Some of us will stay home for the holidays this year. With the pandemic still lurking, some of us would rather err on the side of caution. For others, it’s a matter of budgetary constraints. Whatever your reason, staying home for the holidays can be enjoyable! Staying home for the holidays offers us a unique chance to slow down, keep it low-key, and still enjoy fun holiday activities with our family and friends. Winter staycation, anyone? We thought so!
Why a Winter Staycation is the best way to celebrate the holidays this year
Yes, you can travel now, and that’s why airports and roadways are likely to be chock-a-block! Battling crowds intent on holiday-ing isn’t everyone’s thing. If you’re one of those, it is best to look at winter staycations for your holiday celebrations this year. Staycations are great options when your budget is tight or you don’t have the time to travel to faraway places. So, go ahead – put up an ‘out of office’ message and take a few days to unwind and indulge in all things you wanted to but never found time for. A winter staycation is the best way to spend quality time with your loved ones.
Here are some fun ideas to make your winter staycation enjoyable and risk-free.
1. Have a Movie Marathon
Catch up on all those movies you’ve been wanting to watch but haven’t seen yet. Now is the perfect time to let movies take transport you to another world. You can even have a theme for your marathon – holiday movies, romcoms, superhero flicks, or even some good old-fashioned horror movies! Make sure your are comfy before you settle down on your movie marathon. We strongly recommend warm blankets, lots of comfy pillows, popcorn, and pajamas. Splurge on some pizza. Settle down and enjoy!
Holiday movies we recommend
- Home Alone (1990) – C’mon, is it even Christmas without Kevin?
- A boy called Christmas (2021) – Santa Claus origin story that’s a visual feast!
- Single all the way (2021) – Cheerful and cheesy gay rom-com (probably the first one ever?)
- Seuss’s The Grinch (2018) – Benedict Cumberbatch, need we say more?
- The Miracle on 34th Street (1994) – Richard Attenborough as Santa. Nuff said!
- A Christmas Story (1983) – Remember what it felt like as a kid at Christmas?
- Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020) – Exactly what we needed this year!
2. Drive around and see Christmas lights near you
Hop into the car with your family or partner and enjoy the tons of dazzling holiday lights on display near you. It’ll get you out of the house, and you can get your festive on with hardly any expense! You can drive around your neighborhood and witness the cheerful, creative, and sometimes whacky displays that your neighbors have worked on. Or you could drive down to the nearest park, garden, or shopping district, where there’ll be more professional and rather spectacular displays.
Best Christmas light displays across the country
- Holiday Lights at the New York Bronx Zoo
- ZooLights at the Washington DC Smithsonian National Zoo
- Candy Cane Lane in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles
- Barnsley Resort in Adairsville, Georgia
- Celebration in the Oaks at City Park in New Orleans
3. Cook with your family
Too many cooks don’t ruin the meal when it’s the holidays! Don’t slog alone in the kitchen – you’re on a winter staycation, remember? Turn cooking into a family affair. Cooking with your family is a great way to introduce children to the kitchen’s delights and a chance to spend quality time with them this holiday season. Cooking’s always more fun when you don’t have to do it alone. It’s also a great way to keep everyone engaged and have many hands helping you! Keep it simple – ask children to help make and decorate cookies. Older children can probably help a little more with chopping and prep. Go on, get your kitchen full of people, energy, and delicious smells.
4. Pamper yourself with a spa-liday
You don’t need to go out to pamper yourself! Stock up on all the essentials that you’ll need to relax at home during your winter stayacation. Light up those scented candles, slather on the face masks, massage in the essential oils, and give yourself a mani-pedi. Top it all off with a long blissful soak in the tub! Too much work, you think? Then it’s alright to splurge a little and book yourself into a nearby spa for a day of relaxation. You could also book a couple’s spa day with your partner as a special holiday treat for them.
5. Host a virtual Christmas party
This is a perfect way to get in touch with all the people in your life. Organize an online Christmas celebration and enjoy a virtual Christmas dinner together. Make and share a Spotify Christmas playlist or have a Christmas Carol Karaoke night! Have an ugly Christmas sweater contest. You can order gifts for your extended family and have them open them up once everyone is online. Perhaps you can even convince Santa to make a special appearance at somebody’s house and join in on your virtual party!
Have any fun winter staycation ideas of your own? Do ahead and share them with us!
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