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20 Creative Ways to Enjoy a Spring Break Staycation

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May 15, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media, Spring, Travel

Vacation from home! Check out the 20 best staycation ideas to enjoy a Spring Break Staycation. We’ve included staycation ideas you can easily drive to and ways to have fun on vacation right from the comfort of your home. Have fun!

Spring Break Staycation Ideas

You don’t need to shell out money to create a fun spring break vacation for the kids! This year and last year showed us that it’s important to learn how to have fun from the comfort of our homes. While we didn’t have much of a choice, we now know that it’s totally possible to have a blast without jet setting anywhere.

Whether you’re looking for creative ideas for your child’s spring break, activities for the summer, or just a few fun ideas for a long weekend, you’ll love these easy and frugal staycation ideas. Enjoy a holistay within your hometown and browse these 20 kid-approved activities!

From stargazing, to camping out in your backyard, to museum scavenger hunts and more, these Spring Break Staycation ideas are the best ways to make a vacation from home special!

What is a staycation?

Not all of us have the budget or willingness to take the family on a vacation every spring. Staycations bring all the fun of a great vacation into your very own home or hometown. They typically involve extra special activities that you might do when you’re on a real vacation, like camping in your own backyard or setting up a kiddie pool in the backyard.

Whatever your reason for enjoying these staycation ideas, let us know how much you love them in the comments!

Family Staycation Kit Digital Download

Looking for some fun ideas for a staycation at home? Grab this free Staycation Printable Pack to make it FEEL like your family is on a real vacation! Play tourist in your own town with these stay at home vacation ideas including a bucket list, menu planner, printable postcards, room keys, room numbers & more.

Add in the Science

Staycation ideas can be educational, too! During the week, have a day at home. Add in as many five minute science experiments as you can. The kids will have tons of fun getting to play scientist for the day!

Backyard Movie Theater

Pop some popcorn, plop together some pillows, put up a tent, string some lights… whatever it takes to make the coolest at home movie theater in your yard. Follow this DIY Backyard Movie Screen (from Simply Sprout) or pick up an outdoor movie screen for your evening.

Play Tourist

Play tourist in your hometown. Start by visiting your city’s visitor center and get creative with what new activities can fill your day. What new things do you want to see? Where haven’t you explored before? To really make your staycation fancy, book a hotel room for the night! Search places like Groupon for discounts and savings.

Baking Championship

Host a kids baking championship! Invite your kids’ friends or neighborhood pals to up the ante. Fill a basket with interesting ingredients for them to use or let them search the web for a recipe they want to make. You judge, determine the winner, and get to eat the food all at the same time… sounds like you’re winning! Adorable ideas for a baking party or championship from ikatbag.

Backyard Fire Pit

Make your entire dinner with just your fire pit! Can you tell we love food-related staycation ideas? Find camping recipes and make everything without using your kitchen. Two recipes we recommend are Camping Hot Dogs and Campfire S’mores Cones.

Go Geocaching

This activity is so fun, it will fill your whole day! Geocaching is the act of hunting for and finding hidden objects using GPS coordinates. Download the app and find hidden “treasure” in your town’s area. Learn more about how to geocache as a family on Frugal Mom, Eh.

Arts & Crafts Day

Host a whole day dedicated to arts and crafts! Take a look at some of these ideas – upcycled cereal box crafts, paint chip crafts, and rainy day activities. You also could pick up a craft supply set for a bunch of resources to help you get creative.

Picnic and a Discussion

Deepen relationships and learn a new fun fact about your loved ones! Have an Instagram-worthy picnic in your favorite grassy park. Picnics are a great opportunity to escape those everyday distractions like the doorbell, phone ringing, dog barking, and all the other things that interrupt quality time. Bring dinner conversation cards to start discussion and help you get to know your child and/or spouse better.

Backyard Campout

No need to venture into the woods — camp out in your own backyard! At night, you and your family can study the sky. Download the Sky Map App and study planets, stars, and constellations. Frugal Mom Eh has some creative ideas for backyard camping, as well.

