Unleash Your Inner Explorer: 10 Ways to Have an Epic Staycation in Your Own Backyard
By Stefanie Michaels
I’ve always been that gal who can find adventures anywhere, whether it be in an exotic destination, like Papua New Guinea or in my own back yard.
During Covid, my husband and I would use our outside space for adventuring. I love the outdoors, and gardening is my “thang”. Love getting my hands in the dirt, because it feeds my soul to plant something, nurture it and watch whatever I planted grow up!
Also, for the budget conscious (who isn’t nowadays) creating experiences outside for friends and family, create memories at your home, which to me, is most important of all.
Here’s a list of ideas to inspire:
- Set up a tent and spend the night camping in your backyard. One of my favorite and the most fun adventures I’ve done over and over. Makes sure if you set up in the grass, you’ll going to want to put plastic down for moisture containment. For hard surfaces, make sure the padding, for under your sleeping bag, is thick enough.
- Have a picnic and explore different areas of your backyard. I like to find a space for evenings and then add twinkle lights to make it feel extra special.
- Set up a scavenger hunt with clues hidden around your backyard. I’ve done this for our friend’s kids at Easter, and watching them scramble around uncovering clues is so much fun.
- Have a water balloon fight. I’m a fan of this, especially during summer. Add a little glitter to each balloon for added fun.
- Set up an oversized homemade outdoor chess set with black and white tiles from Home Depot. You can also substitute tiles with peel-and-stick ones.
- Plant a garden and watch the plants grow over time. My favorite thing is to take clippings from my ground cover and add them to other places in the yard. It’s a budget-friendly way to plant.
- Have a backyard movie night, setting up a screen and projector to watch a movie under the stars. Depending on the setting, a plain wall will also do.
- Set up a bird feeder and observe the different types of birds that visit. You can opt for a hummingbird feeder if you don’t want birdseed everywhere.
- Have a backyard bonfire with wine and cheese. Depending on where you live—please don’t initiate this idea if you live in or around red-fire zone areas. Instead of wood, opt for a safer option using Duraflame logs.
- Set up lawn games for family and friends. Croquet, miniature golf, and lawn bowling are all great options.
Did you know?
Backyard adventures can be a great way to teach kids important life skills and foster their creativity. When children are given the freedom to explore their own backyard and create their own games and activities, they can develop problem-solving skills, learn to work with others, and become more confident and independent.
These adventures can also help children connect with nature and appreciate the environment around them. For example, building a fort or treehouse can teach kids about construction, while creating a garden can teach them about plants and ecosystems.
Backyard adventures have been a part of human history for centuries, as people have always enjoyed spending time outdoors and exploring their surroundings.
However, the concept of “backyard adventures” as a structured activity for children is a relatively recent phenomenon.
In the mid-1900s, as suburbanization swept across the United States, many families moved to homes with larger yards and more outdoor space. This led to an increase in outdoor activities, including backyard adventures.
Parents began encouraging their children to play outside and explore their own backyards, as a way to promote physical activity and creativity.
In the 1970s and 1980s, as concerns about safety and the environment grew, some parents became more hesitant to let their children play outdoors.
However, others continued to promote backyard adventures as a way to teach important life skills and foster creativity, even today.
