5 Fun Staycation Ideas

Spring Break is just a few weeks away. And if you’ve been too busy to book a trip, strapped for cash or only get a few days off; how are you going to keep the kids occupied during their nine-day hiatus? Check out these 5 fun Staycation ideas to make staying home a vacation worth booking:

Staycation Idea No. 1 – Zoo Babies

No need to travel to New York state to visit April the Giraffe, and her baby, there are plenty of zoo babies right here in Chicagoland. Check out the latest additions at Brookfield Zoo or Lincoln Park Zoo while visiting favorites like lions, tigers and polar bears – oh my!

Staycation Idea No. 2 – Rockin Rockford

Avoid traffic, parking nightmares and humongous crowds by skipping the big museums downtown and head north to Rockford. Yes, Rockford.

The city that gave birth to recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Cheap Trick offers wonderful museums for kids of all ages. Check out The Discovery Center Museum, which has been ranked as one of the top children’s museums in the nation and features exhibits on Wild Weather, Air & Flight and Simple Machines.

Visit Jane and Homer, dinosaur fossils discovered in the Badlands of Montana, across the street from the Discovery Center at the Burpee Museum of Natural History. Along with these prehistoric beasts, the museum boasts other fun, educational exhibits that bring the past to life.

Check out other fun things to do in the city that rocks on the river.

Staycation Idea No. 3 – Chow Down Around the World

Explore new worlds, ethnic cuisine and maybe even learn a few new words by taking a culinary tour of the world during Spring Break. It’s easy, just pick seven countries your family would like to visit and schedule fun meals.

For example: Monday, Italy; Tuesday, Mexico – no need to skip Taco Tuesday; Wednesday, China; Thursday, Spain; Friday, Ireland; Saturday, France; and finish off the week by grabbing an All-American feast of a tasty burger, cola, fries and apple pie. There are plenty of great restaurants in the western suburbs, Chicago and the state of Illinois to tour every country of the world.

Staycation Idea No. 4 – Little Walk on the Prairie

The Illinois Prairie Path offers 61 miles of trails in DuPage, Kane and Cook counties for long, scenic walks, horseback and bike rides through restored Illinois prairie grasses and wildflowers. Neighboring towns and villages are just around the bend to explore, grab a bite to eat in and if the weather is nice, grab a scoop of ice cream or gelato too.

Staycation Idea No. 5 – Skate Break

Rainy days don’t need to be dreary – just lace up a pair of skates and roller disco to your favorite tunes at the local skating rink. With rinks in Lombard, Batavia, Aurora and Roselle to name just a few locations, you’re bound to find a roller rink nearby where you can skate the day away.

While you are out exploring northern Illinois, why not treat yourself even more by earning points for all your purchases that can be used for cash back, event tickets and even gift cards? Earn Choice Rewards Points for every dollar charged during Spring Break with a DuPage Credit Union Visa® Platinum Rewards Credit Card.

Do you have suggestions for other fun staycation activities in northern Illinois? Please share below, we’d love to hear them: