I keep hearing news reports about how gas prices are on the rise this summer, so it’s no surprise that more and more people are opting to stay home this summer in lieu of expensive family vacations. Staying home doesn’t mean you have to pass on a fun family vacation. I recently wrote an article for the Family Dollar Blog titled “Schools Out! How to Have the Perfect Staycation” and in it I shared some inexpensive, creative and fun staycation ideas on a budget.
All of the ideas and activities in my Family Dollar staycation blog post were inspired by products and things that I found in my local Family Dollar store. I was able to create a beautiful backyard oasis for my family to enjoy, all while staying on a fixed budget. One of the many things I shared was how to make your own Backyard Miniature Golf Course for less than $10.
Taking a large family to play miniature golf can be costly, so making your own miniature golf course is a great alternative. My granddaughters have had so much fun playing golf out in the yard. Maddie is planning to try out for the golf team at school next year, so this is great practice for her.
Staycation Ideas – Backyard Miniature Golf Course
Supplies:
package of 16 ounce plastic cups
garden stakes (found at Family Dollar for $1 – $2 a piece)
one of Dad’s old golf clubs and golf balls
Use a small garden spade or shovel to dig a hole large enough to hold a plastic cup. You want the lid of the cup to be flush with the ground. If you don’t want to dig up your yard, you can just place each plastic cup on its side. Use a garden stake to mark each hole on the course.
See more fun staycation ideas like this on the Family Dollar Blog!
Unless something very unexpected happens, the only things I expect to do over the summer for fun are to read a lot of books and walk my dog as much as possible. I would love to be able to afford some sort of get away with my children; but that seems to be out of the realm of possibility!
Swimming with my babies
Backyard BBQ’s
my staycation unfortunately is staying at home, no vacations planned. We will spend time at the lake and at the pools though.
Hi! So far, I don’t think I’m traveling this Summer. I will be spending as much time at the pool as possible though. Too fun!! Thank-you
I plan to hang out at my local pool
We have some day trips planned and also a week long vacation to the beach
no vacation plans. I cant get the time off work
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I plan to do a lot of grilling in my backyard next to the fish pond.
My staycation plan is to have a week off before school starts to get everything prepared for back to school.
This summer I am planning on visiting my brother in Colorado.
We do alot of grilling year round.I am looking forward to going to Myrtle Beach in August.
we are going to east tawas in Michigan for our FIRST family vacation for the 4th of july , got a room on the beach.. . our son is 8 months old today!
going to Disney world and a cruise with my entire family
I have NO trip plans! Alas all we can do is stay home. I love my home, however! So staycation it is. The kids run wild, we have fires at night a lot, they love to roast anything over a fire and catch fireflies, jump on the tramp, just have fun.
Hopefully we’ll get to Florida this summer to visit relatives and maybe spend a couple days at Disney World!
going to our local beach
A backyard game of Croquet and a BBQ!
Just plan to stay home and enjoy baseball season
My plans for summer are job hunting!
Lots of time outside in the sprinklers!
who can afford to go anywhere
We will go away for a weekend to see family
We will be barbecuing on our patio and swimming in our pool.
We are planning a caribbean cruise at the end of summer.
My 3 year old told me that he wants to run through the sprinkler & go to the movies…sounds like a vacation to me!
none
We have one vacation planned for a week long camping trip up North. Thanks so much for hosting this giveaway!
furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net
I’m going to be doing a lot of reading, gardening, and swimming in the pool!
We have a couple of long-weekend trips planned–no big vacation this year. We like to visit the museums and the zoo when we are staycationing 🙂
Our vacation plans this summer are going to the beach one day a weekend.
I will spend lots of time in the pool
Our Staycation Plans Are Swimming, Picnics And Trips To The Park.
I plan to spend a lot of time in my apartment complex’s pool.
We hope to visit Kansas City this summer yet for a weekend trip
Our staycation plans include doing lots of yard work and outdoor play with our kids.
I plan to take my kids fishing at some of the local lakes and ponds, as well as to some museums and tourist stops a few towns away. However, in our time at home this miniature golf course is a wonderful idea. I’m sure my family would enjoy that.
No big vacay plans here..just plenty days at the beach and poolside.
We are hoping to be able to go to Seattle to visit family and relax
The last time we took a true summer vacation was in 2010. This year its a week in Minnesota. Three years of staycations for our family, a sign of the times I guess.
We are going to spend a lot of time at the pool and camping!
My family likes to take advantage of visiting our local state parks. They have so much to offer and we feel as if we took a vacation just visiting them!
Staycation, riding the bicycle around a lot
Due to financial hardship, we have no staycations or vacations planned. I sure wish we could go to the lake and fish, though!
play to visit family
We just had our staycation. We hung out with our toddler girls, spent a lot of time at the pool and the park.
