10 ideas for a backyard staycation

While many of us aren’t physically traveling during a pandemic, that doesn’t mean we can’t get creative with our current surroundings. In fact, a few times during the pandemic my husband and I turned our living space into something different – making it feel as though we were somewhere new. We recently had a backyard staycation and it was exactly what we needed.

MORE: 5 tips for changing travel plans on short notice

Here are some ideas if you’re looking for a vacation without physically going anywhere…

MORE: Creating and sharing travel plans

Decorate the space to feel like a restaurant, bar or lounge. Try setting up a few spots, so you can feel as though you’re out on the town – hopping from place to place. If you don’t have a backyard, you can do this inside your home too. Even if your space is small – use a different corner for a different “restaurant.” Have dinner at one and dessert at another.
Set up an outdoor movie theater. Not sure how to do that? Follow these steps.
Get creative with games. Spread out your favorite games in different “zones.” You can have a chess zone, a ping pong zone, a Monopoly zone. Then spend the day in one or more zones, depending on how much time you have.
Get lounge chairs and pretend you’re at the beach. If you don’t have a chair you can also throw down a towel. But grab sunglasses, a book and a drink for a day “at the beach.”
Have a picnic or tea party. Create a special summer lunch or snack and take it outside.
Decorate like you’re in another country. We celebrated my mom’s 65th birthday like we were in Italy. It was so much fun!
Make it a camp day. Plan an itinerary of things you’d do at camp. And then do them!
Go for a swim. If you don’t have a pool get a kiddie pool or a good old fashion slip ‘n’ slide.
Have a water balloon fight. Is one ever too old for this?
Cook something fun. Have a BBQ. But try cooking something you don’t usually cook to make the experience feel unique.