30 Fun Beach Activities for Kids this Summer Vacation

Keep the kids occupied this summer on the beach with these fun activities:

1.) Take beach pictures and build a sandcastle:

Make it a competition between two different sand castles, or give the kids a time limit to finish. Need kids beach toys? WE love this one with a zipper bag.

2.) Oil drilling:

Tell the kids they have five minutes to dig as deep in the sand as they can – the winner is the deepest.

3.) Summer vacation activity: Build a Sandman:

Build a traditional snowman model…using sand. This one works best if you bring a carrot for his nose. Then sit back and watch the double takes. Build a sandman with these cool beach shovel and pail sets.

4.) Sand sculptures:

You can get really creative with these, sculpting turtles, aliens, or anything you want. Decorate with shells and pebbles for added effect. There’s some inspiration here.

5.) Everyone loves body-boarding:

A body or boogie board for a child should be less than £20. Check out this site for tips on how to teach your kid to body-board.
Once they’ve got the hang of body-boarding, you might want to try surfing. There are some good tips about modifying an adult longboard to suit children here.

6.) Beach activities – Try castle battles:

Two teams build a sandcastle each, about 20meterss apart, and place a flag (or towel) on top. Each team has to get the other’s flag. Very simple and a lot of fun.

7.) Play beach games like Sand Bullseye:

Draw three circles in the sand and collect some stones and shells – players have to throw the stones into the circles for points (one for the big outer circle, two for the middle circle and three for the center circle).

8.) Ping pong race at the beach:

Dig a series of sloping channels of equal length and big enough to take a ping pong ball. Put a colored ping pong ball at one end of each channel and race each other blowing the ball down the channel to the finish.

9.) Beach volleyball:

Bring your own net or improvise with windbreakers or picnic baskets.

10.) Nostalgic Beach activities: Cricket or rounders:

Bringing a soft ball and a bat is best for either game, but if you’re playing impromptu you can improvise with what you find on the beach – a piece of driftwood for a bat and a crumpled drinks can for a ball.

11.) Beach activities treasure hunt:

One of the oldest and best – hide objects and coins in the sand for the kids to find. Get a pre-made treasure hunt for kids, here.

12.) Bowls:

Invest in a set of plastic bowls and bring it to the beach with you, or improvise with a few plastic bottles and a tennis ball.

13.) Fill a bucket relay:

Place small plastic beach buckets about ten meters from the water, one bucket for each team. The aim is to be the first to fill the bucket with water from the sea, using only hands to carry it.

14.) Frisbee:

Have one person in the water and another on the sand and toss your favorite frisbee back and forth. We love this glow in the dark frisbee!

15.) Limbo:

Get two people to hold a stick, or tie a ribbon between two trees, and have players go under it as it gets lower and lower. This is great for the beach as the soft sand means no-one’s afraid to fall.

16.) Squirt ball:

Bring water guns and a beach ball to the beach, and draw a line in the sand for each team. Place the beach ball between the two lines. Players have to use the squirted water to get the beach ball over the other team’s line.

17.) Beach Activities: Enjoy the sand with sand memory:

Draw two 4×4 grids in the sand (or smaller for younger children), and get the other team to look away while you place shells on some of the squares in one grid. They have five seconds to look at where the shells are before you cover the grid with a towel, then recreate the pattern on their own grid.

18.) Jewelry making:

Look for shells with holes in them and thread them onto a cord to make a necklace.

19.) Sand art:

Draw pictures in the sand using hands, sticks or shells. You can draw a frame first that each child has to draw their picture inside, or judge the best picture.

20.) Speech pics:

Sit with your back to the players and describe an image in your head or one you have on a piece of paper. Players have to draw their version of it in the sand – the winner is the one whose picture is closest.

21.) Seek and retrieve:

Assign a part of the beach as a boundary, and tell everyone to bring back the most interesting thing they can find within the boundary area. Bonus points for whoever gets back first.

22.) Fly a kite:

If it’s too windy for volleyball, get the kite out and fly it on the beach.

More Beach Activities:

23.) Sharks and minnows:

Get everyone into the water and designate one person as the shark and the rest as minnows. The shark stands in the middle of the group. On ‘go’, the shark has to catch the minnows.

