Ultimate Summer Staycation Bucket List for Your 30s
- FancifulRoamer
- Jun 21
- 7 min read
Summer is the season for travel. It's the perfect time to head to the beach, hike a mountain, or savor gelato in an old Mediterranean town.
But who wants to spend all their savings to spend a week in a hot, crowded, over-hyped location that social media romanticised?
Some vacations are better spent getting creative close to home, without the hassle and stress of travel. Stop stressing about being attacked by tourist protestors in Spain or wondering if your phone will make it back home with you.
Embrace adventure in your own comfort zone with my ultimate summer staycation bucket list that you need this summer.
Explore Local Nature Trails
Being connected to nature is a basic need of humans. For many, traveling involves amazing views. From white sand beaches to orange trees lining cobblestone streets, to hikes through fresh pine trees, we can find joy in what others take for granted.
Time to look at a map. Surely there's a lake or hike in close proximity. Pack a snack and water, and go explore. Sitting under a tree and listening to birds, breathing fresh air, walking around a park, they all refresh our minds and improve our mood.
We tend to explore our own backyard the least. It's surprising to find so many new and interesting things so close. Because we're used to the notion that traveling must be far away.
Imagine you have a friend coming to visit your hometown. What cool things would you show them? A Google search could help, too. Just by planning a visit from a friend, you could stumble across things you never thought about.
Visit a Local Farmers Market
The easiest way to dive into a local culture is through food. And farmer's markets are the base of a community. This is where you fill up on locally grown vegetables, in-season fruits, and baked goods. You may even discover things that you didn't know grow locally, or an amazing kombucha.
Farmer's markets are a great way for the community to come together and share in local, sustainable foods and crafts.
If your community does not have a farmer's market, maybe it's time to help organize one. Small businesses, your neighbor who likes to bake, the friend who grows herbs, get them all together for a wonderful time.
Plan a Themed Picnic
Most cities have a picnic table area, and even better if you can find one in nature. I love being near a body of water, and picnic food makes it perfect.
Prepare your favorite sandwiches, cut up some fruit, pick up a treat from the bakery, and done!
Or go the extra mile and pick a theme!
For a Mediterranean vibe, add dips like hummus and tzatziki. Skewer the fruit and add fun mocktails.
Eating Turkish style is easy, just place your cold cuts, dips, and cut-up veggies on individual plates and pair with mint tea or coffee. Bring a nice blanket and a bunch of pillows to lie on, comfort is a must.
A Victorian-style picnic would call for tiny sandwiches, lemonade, and cake. Bring blankets and utensils in light colors, and use cloth napkins.
Spend your time playing cards, badminton, or any fun outdoor activity.
Discover Hidden Local Gems
Challenge yourself to find a new spot each week. A tiny museum, a cozy bookstore, and a cuisine you have never tried, all can be a great part of the staycation experience. When you visit a new country, the trend is to do what everyone else is doing. But the real challenge is to find a cool spot that few know about. You can even set up a tour of your city, then treat your friends to a curated experience.
For example, my visit to Belem in Lisbon, to try the famous original Pastels de Nata. The bakery is beyond overworked and crowded. You are hurried to a table, where you order and quickly receive half-baked, oily pastries. The demand and greed ruined the quality.
I found way better pastries in Lisbon, in small bakeries. So, the goal is to find great products in your area, support local, and enjoy something that you may not have thought to try.
Organize a Road Trip
A travel adventure does not have to involve a flight or intense planning. The best times are built in great company.
Of course, anything is made better with food and music. Pick up your favorite travel snack and set up a playlist. Pick up a game you can play in the car or on the train. The journey should be exciting too.
Choose something 1-2 hours away and plan your itinerary. Include a nature spot, a cultural sight, a cafe, and a boutique shop. When picking restaurants, pick one with food that you've never tried. It doesn't have to be an extreme choice, like steak tartar. Find something that still sounds appealing to you, maybe even chicken cooked in a way you've never had.
Attend Local Events or Festivals
Summer is a great time for outdoor festivals and events. Check out the events calendar in your area. Attend a theatre show or an outdoor concert. It's a great way to meet new people and shake off the work stress.
Festivals are a great way to showcase the local culture or even adopt a new tradition. For example, Newfoundland holds a Blueberry festival every year in August. You can partake in blueberry crumble, local crafts, and listen to local bands.