Fun idea!
a week at the outer banks with my family!
More like staycation this year.
Going to the lake fishing and swimming.
thank you
Bloglovin barbaramontag
We are going gem mining and a picnic lunch at the waterfalls tomorrow and going to the festival and fireworks next week. I am working on other plans now for later this summer too!
We don’t have any special plans. We will just be spending time at home working on some outdoor projects.
I travel through reading books on Fantasy and Romance.
I’m going to Outerbanks NC
i’m staying home just enjoying the summer and the sites nearby.
We are going to my sister’s NY lake house for a weekend and then we are going to the Wildwood, NJ shore for a mid week vacation. I’m sure there will be some day trips in there too.
Going to the park, library, and maybe the zoo.
We have no vacation plans yet. Just hanging around the house.
I am going to spend more time taking my children to the park and swimming. These seem to be the best type of staycation type activities that work well with our budget and with our schedules.
We’re going to visit a couple of the great lakes this summer, it’s going to be a lot of fun.
What are your staycation or vacation plans this summer?
no vacation till end of summer,but thats ok
don’t have any plans
swimming in the quarry!
We would like to visit some local attractions
We are planning a trip to Old Orchard Beach in Maine for a few days. We always try to make it out there during our summer vacation.
We are doing local day trips to fun events!
My family is planning on going to the Albaqueque Balloon Festival.
we are expecting baby #2 within the next couple of weeks, so my staycation plans include preparing for the baby and spending lots of alone time with my toddler.
Have fun in the sun and spend lots of time with my 3 kids!! RELAX too!! And btw. Love this backyard idea!!
Summer this year is spending time with my granddaughters … sewing … playing in the pool … and crafting. Perfect if you ask me 🙂
What a creative way to have a little inexpensive fun!
We don’t have any vacation plans yet. We will be having a staycation and doing fun things around town like visiting an exotic feline rescue center that houses tigers, lions, and other exotic cats.
Spending time with family from out of state. Beach time!
Our plans are just to stay home and hang out in the pool as much as possible. Can’t really afford a vacation right now.
We take advantage of the local water park and fests
No vacation for me this year, I have some roof leaks that need to be taken care of.
im not going anywhere
Lots of dr appts & traveling to OKC with my dad for his bone marrow transplant.
I live in Florida so pretty much attached to my air conditioner!
Staying home and going to the beach
Stay vacation this year, related to our health, not going to California, but grandchildren will be over to swim in the pool and for cook outs, going to be busy but quiet.
No plans for a vacation or staycation this summer.
We are going on a cruise next week and next month w are going camping.
We don’t have any plans as of yet but I hope we are able to visit our favorite cabin in the Hocking Hills before summer is over.
To build a little campsite for my Grandkids on my land we have 5 acres in the Smoky Mountains and I can make it wild and fun on my own yard
We are hanging by the pool this summer, no far away plans this year.
We are going camping in the beautiful WY mountains:)
I would like to go to some state parks this summer.
We will be stating home this summer with high gas prices these days.
I am going camping this summer.
We are going to the museums, zoo and the beach.
Plan on family BBQ’s and watching my grandchildren play.
Planning on spending a lot of time in my garden and planting more fruit in the backyard. Maybe, if I’m lucky, I’ll be training a new dog member of the family.
I’m going to the beach a lot.
Road Trip Summer Vacation from Florida to NYC and Boston!
we are going to check out some inland beaches and take a vacation to Michigan:)
jmatek AT wi DOT rr DOT com
Will be traveling to see my great niece and great nephew and hopefully see them play in their waterpark they got last year 🙂
We will be going to San Diego. 🙂
Actually we have no plans either way, but hopefully we get to do something fun.
We are going to Myrtle Beach later in the summer!
Going to Nags Head for a week at some point. 🙂
We are going to a water park.
I don’t go much of anywhere in the summer because I cannot take the heat and humidity, but family does come to visit and we usually do a crab feast and go to the movies
I am going to Chicago!
we plan on enjoying the pool in the apartment complex we live in as much as we can this summer
have no money to go anywhere.so i’m staying home reading,working on my gardens and cooking on the grill all summer long
We dont have a big vacation planned this summer but we are going to my in-laws cabin for a few days!
I don’t have any plans this summer.
We go to the beach, a big day.
We are having a staycation. Just enjoying the empty nest.
We will be going fishing & camping at a near by state park/lake.
we’re not going anywhere. we just got a house so we plan on doing some fixing up on it
Always a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail.
Lots of time in the pool and outside!
I have a family of five, and every one of us has a birthday in the summer. Our summer will consist of bonfires and bar-b-ques to celebrate turning a year older. Thanks for the giveaway and post!
I am going to Cape Cod with my husband to visit our families.
We are going to Myrtle Beach along with our daughter and her family in August!
We plan on doing lots of “Day Trips” this Summer! Yeah!
Our stay cation this Summer will be mostly little 1 day trips to go hiking or see a show.
Staycation, can’t afford to go anywhere this year! Have two in college this fall! Hope to get to the pool, shopping, movies, back yard bbq’s, etc.
We’re on vacation now in Florida visiting my mother-in-law.
we will be spending some time at the local beach and playing some disc golf.
We are going to the beach next month and I can’t wait!
No plans just staying at home chillin and relaxing hopefully some bbq time!
We have already taken our vacation for the summer… to florida.
Staycation at home,
We just came back from a short trip in the subarbs of Chicago. We also have plans to go to drag races and roller derby bouts this summer. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
No vacations. We will do some of the local fairs.
No plans, just hanging by the pool.
Having a staycation and landscaping!
We spend a lot of time outside. We will have a barbecue and fireworks on the 4th of July.
I would really like to go to the beach this summer, but I am not really sure.
we plan on going to Cedar Point next week!!
We will be going to the beach for a week next month.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
We just moved across the country so that road trip was our vacation.
going on a cruise
Having a staycation
I have to go to class for work…just so happen to have one in july at the beach, yes please!!
My staycation is to check out the beaches along Lake Erie’s shore and go island hopping by taking the ferry to Kelly’s Island and Put-In-Bay.
Road trip to Tennessee
I bought them a slip n slide and soon a fun kiddy pool, and we’re going to have water fun days outside!
We have a backyard camping planned for the 3 rd week of July with family from out of town.
We are staying home to enjoy our new baby 🙂
We have vacation plans to check out San Antonio.
I’m going to Orlando.
Its a staycation for us this year. We are going to a waterpark next week and are spending a lot of time at the beach.
No plans really. I would like to go back to the Baltimore Aquarium.
We are going camping this year.
just spending time with my family
I already visited my son in Seattle.
Doing to take a trip to Cedar point
Going to the beach.
Staying at home, taking care of the Hubs and the house!
I just got back from the beach. It was beautiful!
My family will be heading to Cooperstown to watch my 12 year old son fulfill his dream of playing in a week long baseball tournament with his team and touring the Hall of Fame.
I am very fortunate to live in Central Florida and we can do many things on a “staycation” like go to Universal (we have annual passes) or go kayaking or tubing at one of the many local rivers and springs, or even just head to the beach.
We are make a weekly visit to area attractions this year instead of going too far from home
We’re staying at home this year to work on the house.
We like to go fishing and hiking.
going to Missouri to see some friends.
our staycation will be to work on the house and yard
Just hanging out with my doggies! We like to go to the park!
We will be going to Wisconsin dells.
We are traveling instate this summer and exploring our state because we cannot afford to go anywhere too far. For example, we are going to Avery Island to see how tabasco sauce products are made.
running through the sprinklers in the back yard, and barbeque
To vist my family in Michigan
We are visiting family in MN
We just moved to New Hampshire so we are going to check out some of the local attractions like lakes and there’s a drive in movie theater.
We will be staying home and spending time at the pool.
We’ll be adjusting to our newly expanded family and enjoying the sprinkler and kiddie pool in the backyard.
I will be happily moving my Mother to FL this summer! We love her so much and are very happy to have her moving in with us.
Our plans are camping in northern Michigan! Thanks
Planning a road trip to the oregon coast
We are doing a lot of camping and fishing with our boys.
Bowling with the KidsBowlFree program and backyard bbqs.
Our staycation plans is a lot of time at the pool, and backyard games.
was lucky enough to go home this summer and see my mom in California
My summer plans are redoing my backyard and having BBQs.
Gardening!
We plan on camping.
We are just trying to avoid the heat and sun during the days.In the evenings we try to go fishing as a family.
We are headed to Michigan & Florida for two separate weeks! 🙂
Go to the park and cook out
We are going camping just for a few days in Maine. Thanks for the chance.
going to wisconsin
We have a couple of family get togethers, other than that it is just running out to my husbands job sites for his business 7 days a week.
We are going to go to West Palm Beach, as my son is participating in training there.
We live near the beach so we will be spend a lot of days there enjoying the sun, sand and surf
Going camping
Charleston South Carolina to visit son
Thanks for the giveaway…we are taking a few long weekends over the summer, heading to the beach with the kids.
Going to the numerous street & neighborhood fairs in my city.
no real plans to go anywhere.. just staying around home and maybe doing some local attractions.
I am going to Florida this summer.