24.) Towel tag:

Dip a towel into the water and roll it up, then tag people by throwing the towel at them. If the towel hits them, they’re ‘it’.

25.) Beach Activities – Try a foot race:

Have a race at the water’s edge, where the sand is wet and harder to run on.

26.) Beach ball bash:

Stand in a circle and hit the beach ball to each other, counting out loud how many times it can be hit without falling. Try and beat the record, or have players shout out something as they hit the ball.

27.) Sand hopscotch:

Draw a hopscotch grid on the sand and use shells as markers.

28.) Beach activities: Moat and bailey:

Build a sandcastle a couple of metres from the water’s edge just before the tide comes in, and get the kids to protect it for as long as possible from the water. They can build a dam of shells, rocks and seaweed, or try a moat for the tide to go into.

29.) Sand Twister:

Draw a Twister board on the sand, using symbols such as crosses, squares etc instead of coloured circles. Assign ‘right foot, square’ and so on.

30.) Collect beach treasures:

See who can find the most interesting beach treasures. From seashells and starfish to beach glass.

For more travel ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

How to Find Labor Day Staycation Ideas

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Take a short vacation to the beach:

If you live in close proximity to the beach, it’s time for some fun in the sun. Post Labor Day weekend, life will start getting more hectic, the temperature will start changing and the beach days will become a fond memory. So, soak in the warmth, relax in the sand, and enjoy the beach one last time before autumn.

Take a weekend getaway to a local attraction:

A weekend getaway is perfect if you have a city that you don’t explore much! If crowded beaches or lakes are not the way you want to spend your Labor Day weekend, create your own water park in the backyard. Get your kids involved to set it up. Think water balloons, water guns, kiddie pools, and slip-n-slides. The best part about setting up a water park in your own backyard is that it’s safe and you can let your kids stay as long as they want.

Travel around your own city:

With busy schedules, we tend to get caught up with the same routine and habit of visiting same places and restaurants. This Labor Day weekend, take the time to explore areas of your city you don’t normally visit. Find new spots to shop and dine. For added adventure, consider public transportation.

Need more staycation ideas? Look at these resources:

Real Simple has a good article on how to enjoy a staycation at home

Here’re some creative staycation ideas on a budget

By taking a staycation, not only will you save money and avoid traffic, you will also get a chance to truly appreciate what your home and city have to offer. Whatever you choose, make sure to get away from it all by staying away from your laptop and unplugging your phone.

For more travel ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Summer Home: Fun Vacation Activities For Kids

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Summer Crafts

Colors and all things vibrant and attractive find interest with kids. If  you can manage to collect some art and craft supplies before the vacations begin, then the vacations can turn out interesting and fruitful for both kids and you. For instance, ice-cream sticks can be used to create fun pen stands, regular craft paper can be used to create gorgeous flowers and old newspapers and magazines can be used to create fun and informative collages. If your kids are small and cannot be left alone to use sharp objects like scissors, stick to paper tearing tasks. Also, if you plan to leave your kids unattended during their activities, make sure that all things dangerous and messy are out of reach. This includes scissors, paints, liquid glue , etc.

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Summer Day Camps

With so many day camps coming up during vacations, make sure to check out a few before the summer vacations commence. Summer day camps hold vacation activities that might be a little difficult to carry out at home. Day camps usually run for about two to three hours everyday and carry out activities like horse-riding, dramatics and theatre, pottery, dance, music, etc. You can be rest assured that your child will come out learning something worthwhile while being entertained to the fullest.

Fun Summer Organization Activities

If you take the creative route, you can trick your kids into doing some household work for you. For instance, if their cupboard needs organization,  you can help them make creative labels for different sections and then have them organize their stuff into stacks and ask them to put it away in the assigned space or drawers. The same can be done for their toys, desks, etc. While the activity is fun for them, you will have a section of your home organized by the end of it.

Image Via: J & J Design Group, LLC.

Summer Baking 

Now this one is for kids who can carry on tasks without much supervision. Have you child select and easy yet tasty recipe. Simple non complicated recipes usually use simple ingredients that one usually stocks at home. Baking recipes go great with kids. While you can trust your kids with mixing and beating, you might still want to supervise the baking part. What awaits at the end is a delicious treat.

