7 Steps to the Ultimate (Mexico) Themed Staycation

While budget or travel restrictions may have you stuck at home, there is no reason that should stop you from enjoying some of the best aspects of a vacation. We’re going to show you how to create a blissful trip to Mexico without ever leaving home. Check out how to plan a staycation with these seven easy steps.

Setting the Stage – Decorating

Making the most of your Mexico theme all begins with setting the stage in your own home. Your living room, dining room and/or kitchen can become a Mexican mecca with just a few inexpensive decorations you already have around the house or can be easily bought and shipped quickly right to your door.

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You can buy the papel picado, colorful squares of paper with lace cut outs, to string along any area of your house. Pick them up from Amazon or your local party store.

For a fun staycation, set the table with Mexico inspired dishes, place settings and napkins. Buy a small bouquet of colorful flowers to set on the table that evoke thoughts of Mexico with their bright petals and tropical leaves, or pick up some succulents to place in a colorful ceramic planter.

Set the Table – Food and Drink

Everyone has a favorite Mexican food dish and cooking a fine Mexican meal for your staycation does not have to be intimidating! Map out your menu to include appetizers, drinks and family friendly main course choices along with adult beverages for the grownups.

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How about a shrimp cocktail appetizer? This is a different version than the red, thick cocktail sauce you may be used to from dinner parties (remember those?) This light and refreshing cocktail is made like a gaspacho and has tons of fresh shrimp (camaron), octopus (pulpo), clams (almejas), and more. You can see Norman’s video of how to make it below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hEPREP1UT8

For your themed adult drinking pleasure it has to be a classic Margarita or a Paloma, right? But if you want to carry the mood on to another adventure you may need to pick up Tequila Made Me Do It and try a different recipe each time you staycation (purely for research purposes, of course).

For a staycation with kids, grab Jarritos at your local grocery store. If you can’t find it there, Amazon has a selection that they will ship right to your door.

Save room for enchiladas. These are true to Michoacan, Mexico style and are not just filled with chicken, beef or runny melted cheese. These are an authentic rendition of something you are much more likely to find beyond our borders. These enchiladas sit on a bed of large leafy romaine, with chopped potato and carrot in a rich red sauce draped across the top. Watch Norman’s cooking video to get the easy how-to recipe for a not to be missed addition to your themed staycation ideas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlfUlMEuf00

If you’re interested, we picked up the large wok style cooking appliance Norman uses in the video when he went with his uncle to Mercado de Independencia in Morelia, Michoacan. But this post is all about what you can do to have a staycation at home. So we wanted to help you out! You can grab one here from Amazon (seriously, is there anything they don’t have??).

Foreign Language Lesson – A Few Key Phrases

You can make this staycation all the more real by taking a moment to learn about the language. Pick up a few key phrases and you’ll use these when you do get to travel again. Learn the basics now so you gain confidence in using the language in the future.

Mucho gusto ….. nice to meet you

Voy a pedir ….. I’m going to order

Buenos dias ….. Good morning

Buenas tardes ….. Good afternoon

Buenas noches ….. Good night

Gracias/de nada ….. thank you/your welcome

Buen provecho ….. enjoy your meal

Learn your numbers (uno, dos, tres…)

Disculpe ….. excuse me

Puedo tomar una foto …… Can I take a photo

Setting the Mood with Music

Set up your evening with a music selection that reflects the area you are visiting. You can listen to Mexican acoustic guitar or some Luis Miguel Boleros. Go more traditional with a mariachi soundtrack. You can catch all of these selections and more with Spotify or Amazon Prime Music. Just tell Alexa what you want to hear and your house will fill with music to set the mood.

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Have a Movie Night

Movie theaters in the big cities of Mexico know how to set you up for fun with their snack selection. So before you even pick a show to watch consider what snacks are joining you and your tribe on the couch. If you want to keep with the Mexico theme then you need to slip some Takis, spicy Doritos, or hot Cheetos in with that popcorn. Paletas Michoacanas are a cool treat in flavors like cucumber and spice (pepina y chile), mango and chamoy, or fresa. Pick up a selection of Mexican candies from your local grocery store or Amazon if your store does not stock this.

If quarantine has brought back anything it’s been movie night (who else is on their second run of a Marvel marathon in chronological order?). And we all know there are a multitude of shows to watch on Netflix. A few of our favorites include Monarca, Gentefied, Taco Chronicles, La Casa De Las Flores, Made in Mexico, Club de Cuervos, Coco, Untoppable, Luis Miguel the Series, On My Block, The Club, One Day at a Time, Rompan Todo. On that list you’ve got stand alone films, series, documentaries, dramas, comedies, and even an indulgent reality TV series.

Our favorite documentary is Taco Chronicles. Animated movie is definitely Coco. For just Norman and I, Monarca was a true addiction. Norman loved the comedy La Casa De Las Flores. Rompan Todo was an interesting look into the history of Latin American rock that our little drummer enjoyed but it has strong language. Consider the ratings and content before you set up the night for the whole family. You have to find a show that’s right for your tribe.

Travel Planning – Positive Thinking

I love the planning process. It’s all the possibility, all the hope and all the best of the unknown wrapped up in each piece of research I dive into. I’m a travel guide kind of girl. Then I branch out to search the web for local activities and places that didn’t make the books.

I’m still a geek that likes to hold a book in her hands so all of my recommendations are paperbacks. I enjoy Rough Guides, as they strike me as being the more worldly version of what Rick Steves does in Europe. There is also Lonely Planet and Moon guides which can go broad with books on Mexico as a whole or break out into spotlighting specific regions of the country. If you want the immediate gratification of Kindle I can’t say I blame you. The fun diversion of planning doesn’t need to wait a whole two days for shipping if you don’t want it to. Who says teens are the only ones who get to be impatient?

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Photography/Videography Lessons

Teaching kids how to catch those great vacation moments is half the benefit of having tweens and teens. Now Mom or Dad can finally be in the picture. Joaquin does all the videos for Norman’s cooking clips and it can be a bonding opportunity for sure. Think about the potential of introducing these skills to your kiddos so they can document your great staycation (as well as the next vacation) right along with you.

Check Out Other Posts

Your future travels in Michoacan will take you and your travel tribe to some amazing places. When you get a chance to plan for travel again, get inspired with our posts on horseback riding to the Paricutin Volcano or join us to explore the Don Vasco Route.