How To Staycation At Home During Coronavirus Quarantine
The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on travel, with many people having to cancel or reschedule vacations. If you have some paid days off that need to be used, however, or even if you just wish you could get away for a long weekend, there's plenty of staycation fun to be had at home.
Create a playlist
Every good vacation has a playlist, so create one to help set the vibe with some classic songs, beachy tunes, summertime hits or your personal favorites.
Dress the part
Shorts, themed T-shirts and other vacation gear are packing essentials when leaving home, so why not wear sundresses, Bermuda shorts and bathing suits to get yourself in the vacation mindset at home?
Decorate your house
Try to decorate your home so that it looks a little less like home and more like a resort, with anything from tropical table settings to new wall hangings to fake or fresh flowers or string lights.
Make brunch
Treat yourself to a nice brunch, whether that means ordering in from a diner or bakery or making some of the best brunch recipes around.
Have a game night
Test your teamwork and competitiveness by designating a night to play games with others, such as board games, parlor games or video games. Keep in touch with friends and family by playing virtually through video chat, streams or online game sites that allow multiple players.
Have a movie night
Relax with a marathon of your favorite movies or recent releases. In the age of streaming, movie nights don't strictly have to be for just movies either. There are plenty of happy shows you can binge-watch to take your mind away from the outside world.
Sleep in
Getting enough sleep can do a body good in many ways, so take the chance to catch up on your sleep without worrying about waking up early.
Unplug
If you're working from home, it can be especially hard to separate your home life from your work life. Get yourself truly in vacation mode by unplugging entirely from your emails, social media and devices.
Create a waterpark in the backyard
While there are plenty of fun indoor activities for kids, sometimes little ones can get pretty restless and just want to go outside. With water lawn slides, sprinklers or an inflatable pool, you can create a waterpark right in your own backyard.
Camp in your backyard
If you miss camping at a fancy RV park or out in the woods, pitch a tent in the backyard and get to know nature in your own neighborhood.
Camp out in the living room
If you really are stuck in the house or you don't really have a backyard, put out a tent in the living room or even build a pillow fort. Use sleeping bags for extra realism.
Have a fancy dinner
Since you're not able to dine out at expensive restaurants at the moment, set the table and order in a fancier meal — or try making one yourself. Dim the lights, craft a special menu and follow these other tips for making dinner at home feel like dinner out.
Mix some frozen drinks
Another way to get into the vacation vibe is with some fruity, frozen drinks. Make yourself some of your favorite cocktails that you typically drink when you're on the beach or at a resort, like daiquiris or piña coladas.
Enjoy Disney parks from home
You can create a Disney vacation right at home, complete with the iconic snacks found at Disney parks. Bake some Mickey Mouse beignets and find some point-of-view videos of the best Disney attractions and fireworks on YouTube so that you really feel like you're there.
Eat beach snacks
Food really is a great way to create the illusion that you're on vacation. Make or order things you'd find at a great seafood shack, like lobster rolls or fried shrimp, or typical treats at a classic boardwalk like funnel cakes or hot dogs.
Tour a museum virtually
Museums may be closed, but many offer patrons the option to view their exhibits online. Make a day of it by visiting museums that offer virtual tours.
Indulge your sweet tooth
For even more vacation treats, brush up on your baking skills and try out some new dessert recipes. You can make anything, from simple five-ingredient sweets to some seriously impressive — though difficult — desserts.
Have a wine tour at home
Set up a wine trail right in your home, with different rooms designated for different wines to be tasted. Pair each wine with a different cheese from around the world for extra measure.
Attend a virtual film festival
If you had to get a refund on summer festival tickets, all is not lost. Many film festivals are going online this year, such as SXSW, which is now streaming its movies on Prime Video. Multiple film festivals around the world have also come together for We Are One: A Global Film Festival, a 10-day festival hosted on Youtube beginning May 29.
Visit a landmark virtually
If sightseeing is more your thing, you can even visit iconic landmarks from the comfort of your couch thanks to virtual tours being offered online or through the Google Arts & Culture app.
Have a spa day
Treat yourself to some aromatherapy with bath salts and essential oils in your bathtub, or join in with other people in your household to give each other pedicures and facials like you'd experience at a splurge-worthy spa resort.
Buy an inflatable pool or turn your bathtub into one
One of the best parts of vacation is lying in a super cool pool, and maybe you don't have to miss out entirely. Get an inflatable pool for some fun in the backyard or pretend your bathtub is one and hop in with your bathing suit and beach ball.
Throw a dance party
Quarantine is a great time to pick up new skills you can learn from home, such as dancing. Throw a dance party in your living room to add some fun to your staycation and get some exercise too.
Take a culinary class
Trying new foods is one of the best parts of travel, and culinary classes are a great way to get to know a new destination. Luckily, there are also plenty of cooking classes you can take online to emulate that experience at home.
‘Paint and sip’ at home
Buy a painting kit or another DIY kit that can help you pick up a new hobby. Then have a "paint and sip" session or art night at home. Ask your friends to order the same one too and do it over video chat.
Go on a safari from home
Many zoos such as the Bronx Zoo and Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden are hosting live streams during quarantine for animal lovers to enjoy from home. You can also find great videos on YouTube or specific zoo websites.
Take yoga classes
There are plenty of free online workout classes and exercise apps that you can take advantage of to relieve some stress through your own yoga retreat.
Turn your bedroom into a hotel room
Make your bedroom more comfortable for sleep with amenities such as higher thread count sheets and some faux down pillows to resemble the kind of accommodations you'd find in one of the world's most spectacular hotels. The only downside is that you won't be able to call housekeeping to make the bed for you.
Have a picnic at home
Stream a live concert
Many artists are streaming concerts from their living room to yours on YouTube, Instagram and other social media, so why not add a live show to your itinerary? It's also one of the best ways to connect with others during the pandemic.