The Ultimate Summer Staycation: Fun with Friends, Food, and Festivities at Home

Vacations are wonderful, but let’s be honest, sometimes they don’t work out. Getting away isn’t always easy, so why not plan the ultimate summer staycation instead?

Busy schedules, summer school, rising travel costs—it can all add up. But this summer, instead of feeling stuck at home, let’s turn that around. Let’s plan a staycation that’s fun for the kids and something adults will love, too.

An older woman holding a young child, both wearing blue and white striped shirts, standing near a beach with ocean and cloudy sky in the background.
A bright, airy kitchen with white cabinets, wooden dining table, and wicker chairs. Sunlight streams in through large windows, highlighting yellow flowers on the table and counter.

The Ultimate Summer Staycation

Five women are seated around a wooden table at an outdoor restaurant. They are smiling, and each has a menu in front of them. Drinks are on the table, and trees and other diners are in the background.
A Ventura Staycation with my sisters and sisters-in-law.

What is a staycation, and how does that work?

I’m talking about backyard parties, themed dinners, pool lounging, creative crafts, cocktails, and quality time with your favorite people. Invite a few families, keep it casual, and create a summer escape – right at home.

Here’s how to plan a staycation week with fun for all ages, complete with menus, activities, and moments designed to help adults relax, recharge, and have some fun of their own.

Staycation Kickoff: Prep and Plan

Poolside-Afternoon

Choose your dates and invite one or two other families to join you. You can rotate homes, share hosting duties, or keep everything centered at your place.

Day 1: Backyard Beach Day

Enjoying the Sun Poolside

Bring the beach to you with a day full of sun, water, and breezy fun.

Activities for all:

  • Kids can splash in an inflatable pool or play water balloon games
  • Adults get a lounge zone with umbrellas, beach chairs, and a cooler with drinks
  • Set up a playlist with tropical music for a laid-back vibe
The-Pool-in-the-Backyard

Menu:

The Best Recipes for California Tacos
The Best Recipes for Baja California Tacos
  • Grilled fish or shrimp tacos
  • Fruit salad with mint and lime
  • Chips, guac, and mango salsa
  • Adult twist: Serve frozen margaritas or piña coladas
Summer Fun Dinner Party

Adult-friendly prep tips:

  • Set up a cozy evening hangout zone with string lights, candles, and comfy seating
  • Plan for low-key moments where adults can sneak away for a quiet conversation
  • Create a drink station with wine, beer, or batch cocktails


I may sometimes use affiliate links on this blog, which means a small commission is earned if you purchase via the link. The price will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link.

Two lit lanterns with metal wire frames sit on a patterned surface, casting warm light and shadows across cozy lumbar pillows; a white vase with green leaves is in the background.

Solar Lanterns, KagoLing Solar Lights Outdoor Waterproof

Four rectangular, white ceramic plates with brown rims are stacked, with one plate propped diagonally on top of the others.
Sweese Rectangular Porcelain Platters
Round ceramic serving platter with six sections containing corn, shredded cheese, beans, salsa, and dip, displayed in front of a colorful "Chef Tacos" packaging.
Ceramic Taco Serving Platter
Two glass beverage dispensers on a metal stand, one filled with lemonade and the other with honey iced tea, each with a spigot and a chalkboard label.
Glass Drink Dispenser

Rattan Round Serving Tray, Set of 2

100% Cotton Cabana Stripe Beach Towels, 30×60, 4 Pack

Day 2: Craft & Create Day

An open box of colored sidewalk chalk lies on pavement surrounded by scattered chalk pieces and childlike chalk drawings.
Painted rocks on grass and pavement, including a Pac-Man ghost, a hot dog, a mountain, and one with the text "stop taking people's rocks.

Everyone loves getting creative, not just the kids.

