Feeling a bit of FOMO because you aren’t going anywhere grand for spring break? Hello! I’ve been there… leading up to spring break, there is no avoiding hearing about how your friend is going to Disney for a week and yes, they splurged for the uber-expensive fast passes, or your colleague has a glamorous international trip planned to Costa Rica, complete with volcano and beach tours.  Â
All this talk made me feel sad for not planning something sooner or saving up for a splurge trip… until I realized how great it could be to have a staycation over spring break. Hear me out. Spring break is one of the most heavily traveled times of the year. Airports are packed, hotels are packed, theme parks are packed… you get it. It’s also pretty expensive to travel - some flights can be double or triple what you would typically pay. And for me, if I’m going to go somewhere with the kids, the last thing I want to do is spend a ton of money to wait in lines and deal with lots of people.  The staycation is an amazing way to do something special without breaking the bank or fighting the crowds. Here are some ways to make the most of it:
Book a local hotel! Â
Assuming you don’t live in a spring break hot spot destination - you might find your local hotels are running promos. Find a fantastic hotel near your house with a pool or waterpark. I live in Wisconsin we can find some amazing deals here over spring break. While everyone is running to the warm sunshine, we take advantage of the indoor waterparks! It’s a fraction of the price, requires very little travel time, and is fun for everyone!Â
Make a scavenger hunt adventure card! Â
Kids love a good game and with this one afoot, nobody will be disappointed. I fill ours with activities we don’t usually do on a regular basis - you can find really good ideas by looking at tourist sites. I’ve found food walking tours, open play times, museums, and new restaurants! There are always things right under your nose that you never think about doing. An example of some items on our scavenger hunt: find a place you can jump more than 2 feet in the air (Urban Air), for breakfast eat something with a HOLE in it (bagels or donuts), find a real butterfly (Public Museum)Â
Camp out at home. Â
This is a favorite because you can do it in your backyard or your living room. Plan as though you are going to go on a camping trip - which definitely means you need to make s’mores. Have the kids pack their sleeping bags, take a trip to the store for all the yummy snacks, and have everyone bring a favorite book. Spend some quality time telling stories and watching the stars. Of course, I use our Figgies to build each kid a tent sleeping area in the living room.Â
Have a Yes day! Â
You’ve probably heard of this trend - but in case you haven’t, it’s where the kids get to pick ALL THE THINGS and parents say YES. Of course, there have to be some boundaries, but it’s so much fun and kids just love being in the power seat for a day! If you have multiple kids, it’s a great way to encourage them to work together to make choices.
Remember, mama, you don’t have to do anything grand to make spring break special for your kids. It’s all about quality time together - no matter where you are.  I guarantee these ideas are far less stressful than trying to wrangle kids and luggage through security or manage toddler emotions at a theme park!