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Summer Gardening

Gardening is a great way to teach your child the valuable lessons of love, care and nurturing. Find a shaded spot in your garden and help your child prepare a small bed of flowers, plants or summer veggies. Buy your child a mini gardening children’s tool kit and let them take care of plants and flowers. Not only will you have a beautiful patch to flaunt, your children will learn the invaluable lessons of life, nurturing and growth.

Image Via: The Micro Gardener

Kids at home aren’t a headache if parents pre-plan a bit and organize vacation activities that are a learning experience and fun at the same time. Agreed, you might have to peep in now and then to check if your child is carrying on well, but its worth the effort and does give you some precious me time. After all, isn’t it great to see your kids using their time constructively rather than lazing on a couch all day long with the T.V blaring at its loudest! Vacation activities are indeed a great way to get your kids busy. Do share with us your plans about keeping your kids busy this vacation.

Click here for more Summer Home Ideas on Stagetecture!

Vacation Planning: Organizing Kids Belongings

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Treats For The Trip

All children have their fads about food amongst other things. There might be a cookie or a biscuit available with your local baker that your child absolutely adores. Pack a few of these treats in zip lock bags and carry the long lasting stuff with you to the trip. It could really avoid you some exasperating kid tantrums. And no one is stopping you from biting in!

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Organizing Clothes

It’s not possible to dedicate a bag to every single family member as excessive luggage becomes a headache, so sharing luggage space becomes quintessential. Kids although have a lot of clothes, the sizes remain small and manageable. Again, making use of zip-lock bags you can roll and fit in kids clothes and pack these bags in small unused bag space. Another great idea is to carry old stuff with regard to undergarments, etc. You can literally use and throw these and create some bag space to bring back souvenirs.

Kids Shoes

Kids shoes can be easily put away in your shower cap and slid into the luggage. Not only will your luggage remain clean but the shoes will also sit comfortably perched in a proper place. As for the younger kids, you can slip in more than a pair in your shower cap.

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Pack Medicine & Important Drugs

Do not forget to make a list of all important medication that your children might require. Carry medicines for minor colds, coughs and fever. If your kid is allergic to certain foods, smells, etc., its always wise to carry the requisite medicines along. In fact this is something that you must not miss. Also have the phone numbers of a few local pediatricians with you, just in case!

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Cater For Their Entertainment

With kids traveling along, you can always expect action and emotion. Be prepared than sorry. Carry small toys and books that might keep your little ones busy when they are feeling bored. Small toys and books make up for great companions on long road journeys. After all kids won’t enjoy the adult entertainment activities and might want to retire on their own.

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Vacations are fun time and just with a little vacation planning you can ensure a great trip for yourself and for your family. Kids are mature enough to understand a lot of things and get pretty adamant about others and thus it falls into the parent’s forte to foresee problems and their solutions beforehand. Just give  a little more thought to kids luggage organization and savor the getaway time with them.

Click here for more Vacation Ideas on Stagetecture!

Home Organization: 5 Tips to Destress After a Long Vacation

The most annoying part is probably organizing the living place including unpacking, laundry, creating to do lists, shopping, and many more. We’ve rounded up 5 tips for home organization that will help you get settled after a long vacation:

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Return a Day Earlier

What you must have to get organized after your return in time. Most people plan for a Sunday night return to home in order to maximize the vacation time. But, you should not do that. Plan for an earlier-than-last-minute return such as on Saturday or Friday. This will exempt you from jumping into loads of work just after returning home. Plan for an early return and get enough time for unpacking, picking up a few groceries, handling the emails, and giving yourself some quiet time.

Unload the Car

Unload your car right away unless it is midnight, you are very tired, and all you want to do is to jump into the bed right away. But, unload it as soon as you get home. It will save your time and trouble later.

Handle Chores Right Away

Some of the things in your home also need attention right away, if you have been gone for a while. Your swimming pool may be overflowing or your windows may have gathered so much dirt. So, you have to clean them before starting cleaning the rest of the house. After completing the emergency chores, make a list of other important things to be done

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Do the Laundry

This is an important task to do because you must have a lot of dirty laundry during the vacation. It is actually one of the less challenging tasks to get started with. Start doing this chore as soon as possible and once the washer is going, you can go out and check other important things like if the grasses in the lawn have become too big or if a tree has fallen in the backyard.

