It’s mid-March and across this cold, winter-y land of ours it’s the time of the annual March Break. Unlike our American neighbours, we can’t call it Spring Break, because Spring could honestly still be months away (sob). For many of us this one (or two) week break from school means an annual family pilgrimage somewhere south. For years and years our family headed to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina for a week of sunshine, ocean waves and outlet mall shopping.
There are many reasons though, that a family vacation away may not be in the cards. Vacations are expensive yo! Hockey and ringette families sign a contract in blood banning them from traveling during March playoff season. That goes double when you’re the family of a goalie. We are the family of two goalies. Goodbye March vacations!
Two years ago was the first March Break that we spent at home. I dreaded the idea of using up vacation days without a vacation planned, but we ended up having a fantastic week at home, and so began our March Break staycation tradition.
At the beginning of the week, we plan our calendar and each child is allowed to choose one “tourist attraction” that we spread out over the week. Last year we checked out the CN Tower
…headed to the Maple Bush…
…and did the Royal Ontario Museum as a family.
Rules go out the window and much delicious food is eaten.
The key with a staycation is to make sue everyone’s doing something outside of their regular routine…something they can go back to school or work and talk about when everyone else is talking about swimming with dolphins, lying in the sun or laps in the hotel pool.
This year I’m taking the staycation up a notch. I’m planning a trip to Walmart where I’ll stack a “day at home” bag with goodies that will be a nice suprise for those days when we don’t have something else planned.
I can buy myself a few hours of me time by picking up this Pipsqueaks marker set for $12.97.
And I’m thinking this tie dye kit that will do up to eight shirts for just $9.97 will keep a whole sleepover gang happy and busy.
While I’m at Walmart, I’ll also pick up a couple of DVDs and the snacks for a perfect movie night in. I love one stop shopping!
A staycation can be just as much fun as a vacation (minus the travel stress!), but it does need as much planning as a getaway. Put a little effort into it now, though, and you’ll have happy memories of your March Break at home.
Trend Watch is written by me; all opinions are my own and this is not a sponsored post.