Roam Sweet Home: 10 Staycation Ideas To Liven Up Your Summer

If it feels like everyone you know is hopping on planes, trains, boats and everything in between to go on holiday, but you haven’t even gotten to dust off your luggage, take heart: staying put can be as refreshing and rejuvenating as jet-setting – sometimes even more so, without the packing, crowds, delays, soaring costs and other stress factors that come with high-season travel. 

The key to an enjoyable staycation, however, lies in the planning. While a vacation abroad can offer new and surprising experiences at every turn, a staycation is only what you make of it. Luckily, making your own fun is easier than it sounds. Whether you’d like to build a cultural connection, seek out new adventures on well-worn paths, or travel the world through your palate, we offer a few tips on making this summer memorable – without adding a new stamp in your passport.

Eat Like A Local

If trying exotic dishes and discovering new flavours isn’t the whole point of travelling, then what is? Immersing yourself in the local food scene is one of the greatest pleasures of globetrotting, but there’s just as much to discover and savour right at home. Check out new-to-you farmer’s markets in your region. Take a food tour around your city or a neighbouring one. Splurge on a fancy meal at a restaurant you’ve never been to. Buy a local chef’s cookbook and try your hand at a few recipes, or take a mini workshop to learn a new culinary skill. Then, with everything you’ve learned, host a dinner party to share these newly discovered flavours with your family and friends.

Sip Like A Tourist

Whether at home or abroad, it’s not truly summer without a cool, refreshing beverage in hand. We say: give it a (lemon) twist with a drink inspired by your favourite destinations. While you won’t be actually clinking glasses on Copacabana Beach, the vibrant flavours of a homemade caipirinha will take you halfway there. If oceanfront views of the Riviera Maya are what’s missing, learn how to make margaritas or palomas at home. Longing for la dolce vita? Mix your own version of a Campari or Aperol spritz. Wish you were relaxing in a Spanish vineyard? Sipping some homemade sangria on your patio might be the next best thing.

Learn The Lingo

New year, new language? Well, it’s never too late. And while the best way to improve your language skills is to go straight to the source, if you’re staying home this summer, there are a number of tools at your disposal. Language-learning apps like Duolingo have, of course, taken the world by storm (seriously, do you know anyone who isn’t collecting lingots?), but there are other ways, too: by reading children’s books, joining online (or in-person) meet-ups with a native speaker, watching subtitled films and TV shows, or simply listening to some tunes, you can already start immersing yourself in the language of your next bucket-list destination. And even if you’re not planning on travelling soon, learning new things and keeping your mind active is never a waste of time.

Have A Luxe Night In

You don’t need jet lag to justify a 12-hour night of good sleep. If you’re the type of traveller who loves to cocoon themselves at a nice hotel, swaddling yourself in the plush bathrobe and bringing the breakfast buffet to your room, you can easily recreate the full experience at home. Invest in a luxurious new pair of silky pyjamas, make the bed with your fanciest sheets, set your phone to do-not-disturb, and put on a melatonin-boosting playlist. The next morning (or noon, if you’re doing it right), order in from your favourite brunch place and enjoy a nice meal in bed. Travellers waking up early to join a crowded group tour will be envying you – trust us.

Be A Visitor In Your Home

If, on the other hand, you’re the type to fill your travel itinerary with every available tour and excursion, why wait until you’re at a different latitude to do so? There’s a good chance you haven’t seen and done everything where you live, so go full tourist mode and start exploring. Join a walking or cycling tour, or venture into off-your-radar neighbourhoods for shopping and dining. Hunt for artisanal items or specialty foods, and picnic in a local park or nature area. Get tickets to museums you’ve been meaning to visit and shows you’ve wanted to see, or dine at a highly rated restaurant that you’ve been reserving for a special occasion. Pretend you’re a tourist who’s in town for just a few days – and never again – and plan to do as much in your city or region as you would if you were someplace new.

Ride With The Tide

Dreaming of romantic sea-bound voyages? While you might not be cruising the Amalfi Coast, there’s a good chance you still have a body of water nearby you could escape to, whether kayaking on a river, sailing on the sea, fishing at the pond or leisurely cruising a lake in a motor boat. You’ll be able to beat the heat, see sunrise or sunset from a fresh perspective, and discover new places without having to go too far. If you’re feeling adventurous, rent a boat yourself. If not, let an experienced captain take the wheel while you sit, sip and enjoy the views.

Turn Your Hobby Into Art

You don’t need to save space in your camera roll for your next epic adventure. If you’re into photography, release your creativity and document your summer right at home. Grab your camera and go on a photography expedition around your city. Whether it’s taking shots of iconic architecture, cityscapes and nature vistas, capturing people in their daily routines or making a photo journal of the city’s food scene, there’s a lot to be discovered through the lens without ever leaving town. For an additional DIY project, make a coffee table book to show off your best pics.

Revamp Your Al Fresco Living Space

Speaking of DIY, why not use your staycation to give your outdoor oasis an overhaul? Take advantage of sunny weather to embark on a project that will make your patio, balcony or backyard more inviting, like upgrading your garden, redecorating your patio or balcony, or building an al fresco entertainment space – all while getting a healthy dose of vitamin D. After all, long summer days are perfect for giving life to your Pinterest dreams, just in time for the second half of the year.

Saddle Up

Not booking a flight to Amsterdam or Copenhagen this summer? Good thing you don’t have to actually go there to embrace their famous two-wheeled way of life; dust off your bike and explore your own area by pedal power. Whether you join a cycling tour through the city, explore rugged nature paths, or just take your bike instead of the car to run daily errands, cycling lets you see your hometown and nearby surroundings in a different light, while discovering places less accessible via other modes of transportation. Plus, you’ll be getting in a bit of cardio. We call that a win-win-win.

Travel Through Cinema

Hot, sunny days are fun… until they’re not. Take a break from the heat and explore your favourite destinations in armchair mode. Ride a Vespa through the streets of Rome and ogle the Italian countryside with Roman Holiday and The Talented Mr. Ripley. Marvel at incredible desert landscapes with Lawrence of Arabia or The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Explore frenetic Tokyo with Lost in Translation, and savour California’s wine-making country with Sideways. Summer is the season to sate your wanderlust with a travel-inspired movie marathon – ideally in a comfy, air-conditioned and snack-filled setting. And who knows, seeing such faraway places on film might even inspire your next holiday.