At this point, it’s safe to say that most people have scrapped their summer vacation plans. It’s hard not to feel a little sad about that, especially if you’d been planning your summer vacation for a while.

However, there is a silver lining to this immense cloud. While you may have had to cancel your original vacation plans, you can still enjoy some time to rest with a staycation.

According to Wikipedia, the earliest mention of a staycation was in 2003. Since then, they have only increased in popularity as many people have found they enjoy not having to worry about the logistics and expense of making travel plans, and just being able to take a few days off. With the multiple stay at home orders in effect throughout the nation, most Americans are familiar with this concept.

However, just because you’re going to stay at home doesn’t mean you have to limit your options to ordering takeout and binge-watching TV shows. Here are ten great ideas you can use to make your staycation fun, and even a little productive.

1. Go for a Walk

When was the last time you went for a walk in your neighborhood? If you can’t answer that question, it’s time to lace up your sneakers and go on a walk. Even if you’re just walking to the nearest gas station and back, you’ll get the chance to know your neighborhood in a more intimate way than you do just driving past houses and apartments to and from work.

It’s worth pointing out Rochester has several trails throughout the city. You can see where the trailer are locate on the Rochester Parks and Recreation department website.

2. Learn Something New

With online learning exploding in popularity, there’s more opportunities to learn a new skill than ever before. Select a skill you’ve always wanted to learn from juggling to gourmet cooking and see what courses are available.

While several online learning websites do charge a fee for their skills, you can always go onto YouTube and do a search for the skill you’d like to master. Several experts are more than happy to share what they know.

3. Go backyard camping

If you like heading out into the great outdoors and setting up your tent in the wilderness, why not pitch your tent in your backyard? It might not be quite as remote as the wilds of the Midwest, but it will be a fun mini-adventure, especially if you have children. As a bonus, make a campfire in your backyard so you can cookout and roast s’mores.

4. Have a Picnic

Prepare a nice lunch, get a large blanket, then enjoy eating out. If you don’t have a large backyard, why not go to a nice city park and enjoy the scenery? You can make this a family affair by having your spouse and children help make the lunch, from coming up with the menu to packing the picnic basket.

5. Renovate Your Rooms

Everyone has one or two rooms they wish looked a little neater. Select one room, then take a day and clean it up. You can follow Marie Kondo’s advice on tidying up, or just let your intuition decide the best way to organize everything.

6. Make a Gaming Tournament

If you love board games, this is your time to shine. Get out your family’s favorite board games, and come up with an all day board game-fest. You can make the day even more special by having a potluck for people to munch on throughout the day and even come up with a prize for the winner.

7. Go Boating

Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes, and now is the time to explore them. Many places rent kayaks for the day, but paddleboats provide a fun couples experience, and if you have a large family you can even look into renting a pontoon boat.

8. Make a Reading Date

When was the last time you curled up with a good book? Get a book you’ve never gotten around to reading, then find a comfortable spot and start reading.

If you have a family, you can schedule some reading time for everyone. Putting away all electronics for that time will get rid of distractions and providing some snacks will make reading time a bit more enjoyable.

9. Have a Night on the Town

Staycations are less expensive than traditional vacations. Take advantage of this fact by using some of the money you’ve saved and treating yourself to a fancy restaurant. Dress up, treat yourself, and let yourself dine with the upper crust.

If you’d like some help figuring out which restaurant to choose, you can get help from several guides to Rochester.

10. Take in a Sporting Event

If you live in a city that hosts a sports team, look at the calendar and see when they’re playing next. As an added bonus, you can have a post-game meal at one of the restaurants that usually surround stadiums, or you can get some food at the snack bar.

Even if your city doesn’t have a pro sports team, it might have a university or community college sports team. It might even host a minor league team. Rochester itself is home to the Rochester Honkers, a collegiate summer baseball team, as well as the Rochester Med City FC soccer team.

Make the Most of your Staycation With First Alliance Credit Union

Staycations might not be as exotic as a traditional vacation, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. With a little imagination and willingness to be a tourist in your hometown, you can end up having a lot of fun.

You can also use the money you save to put you ahead financially when you become a member of First Alliance Credit Union today. Put your money in a certificate of deposit (CD), pad out your retirement savings with an IRA, or put your money in a Club Savings Account to prepare for your vacation next year.