your family (or yourself), and make time to relax and reset.
Why We Choose Staycations
For us, a staycation means a change of perspective. This isn’t your typical weekend. It’s time to disconnect from the hectic responsibilities of life, such as work emails, piled dishes, and errands, and focus on relaxation, presence, and peace.
We choose staycations because they don’t require months of prep or a travel budget. We don’t have to book dog sitters or stress over road trip meltdowns. And with both of us working from home, sometimes the idea of staying local—without needing to explain our life to anyone—is the most restful thing we can do.
Staycations give us the gift of flexibility. We can be spontaneous. Stay in our pajamas with bed hair. We can do a lot—or do nothing at all.
What Our Staycations Look Like
In our home, staycations aren’t strict or meticulously planned. They vary depending on the day, the climate, and everyone’s mood. There are days that are sluggish and quiet, and days that are busy and full of having a good time
Here’s how we shape our staycations around different kinds of days.
Slow-Living on the Weekends
Weekends can easily blend into the rest of the week when you work from home. So when we decide to make it a staycation weekend, we do a few simple things to set it apart.
We might wake up a little later, take our time to make pancakes or waffles from scratch, and let the day unfold naturally. If it’s nice out, we’ll bring breakfast to the porch or let the kids run barefoot in the yard. Sometimes we go to a nearby park or trail just for a change of scenery. There’s no pressure to be anywhere at a certain time.
The key is giving ourselves permission to slow down and not fill the day with chores or errands.
Rainy Staycations
Rainy days used to feel like a wash, but now we treat them like built-in staycation magic. We’ll build blanket forts in the living room, turn off most of the lights, and let the kids set up their own “movie theater.” Popcorn becomes dinner sometimes, and that’s okay.
We also open up our window blinds and enjoy the rainfall. The sound is relaxing, especially when reading a book or having a meal.
During screen time or nap time, I usually light a candle, make a warm beverage, and enjoy a few minutes to myself. My husband and I would put together a puzzle after the kids went to bed or snuggle up with wine and a movie.
Here are some of our favorite puzzles:
Sunny Days
On sunny staycation days, we’re all outside. The kids will stay out for hours if I bring out sidewalk chalk, a large bucket of water and water toys, and bikes.
Sometimes, I set up a kiddie pool right on the driveway for the kids to soak in. We’ll set up a picnic blanket in the yard, set up our lawn chairs, and just enjoy being outside together.
Here are some fun activities to do with your kids at home.
Sometimes we drive out to a local trail or lake, but we often stay close to home. We’ll grill, eat dinner on the patio, and watch the snails trail along on the pavement. These are the moments that stick with me—the unplanned joy of doing simple things in the sun with the people I love.
Relaxing Staycations
Some days, we just rest. And, that’s okay.
We keep it slow—no alarms, no expectations. I might read for a bit, doodle, or journal while the kids play nearby. If they’re calm, we’ll all pile into the bed or couch with snacks and watch an anime series. We graze all day, and give ourselves grace if the laundry pile waits another day.
Relaxing days help me feel like myself again. They help my kids reset, too, and it’s a great way to bond.
Game Days
Game days are for those days when we all have tons of energy but don’t want to go out.
The older kids love card games, LEGO® challenges, or scavenger hunts we make up on the spot. For the younger ones, even a simple matching game or sorting activity feels special when we all gather around and cheer them on. We also enjoy playing Super Mario Party® games together on our Nintendo Switch®.
My husband and I will sometimes do our own game night after bedtime. Nothing fancy—just us, a snack, and a puzzle or card game. We do try to be creative some days with fun date nights.
Low-Energy Staycations
Some days, no one has the energy to plan or do much—and that’s totally fine.
On those days, we lean into the low energy. We stay in pajamas longer than usual. We watch a few extra shows. I lounge and enjoy my kids’ company as they color and play quietly.
These staycation days are quiet, but still intentional. They remind me that we don’t have to “do” a lot to enjoy each other. We just need to be together.
Staycations Help Us Reconnect
Every time we have a staycation, I notice the same things: our house feels more peaceful, the kids are calmer, and my husband and I feel more like a team.
Staycations are full of little moments that bring us back to what matters—connection, rest, and fun. We don’t normally plan out staycations, but you can if you want to. Some people visit local events or explore something nearby.
My family and I literally just enjoy staying home. It’s amazing how much we love being home because we also work from home. I do admit there are some days when we need to get out for a change of scenery, but most of the time, we really enjoy each other right where we are.
And the best part about a staycation is not having to pack a single bag or create an itinerary.
I hope this encourages you to try a staycation. You don’t need to set aside a whole week or have a perfect plan. Just make space to turn off the noise, lean into what feels good, and enjoy what’s already right in front of you.
Sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.
I love a staycation! We normally visit somewhere close to home, but I like the idea of staying at home and just taking time to relax from normal day-to-day life.
My husband and I enjoy visiting local places, too! But unfortunately, my kids enjoy staying home. We find it so strange that they don’t care to go anywhere, unless it’s to the beach at the lake. Overall, I think kids just enjoy being cozy-up at home.