Spring break for those with kids, or a long weekend off work for those without kids, is an opportunity to recharge. Our souls need periods of rest. Rest from busy schedules, from early alarm clocks, from chores and to-do lists.
“Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.” – Maya Angelou
But what if you can’t take a trip to the beach or somewhere equally relaxing?
Should you resign yourself to staying at home and spending the week spring cleaning?
Uh, no.
Your spring break can still be full of rest, new adventures and memorable moments, if you are open to trying some of these ideas.
15 Things to Do on Spring Break Close to Home
- Explore your own town. Go to a local museum, a restaurant you haven’t tried or just an area of town you seldom visit.
- Visit a nearby city. Consider visiting another town for a day trip just to get a change of scenery.
- Get outdoors. After spending plenty of time indoors over the winter, it’s the perfect time to go hiking, biking or camping.
- Plant garden. March and April are great months for planting a garden. Plus, there are several health benefits to gardening.
- Plan a pretend beach trip. Stay in a hotel overnight that has a pool. Eat at a seafood restaurant. Use your imagination and get creative to re-create the beach experience.
- Try something new. Take family or friends to a trampoline park. Make homemade pizza. Look on YouTube for a skill you’ve been wanting to learn and give it a try.
- Go to the movies. With everyone at home, you can take advantage of matinee prices and go see a movie at the theater.
- Stay up late. With no work or school to rush to in the morning, it’s the perfect time to stay up late watching movies, playing games or reading. Enjoy turning off the alarm clocks for a few days.
- Get crafty. Spend 15 minutes on Pinterest, and you can find a ton of craft ideas. Pick something you’d like to try and head out for supplies. Even if it doesn’t turn out perfectly, it will make a great Pinterest fail story.
- Tackle a home project. Have leaves that need to be raked or a room that needs to be painted? Take a few hours one day to tackle something on your project list and enjoy the sense of accomplishment.
- Have an at-home spa day. All the girls in your family will enjoy a spa day with activities like painting nails, trying out new makeup looks or making face masks.
- Volunteer somewhere. Use part of your time off to mow a neighbor’s lawn or work at a homeless shelter.
- Plan your actual vacation. It’s a great time to start discussing and planning your vacation for later in the year. Get everyone’s thoughts on where they’d like to go and start researching things to do and places to stay.
- Go to a baseball game. If your spring break is in April, check your local baseball team’s schedule to see if you can make it to a game.
- Visit family or friend. Remember the relative or friend you love spending time with but rarely find the time to visit? This is the perfect time to go see them for a few hours.
If you are looking for more inspiration, here are 50 ideas from Simply Modern Mom on what to do on your staycation.
And if you are taking a trip, here a few hacks to make travel easier and a free packing list.
Spring break gives us a chance to focus on two very important things: making time for rest and making memories with those we love.
That’s a way better souvenir than a tan or a few seashells. 😉