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What is a staycation?
A staycation is when you choose to bring that vacation state of mind into your own home. Maybe you want to save money, or you can’t travel to your ideal destination quite yet, a staycation let’s you get a taste of what that future trip is going to be like. Staycation is different from a vacation in that it allows you to plan for all that fun in your own living room.
What are some good things to do on a staycation?
There are as many things to do during a staycation as you can think of. Being creative leads to amazingly fun results. Whether planning for fun as a couple or pulling together a vision of a staycation for the whole family you have endless opportunities to design a relaxing get-away at home. By first creating a theme, you focus your staycation ideas on a future destination of your dreams. Themed staycations zero in on the country or city of your choice. You can learn about that place to inform your future travels.
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Set the Stage – Decorate for the Ultimate Italian Themed Staycation
When you think about an Italian-themed staycation you’ll want to think about what you will actually see in that country. Avoid the stereotypes. You’re all for a little red, white and green. Who doesn’t love the red checkered table cloth and a skewer of tomato, fresh mozzarella, and basil? But also think of where you can bring in the rich colorful Italian tile, laurel leaf, citrus, and bowls of fresh fruit and vegetables. You can even add LED lights to old wine bottles to set a romantic table. A table runner or wreath of laurel leaf, glass jars of fresh citrus, and baskets of in-season grapes or artichokes won’t break the bank, will smell amazing, and add some authenticity to your meal.
Set the Table – Food and Drink for Your Italian Theme
Your Italy staycation itinerary has to include at least one amazing meal. Part of the fun of any vacation is eating food from the culture you’re visiting. You can eat out, shop local markets, or do one of my favorite things – take a cooking class with a local.
Italy is diverse in its dining experiences and a cooking class will be different in each region. Feeling like a fun staycation with Lombardy or Tuscany in mind? Let Norman help you make risotto.
Want a taste of the quintessential meal in Rome? Click the video below where Norman shows you an easy pasta carbonara the whole family can help make.
Add an Italian-themed cocktail to your table. Have kids or need something alcohol-free? Try this fun Blackberry Italian soda recipe. You’ll love this kid-friendly site because it allows you to customize your recipe recommendations based on food allergies.
Making drinks for the adults in your tribe? The northern region is famous for the Italian Spritz. Taking your family to Venice for this staycation? Make a Puccini.
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Prefer to have your drink taste more like dessert? Make a Sgroppino al Limone ahead of time. Plan for the kids to have scoops of fresh and zingy lemon sorbet for dessert. For the adults mix two cups of lemon sorbet with 1 cup of Prosecco, 2 oz of vodka, and freeze for two hours. After dinner scoop the yumminess into highball glasses and garnish with mint.
Foreign Language Lessons
Make your staycation all the more real by learning a bit of Italian. Practice these few key phrases and then you’ll be ready to use them when it comes time to actually travel to your destination of choice. Practicing another language with your tweens and teens actually helps boost their listening skills and concentration. So my parenting friend this is a win-win!
Ciao ….. hello/goodbye
Buon giorno ….. good morning/day
Buona sera ….. good evening
Arrive derci ….. good bye
Grazie ….. thanks
Prego ….. you’re welcome
Setting the Mood with Music
Set the mood for your destination with a playlist that reflects the region. Spotify has an Italian Dinner playlist. Apple Music has Italian Dinner Music or Romantic Rome playlists. Just set up your device to help you immerse your home in the theme.
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Have a Movie Night
There are endless viewing opportunities that can extend your Italian theme out of the kitchen and onto the couch. Interested in a virtual tour of Rome? Catch old Rick Steves’ Europe Rome episodes. Looking for Italy in the movies and need something the whole family will like? 007 Casino Royal or Spectre both have scenes set in Italy. Angels & Demons or Inferno can satisfy the Tom Hanks lovers in your tribe (and seriously, does anyone NOT like him?). Under the Tuscan Sun touches the romantic in us all. Need something for the littles in your tribe? Spies in Disguise shows up in an animated Venice. Want to connect Italy to home? Try the classic Big Night.
Some of our recommendations may not be appropriate for everyone. 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
As I’ve mentioned before, the planning process is one of my favorite things about travel. All of the possibilities unfold with each page of a travel book, guide, or episode. So make sure a part of your staycation includes time for you to think about your future trip. Travel guides such as Rick Steves’ Italy or Rough Guide to Italy are our go-to picks. A new show Norman and I are getting inspiration from is CNN’s Stanley Tucci’s Searching for Italy. If you didn’t get enough of Tucci from the movie Big Night then you’ll have to check out this series.
You can also dive into our meaty posts on how to enjoy a full day in Florence. Or enjoy Rome with our detailed 3-Days in Rome Itinerary.
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 video for Norman’s cooking clips and it can be a bonding opportunity for sure. His confidence is building with each video and our youngest has begun helping dad with production ideas! Think about the potential of introducing these skills to your kiddos so they can document your great staycation (as well as your future Italy vacation) right along with you.
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Check Out Other Posts
Looking for other themed staycation ideas? Our post on 7 Steps to the Ultimate Mexico Themed Staycation is a fun take on this staycation theme.
Ready for help with your planning for an International Trip? Our post on what you need to know for your first international trip is just for you.