Travel Abroad

Host an international vacation from home — no flight required! Choose a country you have always wanted to travel to. Eat food, plan activities, listen to music, and watch a movie. Of course, all of the eats and activities will be based on that country’s culture! Pick up a DVD from the library or watch something on Amazon Prime that relates to the country of your choice. Rick Steves has some great movies. Live, Life and Learning has a free printable passport you can use for your adventure with the kids. Every night of the week can be a different country!

Sleep Outdoors

Fill a truck or trampoline with pillows and blankets and have an outdoor campout under the stars! You can also see this idea in our Visual Summer Bucket List for Kids. Source and Source

Memories

Tired of keepsakes piling up? Get Marie Kondo inspired and get organized. This can be organized by school year or can just be a place you toss in old mementos, concert tickets, photos, and more. You’ll spend the whole night reminiscing over special moments with your family. A Bowl Full of Lemons can help you get started.

Family Game Night

Have a family game night or even a family game day! You can play many of these fun Minute to Win It Game Ideas. Craft a trophy for the winner, come up with some tasty Family Game Snacks, and let everyone choose a game to play!

Take a Hike

Go explore the great outdoors! Do some research and find a great trail in your area. You can carry along this nature scavenger hunt. You can collect what you find and make natural art with your all your treasures. Also check out our Hiking Trail Bucket List in our outdoor camping hacks and tips.

Enjoy a Scavenger Hunt

Speaking of scavenger hunts, take a look at our dozens of Scavenger Hunt Ideas. We love this outdoor Flashlight Scavenger Hunt, perfect for staying up late and doing something memorable.

My Town Rocks

Rock hunting is the newest community adventure since Pokemon Go! Search your local town and area for rocks hidden by citizens just like you. Join local community boards to see places where rocks might be hidden and discover areas of your town you might not be familiar with. You and your family can paint rocks together to “hide” around your town and surrounding area to spread joy and brighten people’s day! More ideas on My Town Rocks.

Visit a Museum

Have you ever played a scavenger hunt in a museum? Kids can get bored with museums, especially ones they’ve visited before. Make your local museums exciting again and play a museum scavenger hunt game. Consider it a treasure hunt of portraits and paintings!

Get this free scavenger hunt printable and all of Frugal Coupon Living’s Free Printables. Enter your name and email address and we will send you a link and password for access to your free downloads.

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Over twenty ways to enjoy a Spring Break Stayation. Holistay and ideas within driving distance of your home and activities and fun within your home. #FrugalCouponLiving #Staycation #SpringBreak

Visit the Library

You can have SO much fun in your local library! Take a look at these 10 Quiet Library Games from Book Shark.

Virtual Museum Tour

Did you know many major museums offer virtual tours online? That means you can visit famous museums without ever leaving your home. Popular virtual tours include…

Be a Summer Travel Agent

Now that it’s spring break, summer break is just around the corner! Think ahead and hash out your summer activities and bucket list while everyone is home. Research itineraries, daily activities, and more just as if you were a travel agent. Check out our Visual Summer Bucket List for some ideas. Pick up this free travel planning kit from Pinch a Little, Save a Lot.

Painting Projects

Get the whole family in on that painting project you’ve been putting off! Paint your dining room table, redo your dresser, or spruce up a chair. Tackle a family project or redo an entire bedroom. We love these farmhouse weekend projects that can done in a few days. Not only will you get things done, you’ll have so much fun bonding and treasure the memories for years to come.

Get ready for summer! Take a look at these Visual Summer Bucket List Ideas for the Kids. Pin to Pinterest.

No more moans of “I’m bored mom” when you prepare for your summer with these Summer Boredom Busters and Activities for Kids! Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Glamping Ideas for the Ultimate Camping Trip for the Girls!

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March 13, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media, Travel

Glamping Ideas for the Ultimate Camping Trip for the Girls! Glamping: where stunning nature meets modern luxury.

Glamping Ideas for the Girls!

