Staycation Ideas

Archive for the ‘Summer Staycation Ideas’ Category

Set up a field-trip with one of the local companies, and tour with the class or your own children. Gain insight, and give the children an opportunity to see how a business operates.

This post was submitted by Cynthia Igasan.

Produce, flowers, crafts, entertainment, baked goods—today’s Farmers Markets have something for almost everyone. It’s much more than just garden vegetables. If you haven’t been to one in a while, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

How to Make it Happen

Call your local Chamber of Commerce to find out the locations and times of markets in your area. Some markets are large enough that they may have their own website. Arrive early to find the best deals––if it’s a popular market merchants may sell out of goods early. If you become a regular, booth operators may hold back special items for you upon request.

Buy whatever looks good that week, or make a weekly meal list before you go and buy items for the week. Buying from local producers is a great way to eat fresh. But don’t assume that all produce at a Farmers Market is organic. If it is important to you, ask.

Once you have what you came for, just take the time to stroll around. Grab a drink, enjoy the entertainment, and watch other people go about their business.

Additional Activities

1. Consider growing your own vegetables in a backyardgarden.
2. If you can offer a product or service you think people would like, consider renting your own booth at the market.
3. Go to an open fish market for fresh fish.

Croquet is one of those great backyard games that no one is completely sure how to play. But trust me, it’s worth learning. All you need is a croquet set, a copy of the rules, and a group of willing players. Spend an hour learning the rules, and you’ll spend the rest of the summer challenging family and friends to a game of croquet.

How to Make it Happen

If you don’t already have one, inexpensive croquet sets—and other backyard games—are available through sporting good stores or discount store chains. Look for these in the spring, or discounted by mid-summer.

Croquet is best played on short grass. Basically, it involves knocking your ball with a mallet and trying to hit the ball through a series of wickets that are set in a figure-eight pattern. For a list of croquet rules, visit www.croquet.com.

If croquet isn’t your style, try other great backyard games, such as badminton, bocci ball or horseshoes. Always remember—safety first! Some games might not be safe if small children are around.

Additional Activities

1. Combine a backyard game tournament with a neighborhood barbecue.
2. Enter a horseshoe contest at a state or county fair.
3. Croquet Australia has a great set-up for kids: http://www.croquet-australia.com.au/Kids/

If humans envy any other animal it would be birds for their ability to fly. The Wright Brothers made it possible. And now the sky’s within reach for almost anyone who wants to try.

How to Make it Happen
There are a lot of misconceptions about taking flying lessons and becoming a pilot. And let’s set the record straight about two common myths: You don’t need a lot of money and you don’t have to have perfect eyesight to learn how to fly.

Want to get started? Now is a great time! Saturday, May 15, 2010 is the first annual “Learn to Fly Day”. Learn to Fly Day is about sharing the joy of flight with everyone. Learn to Fly Day is happening all over the country at participating flight schools, airports, and with independent flight instructors so that YOU can learn more about the wonders of flying! In fact there are over 300 locations in 147 cities participating in Learn to Fly Day. And you want to know the best part of Learn to Fly Day? It’s totally FREE!

This Saturday, flight schools and other aviation organizations will host a variety of events including learn to fly seminars, tours of the schools and/or airport and even first flight experiences.

Want to attend or get some more information?  Here are some links:

• All about the Learn to Fly Day: http://www.learntoflyday.com
• Free Learn to Fly Kit: http://www.pilotjourney.com/learntoflykit/

To find your way in the world, all you need is a compass and a map. Those are also the two things you need for the fast-growing sport of orienteering. Orienteering challenges participants to find their way on a pre-determined path using a compass, a map, and one’s own physical and mental abilities.

How to Make it Happen

According to the US Orienteering Federation, www.us.orienteering.org, the objective of orienteering is to “…run, walk, ski, or mountain bike to a series of points shown on the map, choosing routes––both on and off trail––that will help you find all the points and get back to the finish in the shortest amount of time.”

Designed as a sport, participants pass a series of control markers that they must punch to prove they’ve been there. The goal is to finish the course as quickly as possible.

For more information on how to get started with orienteering, important safety tips and competition locations, visit www.us.orienteering.org.

Additional Activities

1. Practice your skills with a compass by taking an off-trail hike in the woods. Use caution and never hike where it’s prohibited. Always let someone know where you are going.
2. Try geocaching.