Save Money and Travel Time with a Staycation

As spring break approaches, both kids and adults are looking for a fun break without busting the bank. So what can you do with your week off with limited funds? We’ve dusted off some ideas for casual fun "staycations."

• Take in some quality time on the golf course. Golf has progressed beyond its reputation as being a retired man’s sport. Head to one of the Bay’s scenic courses, like Crystal Springs in Burlingame, Poplar Creek in San Mateo or Harding Park in San Francisco. Wear your favorite Hawaiian shirt if you’re really longing for that gorgeous course in Maui.
• Have a family fun day at a local entertainment center. If playing a real 18-hole course isn’t your speed, why not make golfing a family event and take the kids to play miniature golf? Sunnyvale’s Golfland has 18 whimsically decorated holes and an arcade, while Malibu Grand Prix in Redwood City has mini golf, an arcade, go kart racing, bumper boats and batting cages – attractions that can keep everyone in the family entertained.
• Satisfy your inner daredevil. A lot of us like to get a little adventurous while on vacation. We might do a little rockclimbing, dive into clear blue waters from treacherous looking cliffs or simply eat new and exotic foods. While I would not recommend the cliff diving in any parts of the Bay Area I know of, there are plenty of ways to satisfy that adventurous itch close to home. Try some indoor rockclimbing at one of Planet Granite’s three Bay Area locations (San Francisco, Belmont and Sunnyvale) or catch some serious air at Sunnyvale’s Sky High indoor trampoline arena.
• Get out! Staycations don’t necessarily mean staying at home. If money is tight, get out and enjoy some of the glorious landscape that surrounds us in the Bay Area. San Bruno Mountain is right in our backyard and is just waiting to be hiked. Venture into San Francisco’s Presidio, or across the bay to Berkeley’s Strawberry Canyon for more glorious views, fresh air and lush plantlife, full of life after weeks of rain.
• Schedule activities to keep yourself (and the kids) entertained. It’s easy, with a week off and no set plans, to fall into a routine of sleeping in and watching too much Hulu. But to make the most of your time, come up with a list of activities for yourself and the family ahead of time. Take advantage of the library’s free storytimes for kids and classes and workshops for adults, plan a family picnic in or shoot some hoops solo for a workout.

It’s important not to forget that we live in the Bay Area and really have no excuse to be bored. There are plenty of fun ways to fill some down time, usually within a ten mile radius of home.