Next week (from February 16th -20th), NYC students will have their midwinter recess. To help with ideas to make this time special, FamilyFun Magazine was kind enough to share the following staycation tips from their February 2009 issue with us.
1. Pick a theme.
o Beach Day – Ukulele music, rum-free piña coladas, tissue paper leis
o Spa Day – Elaborate hairdos, homespun nail salon, foot massages
o Dinosaur Day – Natural history museum, dino books, and fossil kits
o Olden Days Day – Shun electricity, light candles, roast marshmallows
o International Day – Cultural immersion for a day, look up traditional music, crafts, and customs
2. Book a Room at Your Own “Home-tel” – It’s fun to transform your home into a hotel for the night.
o Transform your bathroom with nice hand towels and fancy soaps
o Give each child a “Do Not Disturb” sign for bedroom doors
o Offer turndown service, complete with wrapped chocolates on pillows
o You can even give kids a room service breakfast menu
o Slip an agenda of the day’s activities under kids’ doors every morning
3. Splurge and stay at a real hotel or motel for one night.
o Check in early, check out late, use the pool, and jump on the beds to get that vacation feel
4. Create a little nightlife with Basement Olympics or a picnic dinner by the fireplace.
5. Shop for Souvenirs – Give your kids a special souvenir allowance and a chance to spend it.
6. Act like a Tourist – Approach your town with the same curiosity as you would a foreign land.
o Take public transportation
o Check out the chamber of commerce to learn about free sights/activities
o Use travel guides or online tourism resources
o Visit the library for an afternoon of free fun
(If you do decide to get away for a day/the week, try Megabus.com or BoltBus.com. They are two great, low-cost bus lines that I read about in Money magazine. Tickets from NYC to Boston are as low as $15 one way.)