If I get a chance to get away with the girls, sleeping arrangements are often more like a 4/5 start hotel over an outdoor camping facility. I have always wanted to get one with nature, but I really enjoy the comfort of a nice bed and the enjoyment of a temperature controlled environment. Since camping was always polyester tents and sand in my toes, and bed, I never really considered it. With the evolution of glamping, camping has one again peaked my interest!

If you have always desired a camping trip but feared loosing your comforts of electricity and down comforters, take a look at these Glamping Ideas for your next trip with the girls! Glamping is doing things outside of your comfort zone, while not straying too far!

Glamping Ideas

Glamping: where stunning nature meets modern luxury.

Also, take a look Fancy Camps and see how glamping might work for you! Follow them on these social media accounts Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Bring the palettes, throws, flowers and pillows and set the atmosphere. One of our favorite places for glamping is Fancy Camps | Photography by http://jenna-alexander.com/

Let there be light. Make these Glam Solar Lights using candle sticks – how adorable! | Clamping Genius Mizz Risa and her 1958 Shasta Airflyte

Make your own outdoor bunting – this can be festive for your campsite or an on-site craft idea! | Ruffled Blog

Don’t forget the treats – we love these glamping cookies, how cute are those RVs! You can also pick up RV cookie cutters online. | KJ Cookies on Etsy

Dress the part! If you are camping with the girls, at least look the part! | Frugal Coupon Living

Another adorable light idea. Add water to Elmer’s glue, then brush inside of mason jars. Put glitter inside of the jar, and roll/spin the jar around until the glitter coats the sides. Let dry and add a tea light for this cool effect! | Cakery Papery

Don’t forget the invites! We love these glamping invitations (so what if it isn’t for a 7 year old birthday, the mamas need these cute invites too!) | Sunshine Parties on Etsy

Why touch the lighter. Toss some Christmas lights over wood for this Glamping Hack! | Source Unknown

Eat all you want! Calories don’t count when you are glamping. Being outside is a stressful situation (wink) and you will need the extra calories. We love these S’mores Campfire Cones. | Frugal Coupon Living.

We have fallen in love with this glamping chair (I bet you could use it from some soccer games later too!) | Gypsyville (find more here)

Know any happy campers? Everyone needs this souvenir glamping tumbler! | Georgia Grace Boutique on Etsy

Have a comfy place to sleep! Down blankets and fluffy pillow are a must! | Fancy Camps

Don’t make a starting a fire difficult, bring these homemade Fire Starters with you! | Rustic Wedding Chic

Make An Outdoor Lounge Using an Inflatable Kiddie Pool | Kids Ideas 2 Live 4

Trail Mix. (Need I say more?) | Evermine (a lot of cute ideas here!)

Alright ladies, this in’t only for kids – take this doughnut game with your crew – it looks like a fun and funny time! | Madly Stylish Events

Keep drinks cold and looking festive with frozen water balloons. | A Subtle Revelry

Use a garden flag frame to keep paper towels handy and easily accessible for little ones. | HGTV

Create some make-ahead cocktails and mocktails and store in mason jars. | Thirsty for Tea

If you are looking for glamping trails or the best places to hike in the U.S. with the girls, download our hiking trail bucket list and hiking journal.

Learn more about glamping at Fancy Camps: Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Photography by http://jenna-alexander.com/

This is a pretty popular post on Frugal Coupon Living – Camping Hacks and Tips. Pin to Pinterest.

Don’t forget the food – there are some creative ideas with these Foil Packet Meals. Pin to Pinterest.

Also enjoy these Camping Recipes Your Family Will Love. Pin to Pinterest.

If this is a party weekend, maybe for an upcoming wedding, take a look at these Bachlorette Party Ideas. Pin to Pinterest.

Fun Ideas for a Staycation at Home

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January 9, 2021 by administrator Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media, Travel

Looking for some fun ideas for a staycation at home? Grab this free printable pack to make it FEEL like your family is on a real vacation! Play tourist in your own town with these stay at home vacation ideas including a bucket list, menu planner, printable postcards, room keys, room numbers & more.

Fun Ideas for a Staycation at Home

If your kids are getting antsy about being at home so much, we have a great boredom busters printable pack for you. These activities are guaranteed to help cure the boredom your family faces from being at home. They also create a vacation within the home.