Give Yourself a Day Off

Never start working or become freaked out about the upcoming loads of work just after returning from the vacation because coming home can be exhausting. So, give yourself a day to relax, plan, and focus on your home organization to-do list without becoming anxious of anything. It is the day to get reacquainted with your routines.

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Home organization is always a bit tough and doing that while you are still basking in the holiday afterglow is even harder. However, these tips will help you get started and go through the process gradually without stressing yourself out.

Do you think these tips will help you after your summer vacation?

Organization Tips to Prepare Your Home for Vacation

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Clean up your house

Nothing is worse than coming back home from a wonderful vacation to a dirty home. So, make sure to clean your house before you leave. Do the dishes, vacuum or sweep floors, wipe down bathroom and kitchen counters and give toilets a quick clean. Also, be sure to make up beds with fresh sheets for a welcoming first night.

Stop the newspaper and mail delivery

Call up your news carrier and post office to put your mails and newspapers on hold so that they don’t pile up in front of your house while you are gone. When you are back, all you have to do is go in to pick it up and let them know to resume your delivery.

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Leave a few lights on  

If you are going for a short trip, leave a few lights on throughout your house to make it look occupied. Whereas, for a longer vacation, consider investing in automatic timers that can turn lights on and off at regular intervals. Also, alert a trusted neighbor or home security service so that they can keep an eye. And of course, don’t forget to unplug unnecessary appliances when preparing your home for your absence.

Clean up the refrigerator

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You don’t want to come back home to a refrigerator filled with spoiled food. So make sure to toss or give away food items that will expire while you are gone. Also, before you leave stock your kitchen with coffee, cold cereal, and a package of shelf stable milk so that your first meal back is hassle free.

Use these organization tips before you leave for your next vacation. Not only will it ensure that your house is in order, it will help to smooth your transition back to the real world.

For more travel ideas before your vacation on Stagetecture, click here.

Can you believe summer is almost here? How do you plan on enjoying your summer vacation this upcoming season? We’d love for you to join us for the Country Inns & Suites #DoMoreCountryPromo Twitter Party on Thursday May 14^th – 8:30-9:30pm EST.

Celebrate Summer – #DoMoreCountryPromo Twitter Party

Tell us how you will #DoMoreCountry and spend more time with your children, family, and soak up the summer sun. Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner and that means it’s the official start of summer.

Country Inns & Suites is giving away some awesome prizes for you to enjoy your summer vacation:

Prizes:

One (1) Grand Prize – Two-night voucher to stay at a Country Inns & Suites By Carlson hotel in North America and a $250 Visa Gift Card

Five (5) First Prizes – Two-night voucher to stay at a Country Inns & Suites By Carlson hotel in North America

Here are the Party Details:

When: Thursday, May 14^th at 8:30p.m.-9:30p.m. EST

Where: #DoMoreCountryPromo on Twitter or you can follow it here: https://twitter.com/search?f=realtime&q=%23domorecountrypromo&src=typd

How:

To participate in the Twitter party use the hashtag #DoMoreCountryPromo in all of your tweets and follow me the host @Stagetecture and my Co-Host @Zipporahs and our Guest of Honor @CountryInns on Twitter.

Panelists:

Please follow our #DoMoreCountryPromo gang! They will have summer vacation ideas to help you win! @Brettbmartin @philZENdia @KadiPrescott @theplanetd

How to Win: To be eligible for the prizes:

1.) Follow @Stagetecture @Zipporahs and @CountryInns

2.) Participate during the party hour using the party hashtag #DoMoreCountryPromo

3.) If you name is selected during the party winners must DM their full name and mailing address within 15 minutes of the announcement.  This giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 or older. Winners will be selected at random from eligible participants.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open only to legal residents of 50 US/DC and CAN who are the age of majority in their state/province/territory of residence. Void in Quebec & where prohibited. Sweepstakes starts at 8:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time (“EDT”) on 5/14/15 and ends at 9:28 AM EDT on 5/14/15. Subject to the Official Rules. Sponsor: Carlson Hotels, Inc., Minnetonka, MN USA

Come join us to talk about summer, vacationing and have the chance to win some fab prizes!

