Sticking around for February Break? Here are 15 Staycation Ideas for you.

 

No Caribbean beach vacation in your future? Me neither. No worries, because the seacoast has plenty of fun stuff right here! Check out our top 15 picks for fun staycation activities!

#1 Redecorate the kids bedrooms
As a kid, I used to LOVE to rearrange my bedroom furniture. Waking up to a different perspective was so fun. Need a change of scenery? Hit up the dollar store and buy those no-damage wall adhesives—so easy to take off and on!

#2 Take a ride the Coast Trolley
Hop on that cute trolley and tour around Portsmouth or get off somewhere and stop for lunch! Regional routes are only $1.50 per person. See here for stops and route schedules.

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#3 Ride the Rails
Similar to the trolley, you can hop on the Amtrak Downeaster in Dover,  Durham or Exeter. Head north, the train makes stops in Wells, Saco, OOB, Portland and beyond. Heading south, you can go to Beantown. Choose a destination or just bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the scenery. Prices run anywhere from $6 – $27 round trip.

#4 UNH Sporting Event
College games are a great way to attend an athletic event without going completely broke. There’s plenty of excitement, snacks and foam fingers here! See here for upcoming games, schedules and ticket info.

#5 Swim Time
The Works Fitness Center in Somersworth has an awesome indoor pool with a giant slide– tons of fun for the kids. You can buy a guest pass for the day ($19 for ages 14+; $15 for ages 3-13, Free for newborn-age 2).

#6 Family Snowshoe
The seacoast has a lot of great outdoor trails perfect for snowshoeing! Don’t have your own? Did you know EMS in Portsmouth rents them? See here for a listing of outdoor trails to visit.

#7 Geocaching
Looking for some more outdoor family fun? Try geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing), a scavenger hunt with a high-tech twist. All you need is a smart phone and a sense of adventure. It’s FREE. See our article on Geocaching or get started right away by visiting Geocaching.com and see how many “caches” are in your area, ready to be discovered!

#8 One word: Fondue
Get a pot, melt some chocolate or cheese (preferably both, but not together), cut up a bunch of yummy dipping food and boom. The most fun and delicious breakfast/lunch/snack/dinner ever.

 #9 Host a Potluck
Everyone brings a dish, the kids get to hang out with their friends and the adults can relax. It breaks up the week nicely and doesn’t cost a lot. Done and done.

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#10 Ice Castles
This year, the Hobo Railroad in N. Woodstock is host to the popular Ice Castles! The website says it best: “Ice Castles are a magical collision of ice caves, frozen waterfalls and glaciers, formed into towering archways, caverns and tunnels. Guests can explore this glacial wonderland by day or by night when lights embedded deep within the ice change to the rhythm of inspiring music.” Definitely worth the trip. See here for hours of operation and costs.

#11 Legoland
Have you been to Legoland in Boston yet? Massachusetts vacation is not the same as ours so it won’t be nuts during NH school vacation week. See here for hours and tickets.

#12 Energy Burn
About mid-week, those kids will be bouncing off the walls if they haven’t had an opportunity to expend some energy. Check out our Gyms & Sports Activities directory for info on indoor rock climbing, bounce houses, trampoline parks, skate centers and more!

#13 Movies in Style
These cinemapub places should be paying me for how often I’m stumping for them, but they’re not. Which is fine, because I love them so much. Huge seats, ordering off a menu, waitress service and whatever else you desire. It’s the only way to do a movie. Check out Chunky’s in Nashua/Pelham, Smitty’s in Sanford ME.

#14 Date Night (with the kids)
Kids really enjoy, and need, one-on-one time with each of their parents. Plan a special night with your son or daughter where just the two of you can really focus on each other. Looking for ideas? We have a bunch of really fun outings in our “7 Great Date Night Ideas — For you and the Kids” article. These are memories that will stay with your kids forever.

snow_fort_winter_OWN-250#15 Get Creative!
Remember, the key to an inexpensive and fun staycation is to get creative. Maybe making a Shepard’s Pie sounds boring, but not when you don a bunch of silly St. Patrick’s Day garb (now conveniently available at local dollar stores), Pandora some Irish jigs and talk with a brogue all night (you can even YouTube tips on perfecting your accent). You may feel ridiculous, but I promise you, the kids will love it.

Need more ideas, check out other February vacation ideas:

 

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