Have you ever thought about taking a holiday without actually going anywhere? That’s exactly what we did this weekend—we had a family Holiday at Home Weekend. No packing, no travel stress, just slowing down and enjoying quality time together.
How We Ended Up Doing a ‘Holiday at Home Weekend’
At the start of the year, we set a goal to take more weekend trips for fun and adventure. But as this particular weekend approached, I struggled to find a location that perfectly fit what we wanted. Plus, the kids seemed like they needed some relaxed time at home. Then, unexpectedly, two extended family members ended up in the hospital. In hindsight, we were grateful we didn’t go away.
I started mulling over the idea: what if we saved the money we would have spent on accommodation and instead did holiday-like activities from home? And so, our Holiday at Home Weekend idea was born. Let me tell you how it went and why you might love trying it too.
What Our Holiday at Home Looked Like
We made a plan to treat the weekend differently, resisting the usual pull of chores and to-dos. Phones were put away, expectations were low, and fun was the priority. We also did all our cleaning and chores before the weekend started, so we could fully relax without the nagging feeling of needing to ‘just get one more thing done.’
Here’s what we did:
- Walk and brunch – A slow walk to a café, enjoying brunch like we were on holiday. Loved it!
- Park time – Unhurried play, soaking up the sunshine, no rush to leave. We actually stopped at two different parks and just played.
- Movie and popcorn – A midday movie (a holiday treat!).
- Visiting family – A special visit to extended family in the hospital. Meaningful.
- Slow bath and book – A long, relaxing bath, followed by reading in bed after the kids went to sleep. Luxury!
- Bike track adventure – Something we don’t usually do, which made it feel like a unique outing (bonus: it was near the hospital).
- Church – my favorite Sunday activity.
- Buffet-style continental breakfast – Our version of a hotel breakfast at home. (The kids were so cute about this!)
- Swimming/water play – Something we would have done if we’d gone away for the weekend.
- Board games – I love a competitive board game session!
Fire pit – Ending the weekend with marshmallows around the fire.We planned, but didn’t do, the fire pit idea. It would have been awesome but we ran out of time. Instead we did family Lego.
Simple Ideas for Your Own Holiday at Home
If you want to try your own Holiday at Home Weekend, here are a few easy ideas just as a starting point:
- Plan a few special meals —maybe a picnic, homemade pizza night, or fancy breakfast.
- Have a ‘no chores, no work’ rule for the weekend, where practical.
- Visit a new café, park, or somewhere you wouldn’t usually go.
- Do something ‘holiday-like’—watch the sunrise, take an afternoon nap (I wish I could do this!), or play tourist in your own town.
- Say no to anything that feels like a regular weekend task, if possible.
- Make sure that the special activities work for you.
What We Loved About It
- Saved money – No flights, no accommodation, no big expenses.
- No stress – No rushing to get out the door, no packing lists, no travel exhaustion.
- UNHURRY – This was the best part. We slowed down. Properly.
- More time together – It felt like we had more quality family time than usual, simply because we weren’t rushing.
The Challenges
- Mindset shift – It’s easier to feel like you’re on holiday when you’re actually away. At home, it takes effort to break out of routine.
- Distractions – It’s tempting to just do ‘one load of washing’ or check emails.
- Not quite the same as going away – The novelty of a new place is hard to beat.
The Verdict
Was it better than going away? No. But was it better than a normal weekend? Absolutely.
The biggest lesson? Mindset makes all the difference. Choosing to treat our home as a holiday space changed how we felt. And decluttering our home last year really helped—it made our space feel more restful and enjoyable.
Would we do it again? Yes. A holiday at home won’t replace a real getaway, but it’s a simple, affordable, and fun way to press pause and reset. Worth trying if you’re craving a break but don’t want the hassle and cost of travel!