Putting together a staycation for your family is a great way to have fun without actually packing up and leaving. It can be the perfect alternative for families that are used to traveling often. You can extend over a weekend or lengthen your stay and lay tourist in your town for an entire week.

Enjoy bringing the fun of seeing the sights into your own region by printing out this staycation pack!

This Staycation Printable Pack includes lots of ideas for a staycation so you don’t have to come up with all the planning on your own.

Inside this pack, you will get:

staycation cover page
2 postcards
hotel room keys
hotel room numbers
2 do not disturb door hangers
staycation itinerary
staycation menu
family bucket list of ideas

Basically everything you need to transform your own home into a fun little “stay-away”! Assign your kids and your self responsibilities like receptionist, chef, room cleaners, travel agency and so much more. You can rotate job assignments at the stay at home trip continues.

Use the hotel numbers and keys to convert your kids bedrooms into guest rooms. They can share a room if possible. The do not disturb door hangers can go up at night so everyone gets the rest they need.

Create an exciting menu mixed with your usual meals and some new ones that your family could try if they were really on vacation. The entire staycation can have a theme that the new dishes would fit into.

Pepperoni Pizza Twists
Have a Taco Tuesday
Grilled Cheese Night (bring the tater tots too!)

Or play food critic and visit some of your local restaurants and diners to review.

The real fun comes with the itinerary and family bucket list. There are SO many great ideas for a staycation at home on these two pages. Use the bucket list page to come up with the activities you will place on your family’s itinerary.

Stay at Home Family Bucket List Ideas

Movie-a-thon or Movie Night
Backyard Camping
Visit a National Park or Landmark
Board Games Tournament
Spa Day
Have a Scavenger Hunt
Take a trip around the world online

The bucket list includes blank spaces so you can add in your unique experiences for your family to enjoy too.

Visit a Hiking Trail
Head to the Beach
Take local Day Trips
Visit Art Galleries
Rate local Restaurants

… and so much more!

Make sure to send a postcard to family or friend, wishing them that they were there! This set includes two styles of postcard and of course you can print out photos from your own local tourist spots on the internet.

Download Your Staycation Pack

Want to bring this stay at home tourist printable back to your home? Pick up the Staycation Printable Pack in the Frugal Coupon Living store.

Staycation Printable Pack & Instant Download

Included with purchase:

stay at home vacation cover page
2 staycation postcards
hotel room keys
hotel room numbers
2 do not disturb door hangers
staycation itinerary
staycation menu
family bucket list of ideas

Print all items to multiply for as many as you need.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final Staycation Ideas and Staycation Printable Pack. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest! We would love to see and hear how you played tourist in your own city.

Wait! We have so much more. If you need more staycation ideas, check out our Spring Break Staycation post! Can be done any time of the year including summer vacation, winter break and more. Pin to Pinterest.

Disney Cruise Tips, Hacks, and Tricks

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December 20, 2019 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Facebook, Hacks, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media, Travel

Disney Cruise Tips, Hacks, and Tricks

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Going on a Disney cruise is one of the most exciting things you will do for your family! From the oldest to the youngest, there will be something special and memorable to enjoy. Everyone loves Disney! A Disney Cruise is no exception and for good reason… It is the cruise that dreams are made of. Imagine sleeping below a twinkling sky, enjoy eating in a room in which the wall paintings change as you eat, now envision yourself in an adult only spa as the supervised kids enjoy the time of their life in one of the many incredible kid zones! Check out our Tips, Hacks and Tricks to make your cruise go smoothly.

Ready to go, take a look at these 25 Disney Cruise Tips that will help you navigate the waters and get the most out of your vacation!

1. Remember that on Disney Cruise Lines (DCL), your food and sodas/teas/coffees are included. Dine in their lavishly themed Main Dining restaurants, enjoy a poolside buffet, or take a break in your sleeping quarters with 24-hour room service. There are a couple spots, including their 5-star Palo or Remy Restaurant (reservations required) that will cost, but these eating locations are optional. Enjoy all you can eat food, 24-hours a day!

