8 Budget-friendly staycation ideas for spring break fun

Spring break is coming up for many families, and if a big trip isn’t in the cards this year, there are so many ways to enjoy time together near home.

Here are our ideas for a fun and unforgettable spring break that won’t break the bank. Pick an idea or two from this list, and share how it goes and your ideas in the comments below.

Create a global adventure by learning all about a different country. You could even pick one for every day of the week!

Check out books about your chosen country from the library. This list of international children’s books is a great place to start. Then cook a traditional food from that country, or visit a restaurant featuring that cuisine. 

If you want to dive deeper, watch a movie or documentary set in that country, or create art or crafts inspired by the country's traditions.

I have to credit a delightful book called Give Your Child the World: Raising Globally Minded Kids One Book at a Time for this idea. Check it out for a lot more in-depth ways to “travel the world from home” with your kids.

And if you’re not sure where to start … My kids and I enjoyed reading Anna Hibiscus and then making puff-puff, a Nigerian dessert. Yum!

Making a pilgrimage to a holy site is a beautiful and powerful way to grow in your faith as a family. To quote the great Emily Stimpson Chapman on why it’s worth taking young kids on a pilgrimage:

This Jubilee Year is the perfect time for a family pilgrimage. Bishops across the U.S. have announced special designated Jubilee pilgrimage sites throughout their dioceses. Find one near you and visit over spring break. Here’s a handy interactive map to help you find it!

In my family, we like to stop for ice cream after the pilgrimage … just in case you need to sweeten the deal!

My kids are too young for sleepovers, but they’re looking forward to a “sleep-under” with their friends. They plan to wear PJs, play games, and watch a movie together … and then head home at a reasonable hour to sleep in their own beds. Put sleeping bags on the floor or make a blanket nest to make it even more fun and cozy.

You know how much I love brainwashing encouraging my kids to get excited about cozy reading time. 

Take it to the next level with a library outing to stock up on a pile of good reads. Then come home and build a blanket fort, and sit inside it to read all those new books together. (I think I just described my perfect day…)

I love baking, and now my kids have embraced this hobby too and started trying out their own simple recipes. Things like 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies are easy enough that even my 6-year-old can make them (mostly) on her own. 

Make a fun and friendly competition out of baking. Have each child pick a recipe to make, then vote on the results at the end. We all have fun taste-testing and reviewing the end results. 

Read a book together as a family, then celebrate with a little family book club! Dress up as favorite characters, make foods mentioned in the book, and make a list of trivia questions or charades scenes from the book to make a game out of it. 

My kids run circles around me, so I try to channel their energy into lots of movement to tire them out for bedtime! You could plan an active adventure in countless ways, and here are a few of my favorites: 

Enjoy a little R&R with the kids by setting up a spa day at home. Make homemade face masks, soak in a bubble bath, and give each other massages.

Hopefully these ideas give you a good starting point for family fun over the break! You can include the kids in the planning, perhaps making a list of what you want to do each day or creating a “Spring Break Bingo” card. 

What makes break fun is the chance to spend quality time together as a family. Kids just want to spend time with their parents. As long as you’re having fun together, your kids will make amazing memories.