Summary
- If you’re staying home for the holidays, there are a lot of fun things you can do on a budget wherever you live while still staying safe.
- Driving through a dazzling light show or hiking with your family in a nearby park are just a few of the affordable ideas you can enjoy.
- Keep your traditions alive; just do them differently.
If you canceled your travel plans this holiday season due to the pandemic, staying home doesn’t mean you can’t get into the holiday season! Below are some fun places to visit with the whole family. And who knows…you may even discover some new traditions!
Be merry and bright with holiday lights
You can still have that change of scenery – and be merry and bright – without traveling too far. Whether it’s driving around your own town to see how your neighbors have decorated or venturing a little further out to explore some new territory, it can be a fun—and socially distanced—outing for yourself and your family.
Different places across the country are lighting up with incredible holiday light displays. From zoos and botanical gardens to theme parks and local neighborhoods, check online for dazzling and spectacular light shows and other holiday displays in your area. Many are also drive-thru so you can stay in the comfort of your car while enjoying the displays. Some may require tickets and reservations, so we recommend doing research before making the plans.
You can also help make the outing extra festive by stopping for peppermint hot chocolate. And, don’t forget to play your favorite holiday music and sing along to the tunes.
Visit a national, state or local park
If you are looking to do more outdoors, check your area online for a nearby national, state or local park with hiking trails. Enjoy the great outdoors and fresh air while getting some much-needed exercise. In addition, some of the parks may offer special holiday programs.
Before you go, we recommend checking to make sure the park you’d like to visit is open and confirm any restrictions they may have as a result of the pandemic
Keep traditions alive…virtually
Traditions are important, but for many of us, they are even more important around the holidays. Just because you are staying home, it doesn’t mean you have to give up your holiday traditions this year; be creative and do them…just do them differently. For example, if you see the Nutcracker in person every year, you can watch a streaming version of the ballet from your living room. Dress up the same as you would if you were seeing it in person. If your children bake cookies with grandma every Christmas, they can still bake cookies together via Zoom.
There are many different and exciting things to do during the holiday season, even if your plans changed and you’re now staying home. You may even create new traditions this holiday season.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be relied on as financial advice.