2. Disney loves to celebrate. When a major theme or event is near, you can be sure they included it in a Deck Party. Look for Halloween on the High Seas, Star Wars Day at Sea, Very Merrytime Cruise, or Pirate Night. These events are usually attached to deck parties and fireworks. Seeing your own private stage entertainment and fireworks show out over the ocean is impressive to say the least. Take a look at that reflection in the water! There also are character meet and greets. When you board, visit the Activities Desk for these special times and locations. Some require RSVPs and tickets.

3. Put a premium on the nightlife as far as Disney shows. You are after all on a Disney cruise so why would you not attend the Disney entertainment? These extravagantly live shows are every night of your cruise. Afterwards, send the kids to the kids club and go out to an adult-only night club or lounge. If after a long and busy day you find yourself too tired to enjoy the Broadway-style entertainment, watch the shows on your stateroom television.

4. Get up early for a powerful sunrise. It’s not every day you get to see the sunrise in the middle of the ocean. One of the most incredible aspects of a Disney cruise line experience is getting to see amazingly painted picture. It is worth a little less sleep, you can nap on the deck later! If you enjoy getting up early, run the 5k on Castaway Cay. You can burn off all those extra calories!

5. If you’re trying to save money, consider a interior state room. With all the activities and fun that are found all over the ship, your time inside is going to be very limited anyway. Booking a year or two ahead will also save you money. Mark your calendar!

6. Sign the kids up for Kids Club or Disney’s Oceaneer Club when you check-in at the terminal. It will be well worth the efforts when you get on board. You are not required to use their facility, but if you decide to at any point in the trip, at least they are already signed up.

7. Carry on your own alcohol to save a great deal of money if you like to have a bit of wine. Enjoy these glasses in your room as there is a $25 corking fee in the dinning room. As of September 30, 2015, Disney Cruise Line Guests 21 years and older may bring a maximum of 2 bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or 6 beers (no larger than 12 ounces) on board at the beginning of the voyage. I also suggest bringing some bottled water bottles. These items must be carried on, they cannot be packed. More on their Liquor Policy.

8. Prepare ahead of time for a reasonable tip count. On average you will be tipping between $200-$300 across your trip. I suggest saving for tips a few months before you board so you don’t feel the unexpected pain at the end of your tip. Tipping is a suggestion for exceptional service but not expected. It takes place the last night of the cruise. Disney Cruise Line offers a chart of suggested tips and to whom.

9. As if the magic of the cruise wasn’t enough, be sure to not let this tip slide. Log into your Disney Cruise Account set up a character call for the little ones. It’s free and fun to do. We like doing it the day of departure but if you have a special occasion, save it for that day too! Choose from a couple different characters and schedule the time and date that work best.

10. Make sure you pack at least one warm outfit regardless of the time of year. Being out upon the ocean can get chilly no matter the season. A cardigan, blazer or jacket should be enough for the evenings or in a chilly restaurant or lounge. In the case where you are not cold, but have a cold make sure you pack medicine. This includes medicine if you are prone to motion sickness!

11. Be sure to bring along a good-sized tote to keep with you at all times. A good beach bag does the trick nicely and can house your sunscreen, cell phone, books and paper as well as camera. You never know when there will be a photo op! A larger tote is also nice as your luggage is placed out in the hallway the final evening. Having a tote or larger bag you will carry off the boat will allow you to store pjs, toothbrush, make-up and extra clothing. The opposite is true too. When you board, you will not have your suitcase until it arrives in your stateroom. Board with a bag and make sure you have your swim suit. It’s no fun watching everyone else play in the water while you wait for luggage.

12. Bring along a watch as there seems to be a shortage of clocks on board when you need them. After all, when your on vacation – time doesn’t matter! A waterproof watch is ideal with all the water fun.

13. Sign up for the Detective Agency and you will get to solve a mystery or two while on board. This is loads of fun and great for the entire family. This is for Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. This is good for all ages – Teens, Preschoolers, Tweens, Kids, and Families. Also check with Guest Services for a Hidden Mickey Challenge while on the ship.