Valentine’s Day Staycation Ideas for Couples

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Pick a Local Spot in Your Own City

Is there a craft brewery or a café that you have been wanting to visit from long but haven’t got a chance yet? Now is the time to explore and become a tourist in your own city. Just like you would visit local joints on a vacation, take time to visit all the restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops this Valentine’s Day.

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Fitness Staycation

When you are away from home and checked into a beautiful hotel with a spa and a large pool don’t you get excited? Then why not bring back this excitement by visiting a gym in your area and enjoying the fitness session followed by some spa and pampering.

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Plan the Valentine’s Day Menu

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Not that there is anything wrong with ordering in or eating out, but there is something just so romantic about brunch in bed. Isn’t it? So, why not plan your meals ahead, including an indulgent brunch, light lunch, and a romantic dinner that will be fun to cook together.

Have a Bonfire

If the weather permits, build up a cozy bonfire in your backyard and spend some quality time with each other. Bring a blanket for both of you to cuddle up if the night turns colder. Don’t forget to roast marshmallows and carry a bottle of wine or champagne. If setting up a bonfire is not possible, then consider to camp out close to the fireplace with some throws and pillows.

This Valentine’s Day, relax, rest, and romance your special someone with one of these staycation ideas. Just make sure to add something that reflects the two of you such as your favorite dish or some music with memories.

For more Valentine’s Day ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

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How to Plan a Last Minute Summer Vacation

Research where you’d like to visit

You may not have much time, but it’s important to do some research on possible destinations. Look online to learn about attractions, local services, and more. Review sites can be very helpful as you get to hear real people’s advice and experience. If you already have a tentative list of destinations you would like to visit, these real comments can help you narrow down the list.

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Make a budget for your vacation

While it’s always advised to set a budget when travelling, it’s more imperative when planning a last minute summer vacation. It’s no brainer that last minute holidays can be much more expensive than those planned in advance. So, the first thing to do is set a budget. This will help to eliminate anything that might be way too expensive.

Travel off-season

No, we are not suggesting you to put your summer vacation plans on hold. Rather, consider destinations where tourist traffic is maximum in fall, winter, or spring and not summer. Not only will you save money by travelling off-season, you will also avoid the crowds and have better chances of finding lodgings at the last minute.

Stay close to home

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The steep airfare can quickly eat up any budget so, instead of taking it to the skies, opt for destinations you can drive to. Look for day trip possibilities and come back home each night to cut down on accommodation expenses. Sometimes driving just a few hours out of town for a change of scenery is all that you need, so don’t limit yourself to exotic destinations. Visit museums, theme parks, and local zoos on day trips. Go staycation and save!

Last minute summer vacation can seem overwhelming to even the most experienced vacation planners, so use these tips to plan a wonderful, inexpensive last-minute holiday full of excitement and great memories.

Fun Family Staycation Ideas – Save Money In Town

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Explore your home city

It’s sad but true that most people don’t bother to explore the gems of their hometown. Whether you live in a big city or a small suburb, there are sure to be local sights, activities, and landmarks your family can enjoy. Make a plan to discover your own city as a traveler would. Visit museums, historic sites, or simply try out of the way restaurant you have never been before.

Backyard camping

Pitch a tent in your backyard, pack up your sleeping bags, and grab a few flashlights. Make sure to leave your mobile phones, laptops, and other gadgets back home. Remember you are camping.

For dinner, cookout on the grill and roast s’mores. Once night sets in, plan classic camping activities: build a fire, tell stories, and read books.

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Stay in a nearby hotel

Staying in a nearby hotel for a day or two is a great way to have a getaway without going far at all. Look for a hotel with amenities like spa, pool, game room and more. Create some time for yourself to get a well-deserved beauty treatment or a massage. These days many hotels offer staycation specials, so be sure to find out.

No matter what you plan or which activity you choose, remember that staycation is supposed to be a vacation. It’s a chance to spend some quality time with your loved ones. So, unplug the television, disconnect the internet, and leave your phones back home. Reconnect and bond with your family-now that’s a real getaway!

For more family vacation ideas on Stagetecture, click here.