Sure, you know someone who is jetting off to Hawaii for Spring Break, but a great vacation doesn’t rely on long and expensive air travel. A staycation—in which you have a vacation while staying home—is great way to get all the benefits of an expensive trip. “More than anything, family vacations are a time to spend time just enjoying each other’s company,” says Lissa Poirot, editor-in-chief of familyvacationcritic.com, a website with headquarters in Pennington, N.J. “For a half-tank of gas or less, families can get out and explore areas they may take for granted on a daily basis, like a great state park.”
Here are some ideas for your Spring Break staycation, and if you want information on specific locations, familyvacationcritic.com has New Jersey and Pennsylvania planning guides, as well as guides for DC, NYC, and Delaware.
One Night in A Hotel
Why You Need It
The pool! And once the kids have been swimming, let them order a movie in the room, plus food (local hotels often have menus from nearby restaurants for dinners such as pizza and wings). Best news? You don’t have to do dishes! Don’t forget to make use of the fitness room.
Amp It Up
Invite another family, whether it’s friends or cousins, to join you so the kids have a variety of playmates. Depending on where you actually live, Princeton, Doylestown, and Chadds Ford will feel like another world if you have to drive over a half-hour to get there. Each of those locations has chain hotels with pools, such as Holiday Inn, Courtyard, and Hampton Inn. Go to tripadvisor.com for hotel recommendations, or go to specific hotel chain websites to learn more about spring break, mid-week specials.
How You’ll Feel
Relaxed. Since kids tend to get very loud in hotel pools (hey, they’re having fun!) set rules beforehand (to avoid on-site “discussions”) about being quiet in the room and bed times.
A Day Off The Grid
Why You Need It
According to American Academy of Pediatrics kids’ screen time should be limited “to less than one or two hours per day.” And for kids under 2 that number should be “none at all.” For adults? Well, let’s just say looking up from your laptop or phone will be a vacation for your brain, your neck, your eyes, and your imagination.
Amp It Up
Make your day a mix of staying home and getting outside. Walk or bike to a park and be sure there are crayons, coloring books, books to read, and games at the house. If you have a child who likes to look things up on the web, then encourage her to write down her questions to research later once she’s back online. Finally, remember that spending time offline is a teachable moment (for you and kids!): Have a discussion about what you notice about your mood and sleep after a day without screens.
How You’ll Feel
More engaged with your family and with the world around you.
Movie Marathon
Why You Need It
Film is the art form of the 20th century so seeing the great films of the past is just as important as reading the great books. If your kids are used to seeing movies on a laptop or phone, consider heading over to the Princeton Garden Theater, which screens kids’ movies on Saturdays (thegardentheater.com).
Amp It Up
Show them films that mean something to you and tell them stories about how you saw movies as a kid (maybe you watched Bambi in a drive-in or you and your mom watched Big one day when you stayed home sick from school). Need ideas? “The 55 Essential Movies Kids Must Experience (Before They Turn 13)” list from Entertainment Weekly has great suggestions. (And don’t forget the homemade treats! Cooking with your kids is a great way to spend time together before the movie.)
How You’ll Feel
Depending on what film you choose (Up is a feel-good movie, Sounder is not), you will probably have an emotional reaction, and that common experience is a wonderful bonding experience. Make sure you talk after the movie.
Local Museums
Why You Need It
To show your kids that education and art is a family value. Don’t just stick to the kids’ museums, either. Grounds for Sculpture, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Princeton Art Museum, and Mercer Museum in Doylestown (an extraordinary collection of historical “stuff”) all have children’s programs and are child-friendly.
Amp It Up
Let the kids wear very comfortable clothes (you want them to be able to pay attention to what’s around them, and some of the museums require a lot of walking), and give them a pad and pencils to sketch or write about what they see. Stop at the information desk to get maps and kids’ activity books. Most important, go at their pace. Don’t make the experience feel like something they “have” to do. Finally, give them a specific amount of money before you leave to spend at the gift shop. Once again, this avoids “discussions.”
How You’ll Feel
A day at a museum really is a day at school and a vacation rolled into one. You’ll feel invigorated from both getting out of the house and being exposed to art, science or history.
Yard Sale!
Why You Need It
Have you looked in your garage, attic, and kids’ rooms? Cleaning up with a goal in mind is a learning experience for younger and older school kids.
Amp It Up
Let them designate how all the money will be spent. This isn’t the sale where you should expect to make enough to build a pool. Instead, figure that you can make a couple of hundred dollars (let them sell some of your things, too, as many kids’ toys are easy to come by) and that they can buy bikes, a gaming system, or even a night at a hotel. Be sure to give each kids specific tasks, such as putting price stickers on items and handling the money box. Don’t be surprised if they learn some haggling skills, too! Most yard sale attendees want to get items at a price lower than one you set.
How You’ll Feel
Like you accomplished something together, and richer!
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