14. Be sure to inquire about the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App in advance of your trip. It would be great to download before you board and depart. This is extremely helpful for navigation and for communicating with others. Check daily weather, character appearances and activities. The Onboard Chat Feature allows you to stay in touch with family and friends, even if everyone happens to be on different parts of the ship.

15. Take advantage of room service! It is exquisite and included and 24-7. It might make getting those extra 5 minutes of rest worth it. Keep in mind, the buffet and restaurants will have different food options. It is vacation, one fun way to keep the magic alive is to order cookies and milk while the kids are getting ready for bed – how memorable is that!? You also can order Mickey Ice Cream Bars!

16. Put aside a little bit of money for the gift shop on board. There are some things that you simply cannot find anywhere else and on board a cruise ship certainly qualifies. I always like to go to DisneyStore.com a few weeks before our trip. This allows me to buy the kids surprise souvenirs before our trip and lower costs! One suggestion is buying your lanyard and pins (for pin trading) on Ebay.

17. Consider booking via a travel professional. There are so many ins and outs of booking these types of cruises that a professional can certainly be worth the fee. In some cases, the travel agent makes commission via Disney and it is no cost to you.

18. Inquire with your agent about the secret cabins. These are Uber rare opportunities to get outer cabins at an inner cabin price. This website gives more detail.

19. Consider booking in September for a fantastic off-season deal. You can also snag them in October, early December and January. These are times when people travel less and suddenly there is a dip in the booking fee and price.

20. Use the spa and fitness center bathrooms if your bathroom needs overflow. Most families really struggle with the single bathroom set up and these bathrooms are available. It’s no fun carrying a shower caddy in the hall, also creating a shower schedule can help! Check to see what your state room offers. You likely can leave some toiletries (shampoo/conditioner) as well as the blow dryer at home!

21. Decorate your door! This exciting past time is one of the coolest parts of the trip. Just remember that everything is magnetized and no adhesives are allowed. Note: some of the fancier cabins have wooden doors that are not magnetized.

22. Plan your trip ahead of time. Booking in advance is the best way to get what you want at the price you want. The good cabins always sell out quickly so you need to be ahead of the curve. Book up to years in advance for low prices!

23. Consider taking the trip insurance. There is nothing quite like the peace of mind of knowing that you are covered just in case. This becomes particularly important as the price of the vacation increases.

24. Take advantage of the free souvenirs! If you want a really cool one, drop off a T-shirt (pillow case, frame or other memento) and some sharpie pens with guest services the first day. When you pick it up at the end of the cruise it will be covered in Disney character autographs. (It looks like DCL has taken away this free service.)Take my ad advice of Tip 16 about shopping at DisneyStore.com a few weeks before the trip.

25. Embrace the experience! Disney is only Disney if you allow yourself to truly dive into the fun and act like a kid. Let yourself go back in time and remember the magic!

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Don’t forget our FREE Disney Cruise Planner Printables. Pin to Pinterest.

Don’t go on the cruise without decorating your door – Disney Cruise Door Printables! Pin to Pinterest.

Check out our FREE Countdown to Disney Printable. Pin to Pinterest.

Enjoy these Copycat Disney Recipes. Pin to Pinterest.

Also check out our FREE Disney Printables. Pin to Pinterest.

Gaylord National Christmas on the Potomac – Cyber Monday Savings!

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December 2, 2019 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Christmas, Coupons, Travel

Gaylord National Christmas on the Potomac – and Gaylord Ice Coupon Code Cyber Monday Savings.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.…” After this weekends visit to the Gaylord National, I really can’t get the song out of my head… I am ready for Christmas!

Christmas on the Potomac

Visiting the Gaylord National was an amazing way to get into the holiday spirit. The resort and convention center were beautifully decorated. This year, the Christmas activities and spirit is magnified with everyone’s favorite green Christmas Character – Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas!

