Some Ideas for a Super Fun Spring Break Staycation

Not flying somewhere tropical for Spring break? Me either…

Ah, Spring break! That gorgeous time of year where in the Chicago-area we hope it is not freezing and in the WFH mom area we hope the week isn’t TOO insane.

My kiddos have Spring break next week and as a family that never really travels over the break because of work and kid activity schedules, I am always on the hunt for the most fun to be had each day my kids are home. Over the years I’ve tried hard to strike a balance between doing OMG FUN things and also letting my kids figure things out while I work. Be a little bit bored, draw some pictures, get your chores for the day done, ride your bike unless it is snowing. If it's snowing, get the sled out. Be kids but also, we will do something fun on a few of your days off because I need to bust out of these four walls as much as you do.

Since my kids were toddlers, I have been on the hunt for all the adventures. I check social media, mom groups, or just good ol’ Google to find cool things by us and it has worked well for me. Our fam isn’t afraid to drive a bit for a good hang, so if it’s under two hours away? We will probably do it.

Some of our favorite day-off-school-let’s-burn-off-excess-energy-and-have-fun things to do?

Rock Climbing and Ninja Courses: If you have energetic children who love to climb and jump and make noise, please Google “rock climbing near me.” I did this a few years ago and aha! It is one of my kids’ favorite activities. We head to Funtopia and usually find a fun place to grab a snack or treat on the 45-minute drive home.

Walk: We are REAL lucky because we live in a community filled with lakes and hiking trails and walking paths and all the good outdoor living. When we need a quick hit of fresh air, we head to the lake a couple minutes from our house. When we are looking for a whole activity with some walking involved, we will hit up the Brookfield Zoo to get the most of our membership benefits and visit the koalas.

City Mouse It Up: I love living a quick drive from Chicago and my children love nothing more than having a little “downtown day.” We will hit up Maggie Daley Park and just do some wandering or (usually when I can find a good deal) we will hit up some kid-friendly attractions like Sloomoo Institute or the Museum of Ice Cream. The world is truly our oyster, you know?

Find a Treat: Go find that fun treat! Boba tea served in bear shaped cups? Bubble waffles? Gourmet stuffed soft pretzels? I will drive a bit to find a fun, weird, different treat or snack and then we usually find a park nearby (we are PARK PEOPLE) to make a real moment of it. It helps get us out of the house, try something new, and we can usually cram and episode or two of Greeking Out in too.

Arts & Crafts: Have artsy kiddos? Google fun art places near you! In the past I’ve signed my kids up for a guided painting class, splatter paint, slime making, ceramics painting, and more at a few different art studios within driving distance. Bonus points if there’s a coffee shop nearby where you can sip n’ work while they paint n’ sculpt.

Local & Low-Key: Again, we are forever park people. If you know me personally you know I’ve been chronicling our “A Park A Day” adventures for nearly seven years. We will park hop for a few hours, hit up our fave local bowling alley, play a round or four of mini golf, and just enjoy our little town.

Just Stay Home-ish: My family is busy like all of the time - aren’t we all?? - and sometimes my kids, especially now that they are older, want to just chill out at home or go play with their besties in the neighborhood or ride bikes in our neighborhood. So I do carve out at least one day on break that is just a “home day.” I’ll get out some art supplies for my younger kiddo and allow a bit more screen time than usual and take them on a bike ride and they can figure most of the day out for themselves. I love using this day to get projects done around the house, knock away at my work to do list, or do some of the unpaid admin parts of self-employment that I often put off (like updating LinkedIn or filing paperwork).

How are you spending Spring break??

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