Activities:

  • Kids can make tie-dye shirts, beaded jewelry, or painted pots
  • Adults can paint wine glasses, make summer candle jars, or try a simple clay project
  • Set up a shaded outdoor “craft café” with snacks and drinks

Menu:

Salad on Bamboo Skewers
Salad on a Stick with Bamboo Skewers
  • Build-your-own sandwich bar with fancy toppings
  • Caprese salad skewers
  • Adult twist: Host a mini wine tasting with chilled rosé or spritzers
A wooden serving cart with two shelves, large side wheels, a handle for pushing, and bottle holders on the lower shelf.
79 Teak Wood Indoor Outdoor Rolling 2 Shelf Bar Cart
A glass painting kit with six stemless wine glasses, shown with floral and mushroom designs, paint pots, markers, paintbrushes, and paint palettes arranged in front.
6 Sets Paint Your Own Wine Glass
A wine charm making kit with gold rings, alphabet beads, colored beads, gold bells, tweezers, and examples spelling names like "Emily" and "Sophia.
60 Sets DIY Wine Glass Charms
Two rectangular ceramic serving platters with white crackle glaze and rustic, distressed brown edges, stacked slightly overlapping.
LEHAHA Farmhouse Large Serving Platters
A colorful bead kit with assorted beads, strings, and tools next to various finished bracelets made from the kit, featuring charms and letter beads.
Clay Beads Arts and Crafts Kit for Jewelry Making
Tie dye kit includes a box, eight bottles of dye in various colors, rubber bands, gloves, and dye packets, for up to 36 projects. Designs and colored shirts shown on the box.
Tie Dye Kit, 8 Colours

Day 3: Pool Party & BBQ Bash

Summer Days BBQ in the Backyard

This one’s a classic—and everyone gets to play.

Activities:

  • Pool games for the kids and relaxing floats for the adults
  • Set up cornhole or bocce ball for a little friendly competition
  • Add a “cool down” station with popsicles for kids and frosé for grown-ups

Menu:

Recipe for Grilled Vegetable Skewers with Balsamic Glaze
Easy and Healthy Summer Recipes for Outdoor Gatherings
  • Gourmet burgers and grilled veggie skewers
  • Elote (Mexican street corn)
  • Watermelon and feta salad
  • Adult twist: Bourbon lemonade or mojito pitchers
A Ninja frozen drink maker dispensing an orange slushy beverage into a glass, garnished with a pineapple slice and two straws.
Ninja SLUSHi Professional Frozen Drink Maker with

Canopy Island Pool Float

A wooden salad bowl with a white interior, containing matching wooden salad servers.
Wooden Salad Bowl Set 
A bocce ball set with a carrying bag, eight colored bocce balls (red, green, blue, yellow), a small white pallino ball, and a measuring rope.
GoSports 90 mm Premium Resin Bocce Ball Set 

Reusable Water Balloons

Two wooden cornhole boards with chevron patterns, eight bean bags in blue and red, a drawstring bag, and a large carrying case are shown.
Tailgating Pros Cornhole Boards

Day 4: Summer Olympics

Michael and Dave chipping on our Backyard Putting Green

Turn your backyard into a field day extravaganza with a few adult-friendly upgrades.

Activities:

  • Classic kids’ events: sack races, three-legged races, tug-of-war
  • Adults compete in relay races, frisbee golf, or wine glass-balancing
  • Award medals (or mini wine bottles!) to winners

Menu:

The Best Dinner Party Recipes
  • Protein power bowls with roasted veggies and grilled chicken skewers
  • Hummus and pita platters
  • Adult twist: Cold beer bar with fun summer labels
Brown beer bottle with a customizable label next to a template showing editable text fields, hops, and wheat graphics under the heading “Your text.”.
6 Personalized Beer Labels
Four ceramic bowls with a speckled design and brown trim, three arranged on a matching tray, and one filled with pistachios placed in front.
ONEMORE Chip and Dip Serving Set
A stack of five ceramic bowls with different colorful, geometric, and floral patterns in orange, blue, yellow, red, and gray.
Colorful Pasta Bowls Set
Colorful sack race game set for 4-8 players, including four jumping sacks, four spoons and eggs, four ankle straps, and four medals.
CWLAKON Outdoor Games
Twelve gold medals with red, white, and blue ribbons are arranged in a grid pattern against a white background.
Abaokai 12 Pieces Gold Medals for Awards
Two black KanJam game goals with yellow KanJam logos, and a yellow flying disc placed in front of them.
Kan Jam Disc Toss Game

Day 5: Movie Night Under the Stars

Two people sit on blankets in a backyard at dusk, watching a large outdoor screen displaying a streaming service menu.