Many cities hold an Oktoberfest, just because it's fun. They provide music, cold beers, and good food.
My favorites are the harvest-themed events, where you find traditional food and local products. I can stock up on jam and honey, pickles, and other good stuff, all while eating the best of the yearly harvest.
Spa Retreat
Not going on vacation doesn't mean you can't get pampered. Find a hotel near you that offers a day pass for their spa. It's better to do this on a weekday, so it's not too crowded.
You could also find a massage therapist who works from home. There's always someone you know who knows a person who does home calls for massages, nails, or facials. You can make a day out of it, pampering yourself with a nice bath, delicious take-out, and then a massage.
A budget option is to do everything yourself. There are great options nowadays for massage pillows, which work great on the knots in your back. Make yourself a healthy meal and some cucumber water for extra health. You can also do a store-bought or homemade scrub, followed by a hydrating mask.
Food Tour
I prefer to make up my own food tours even on vacation. This is how I do it:
Starting from the home base, I look up restaurants and cafes within 30 minutes of walking. I look at the food photos, comments, and ratings. I go with ratings above 4 stars on Google Maps.
Depending on the time of day, I go with a sweet pastry and a sandwich, each in a different place. Or lunch and dessert, again in different venues. It could also be a lunch made of 2 snacks in 2 separate places.
The idea is to gather bites from all over. This makes a great staycation day, as eating and walking around are the main travel activities.
You cannot eat continuously, so I like to have a break. I prefer nice walk in the park, or browsing shops. Then, continuing the food route with the next meal, and again pick a separate dessert place like an ice cream shop.
You can even create a themed tour. For example, the best burger in your town.
Host a Themed Event
I came across Ryan Nordheimer on social media, and I love what he does. Each month, he dedicates a day to hosting a cafe in his small New York apartment. So himself and his friends cook or bake something, and then they all share and enjoy.
This is something great to do during your summer staycation, you get to enjoy great food and time with friends without packing a bag and buying a ticket.
Pick a theme for each time, like Italian pastries, fruit desserts, falafels, hot pot, the list is endless.
You could also rotate the host, and each host can teach the others to make something. Just like taking a cooking course while in a different country. You can still learn and have fun without leaving your comfort zone.
Get Creative with Summer Crafts
Summer downtime is a great time to get creative. The heat winds us down, so why not make time for crafts?
I love paint and wine events; you don't need to be a painter to produce an amazing piece. There are even step-by-step tutorials online now, so it's easy and accessible.
You can choose an international theme, too. Pick a French wine, get cozy, and paint a cup of coffee or a lavender field.
Another fun idea is to make birthday decorations. It's a constructive activity because you'll be using these decorations for years to come, and reducing the amount of plastic you buy.
There are many video tutorials on how to do paper decorations. And because you're not pressed for a party deadline, you can relax while doing it. Customize the colors and patterns to whichever themes you like. It's perfect for niche themes that you hardly find anything for.
You'll get your creativity flowing and make useful decorations that will make the party unique. And others will appreciate the care you put into it.
Book a Hotel
You don't have to be on vacation in the Mediterranean to book a night or two at a cute hotel. A summer staycation is about doing unusual things.
Get a little pampered with a hotel stay and a nice breakfast that someone else takes care of. Enjoy time and reconnect with your spouse.
It's also a fun way to change perspective. You see a different part of your town (or the next town over), maybe come across a cool spot you never saw before.
Elevate your night with a spa treatment. Or just order food and watch a movie in bed. Once you break free from the social media expectations, you can enjoy your time however you like.
You don't have to do something unique or impressive to enjoy your time. Take pleasure in slow days, special treats, and take care of yourself.
Virtual Tour
If you feel guilty for endlessly scrolling on your phone, here's something constructive you can do. Access a museum or a fine art collection and endlessly scroll through their virtual collections.
I made 2 guides for museums you can access online, for free. One is for North American museums, and one is for European museums. So even when you're on a laid-back summer staycation, you can immerse yourself in a cultural experience.
You can tour museums like you tour your dream house. Artworks are organised in categories for easy access. You could spend days looking up your favorite artists or learning about what the pieces actually mean.
You don't need to travel far to enjoy summer adventures. By creating a bucket list tailored to your local area, you can unlock amazing experiences right where you are. The options are limitless.
Make it a season of joy, exploration, and lasting memories—your ultimate summer adventure starts now!
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