This year was imply amazing. It was the very first year the entire family could participate. I wondered if it would go well, the twins being just shy of 2 years old, but it was great. They seriously had the time of their life and I have never laughed so hard, I cried watching the twins come down the ICE! ice slide! You can imagine how great tears feel in 9 degree temperatures!

You and your family will marvel at more than 2 million holiday lights and acres of magnificent decorations, plus spectacular holiday activities and events that are sure to get you in the spirit of the season and create lasting family memories!

As always, our favorite part of ICE! is this ice slides. The kids enjoy that even their mom gets a spin in this winter wonderland of a playground. This year the sculptures were incredibly bright! Amazing colors that really stood out telling the story of The Grinch movie.

Fascinating details about ICE!

Walk-through holiday attraction, kept at a chilly 9 degrees
Two million pounds of ice sculptures hand-carved by 140 artisans from China.
Colorful ice sculptures depict the story of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas!
The tradition – A stunning crystal clear ice sculpture scene of the Nativity – our favorite!

Dress warmly, but don’t fret. You are given a Blue Parka for your comfort. I personally forgot my winter coat and was fine – though I would suggest not forgetting yours! We wore our ski hats, ski gloves, wool socks, and scarves with our parka. I even had the girls put their ski coat below their parka. This native to Florida girls had to stay warm, 9 degrees is cold!

Back again this year is the 25-minute Cirque Dreams Unwrapped performance in the Gaylord National atrium. This was pretty incredible! All the great things of Cirque with a beautiful Potomac backdrop!

This Christmas, the Garden Atrium at Gaylord National comes alive with Cirque Dreams Unwrapped. Be dazzled with this spellbinding production of Seasons Dreamings combining breathtaking artistry, music and showmanship from around the world. The entire family can enjoy this uniquely inspired 25-minute Christmas fable performed on our atrium stage and in the air with spectacular costumes and soaring imagination. Don’t miss this new intimate entertainment extravaganza that will have everyone on the edge of their seat and feet!

Gaylord National Resort featuring ICE!

2019 Dates are November 15 – December 30.

Christmas Village Activities

Activities for this Gaylord event include…

Ice Skating
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Gingerbread Decoratins
Photos with Santa
Potomac Express Train
Reindeer Rush Tubing

The tubing was pretty amazing and boy do those tubes go fast! The girls really loved it!

Gaylord ICE! Tickets

If you are looking for a Christmas Tradition for your family, be sure to pick up Gaylord ICE! Tickets. Prices vary depending on packages, ages, and dates. Take a look at all the options here.

Cyber Monday Savings – Gaylord Ice Coupon Code

If you are shopping Cyber Monday, take a look at these discounts including 30% off rooms and steep discounts on ICE!

You can try Gaylord Ice Coupon Code CYBER19 though I believe discount price is already reflected.

Coupon code details: 40% off is valid for adult and children tickets for online purchase only. Offer cannot be combined with any other discount or special pricing. Not valid on group or military tickets and subject to change or cancellation with our notice. Limited supply and other restrictions apply

Also consider staying the night. Extend your fun, enjoy rest in the comfort of a hotel bed, and have a tasty breakfast with The Grinch, himself, before you begin your day.

Visit Gaylord National also on Twitter and Instagram. This season be sure to use hashtag #BlueParka and #ChristmasonthePotomac.

Disclosure: I was provided tickets for this event. All opinions are mine and should not be used as your own.

Every Kid in a Park – Free National Park Pass

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November 7, 2019 by Frugal Coupon Living Writers Filed Under: Travel

See the national parks for free with your Every Kid in a Park pass! Every year, beginning September 1, all kids in the fourth grade have access to their own Every Kid in a Park pass! This pass provides free access to national parks across the country.

Every Kid in a Park is a federal public lands youth initiative to get all 4th graders and their families to experience the places that are home to our country’s natural treasures, rich history, and vibrant culture.