Wind down the staycation with a magical backyard movie night.

Activities:

  • Cozy lawn setups with blankets and lanterns
  • Kids get popcorn and candy cones
  • Adults get charcuterie boxes, wine tumblers, and cozy throws

Menu:

Pizza Night on the Porch and Patio
  • Flatbread pizzas or gourmet quesadillas
  • Popcorn bar with sweet and savory mix-ins
  • Adult twist: Serve espresso martinis or wine slushies
Six colorful stainless steel tumblers with matching lids and straws, shown with two cleaning brushes in front.
Stainless Steel Wine Tumbler with Lids
Rectangular brown cardboard food containers with clear plastic lids, one filled with fruit, cheese, and meat; empty containers and lids stacked in the background.
Small Charcuterie Boxes

Acacia Wood Cutting Board

A stainless steel outdoor pizza oven with a tall chimney, open front, and visible flames inside, perfect for adding warmth and flavor to your porch and patio, stands securely on four sturdy legs.

Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven

Inflatable Movie Screen

Mini Projector

Bonus Ideas for the Adults

Family Time

Even with the family fun, adults need their moments of escape. Here are a few extra ideas to sprinkle throughout your staycation week:

  • Morning yoga or stretch session before the kids wake up
  • Evening wine and conversation hour once the kids are in bed or distracted with a movie
  • Host a mini cocktail class one night—just a few ingredients and a signature drink
  • Book swap and lounge: Ask everyone to bring a favorite summer read and trade
  • Spa afternoon: Set out cool towels, face masks, and a foot soak bucket for adults to relax
Five pastel-colored sheet mask packets labeled with different skincare benefits, including soothing, firming, brightening, hydrating, and calming, from the brand NEXTBEAU.
Korean Collagen Face Mask
Multiple rolled yoga mats are displayed in four colors: purple, green, blue, and pink. Unrolled mats in the same colors are shown at the top of the image.
10 Pack Yoga Mats
Four stacks of two stemless glasses each, in pale pink, green, blue, and yellow, are arranged in a row against a white background.
Unbreakable & Crystal Clear Plastic Wine Glasses
Book cover for "Broken Country" by Clare Leslie Hall featuring a rural house, fields, and birds in the sky, with a Reese's Book Club badge and a New York Times Bestseller label.
Broken Country
A collapsible teal and light blue plastic bucket with a handle and a detachable, textured inner tray for scrubbing.
Collapsible Foot Bath Soak Tub
Six rolled fleece blankets stacked together; two have patterns (one striped, one floral), and four are solid colors (pink, green, gray, and light blue).
Fleece Throw Blanket Set

Why Staycations Are the New Summer Favorite

With no travel stress, packing, or pressure, a staycation offers what we crave. A connection, creativity, and rest. With just a little planning, your home can become the most inviting place to spend your summer days and nights.

Whether you go all out or pick a few of these ideas, this staycation can highlight your summer. So gather your people, make it festive, and enjoy every moment of summer right where you are.

This year, the best vacation might just be staying home. And the best memories? They’re made with the people we love most.

Al Fresco Dining by the Pool
Order my book, A HOME to SHARE, here!

If you enjoy my blog, you can sign up to receive my updates here. .

Backyard Summer Decor

Collage of summer patio decor items including outdoor furniture, string lights, lanterns, planters, candles, throw blankets, and a serving cart, labeled "Amazon Home Summer Patio Decor.
SHOP HERE
Shop My Home
Favorite Finds This Month on Amazon

Latest Posts

My Recent Instagram Posts

You can pin the image below to your boards on Pinterest (click the Pin button in the top left corner) or follow me on Pinterest!

An older woman holding a young child stands outside by the ocean. Both are wearing blue and white striped shirts. The sky is cloudy.

For more real-time updates, follow me on Instagram @My100YearOldHome

Similar Posts

5 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *