Family Stay-cations Can be Fun Too

I've been on vacation - ummm...staycation - for the last couple of weeks, and we have been blessed with some amazing weather - sunny, hot and dry,which is an amazing combination and a rarity around here in New England - for more than a few days, never mind a couple of weeks! It was definitely a blessing and the kiddos and I enjoyed every minute of it :). 

We stayed local because; a. hubby was not on vacation and had to have a minor surgery and b. Jovan had football weight training lessons and practice three days a week (the older this child gets, the busier he becomes!). At first I was sort of bummed out that we didn't have some epic destination to go to, but I soon realized that a stay-cation is not the epitome of boring. The best thing is that most of these things were free or incredibly inexpensive.

Not having an agenda meant that we could come and go as we pleased without feeling pressed for time. Some days we just grabbed a couple of towels, a cooler and snacks and headed out for the lake or the pool mid-day. No crowds. No traffic. No stress...just plain bliss :)!

Here's a look at what our agenda looked like for the past couple of weeks. I hope it can serve as inspiration for those of you looking to have an inexpensive vacation close to home with the family or just do looking for a new adventure:

1. You know you'll have a blast on your vacation when it starts with Fourth of July fireworks!

2. We packed the cooler with fruit, water, sandwiches and chips and hit Hampton Beach with my brother and his beautiful family. They just happen to have the sand sculpting competition at the same time! Wooot, double the fun!

3. We went to the lake and the city pool; at a whopping $3.00 per car for the lake and free admission to the city pool, it is an understatement to say that we went to either one...a lot! 

My BFF and our hubbies!

4. Ice cream time at Rottas Farm *yum*! We had some ice cream our our favorite place and spent some time with more family.

My Mom, daughter and niece!! <3

5. Best things in life are free, baby! We took advantage of a free admissions outing to the Botanic Garden, hosted by the Highland Street Foundation, which is a city program that provides free admission to different attractions in the state over several weeks throughout the summer. If you live in or around Massachusetts and are looking for free family day, you must check the above website :).

I love my big family <3! (Rare full family pic)

Catching tadpoles

BFF

Is it a giant fly?!

6. We hiked a mountain! That view, though...just breathtaking! Wachusett Mountain.

7. We had some lazy moments...umm days, too! And it was OK. 

I had a blast these past two weeks and it turned to be a relaxing and fun two weeks spent with family and friends! I enjoyed every minute of it :). Tomorrow I go back to work and I. Am. Not. Ready! But you gotta work to have fun, right? Hehe.

I'll be ready for our next adventure in October - who knows, maybe it'll be a Fall staycation to remember ;).

~ Yamilka ~