FREE Sleepover Packing List Printable

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July 5, 2019 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Free, Instagram, Travel

FREE Sleepover Packing List Printable
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Sending your child to a friend’s house for a sleepover is a rite of passage that every kid should get to experience. Sending them off with the right things packed will help the experience go smoothly and set your mind at ease about their being away from home somewhat. Here are some tips about packing for sleepovers so that your child has what they need:

Paperwork package

This is important for a number of reasons, and most people disregard it. If your child is going to be away from home, you need to make sure they have certain pieces of paperwork. These include a consent to treat for emergency medical situations, a picture and an emergency contact sheet that gives at least two options. This is also where you can put your name and number in case the parents happen to need to contact you.

Allergy and prescription medications

If you child has allergies, you need to inform the other parents up front. Also write these things down and include any medications they might need. These are very important things to share with whomever is watching your kids.

Pajamas and a change of clothes

Of course you want your kids to have a pair of pajamas and something to put on clean when they get up the next day. If you kid has an occasional accident, perhaps you should also include extra underwear or pull ups. Never embarrass your kid by speaking of this in front of them, however.

Video Games or Toys

If your kid wants to bring along his favorite toy or video game, run it by your fellow parent and make sure they are cool with it. Some parents prefer not to take responsibility for expensive electronics or special items. A quick heads up and you will be in the clear as far as knowing what to do here.

Pillow

It is usually a good idea to bring your own pillow for hygiene sakes. You don’t have to say why…simply that your child is used to a particular pillow. Better safe than sorry with lice concerns and so on.

Hygienic supplies

Make sure you send your kid’s toothbrush, hair brush or comb and deodorant at a minimum. Some folks like to send their own little carry bag that is full of these types of things and that works too. The last thing you want to do is depend on someone else to provide these things. Towels and washcloths are very different from deodorant. Pack what you would not want to share.

Packing for an overnight stay is really about paying attention to details and sending what you would want someone to have if they stayed at your home. Always think safety first and remember the things that might make your child comfortable.

Overnight Sleepover Packing List

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FREE Ski Packing List Printable

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July 5, 2019 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Free, Instagram, Travel

FREE Ski Packing List Printable
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Going on a ski trip is a rather exciting thing to do for vacation and it demands some very specific packing. Where lip balm is not very important on some vacations, it can be a life saver when you are out on the slopes. These types of specific items are often overlooked and then you have to pay a fortune at the lodge to get them. Here is a basic packing list of the primary things you will need on your ski trip:

● Glasses (Sunglasses and Regular)
● Contact Lenses
● Warm Clothing
● Gloves
● Boots for Snow
● Scarves
● Heavy Coat
● Hats
● Waterproof gear
● Ski Equipment
● Camera
● Cell Phone/Tablet/Chargers
● Toiletries
● First Aid Kit
● Medicines
● Lip Balm
● Maps
● Watch
● Compass
● ID/travel paperwork

Here are some packing tips to help you be sure to cover all your bases effectively:

Pack Layers of Clothes

The last thing you want to do on a ski trip is be cold. Layers are the key to warmth in the snow and you start with a good pair of thermals. Add in some turtlenecks, jackets, sweaters and some good ski pants and waterproof gear and you will be set. Make sure your ski coat is of top quality for optimal warmth.

Toiletries Matter

The last thing you want is to be buying hand and foot warmers at the cabin store. Pack plenty of toiletries that you will need and that includes lip balm and first aid kits. You never want to be caught without these types of things up on a mountain. If you do have to buy them, you will pay a premium that your wallet will certainly feel.

Rent or Buy?

Decide ahead of time if you are going to buy your gear or rent it. If you do decide to rent it there are certain things you should still buy for yourself. One thing is a quality pair of goggles. These are so vital to your comfort and safety that having your own is really important. Likewise, a solid pair of ski boots that fit are vital too. Like the old rental skates at the roller skating rinks, finding a good rental pair that fits is a challenge. Pick out a good pair and pay the price…your feet will thank you later.

Remember the Time Away From The Slopes

Not every moment will be spent on the slopes. Perhaps you will go to a nice, formal dinner and need a tux. Maybe you will take in a movie or spend some time walking around a nearby town. Whatever the case, you need to pack for some of these possibilities and be prepared. You rarely spend the entire vacation doing nothing but skiing.

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