Fun Ideas for a Staycation at Home

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January 9, 2021 by administrator Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media, Travel Leave a Comment

Looking for some fun ideas for a staycation at home? Grab this free printable pack to make it FEEL like your family is on a real vacation! Play tourist in your own town with these stay at home vacation ideas including a bucket list, menu planner, printable postcards, room keys, room numbers & more.

Fun Ideas for a Staycation at Home

If your kids are getting antsy about being at home so much, we have a great boredom busters printable pack for you. These activities are guaranteed to help cure the boredom your family faces from being at home. They also create a vacation within the home.

Putting together a staycation for your family is a great way to have fun without actually packing up and leaving. It can be the perfect alternative for families that are used to traveling often. You can extend over a weekend or lengthen your stay and lay tourist in your town for an entire week.

Enjoy bringing the fun of seeing the sights into your own region by printing out this staycation pack!

This Staycation Printable Pack includes lots of ideas for a staycation so you don’t have to come up with all the planning on your own.

Inside this pack, you will get:

staycation cover page
2 postcards
hotel room keys
hotel room numbers
2 do not disturb door hangers
staycation itinerary
staycation menu
family bucket list of ideas

Basically everything you need to transform your own home into a fun little “stay-away”! Assign your kids and your self responsibilities like receptionist, chef, room cleaners, travel agency and so much more. You can rotate job assignments at the stay at home trip continues.

Use the hotel numbers and keys to convert your kids bedrooms into guest rooms. They can share a room if possible. The do not disturb door hangers can go up at night so everyone gets the rest they need.

Create an exciting menu mixed with your usual meals and some new ones that your family could try if they were really on vacation. The entire staycation can have a theme that the new dishes would fit into.

Pepperoni Pizza Twists
Have a Taco Tuesday
Grilled Cheese Night (bring the tater tots too!)

Or play food critic and visit some of your local restaurants and diners to review.

The real fun comes with the itinerary and family bucket list. There are SO many great ideas for a staycation at home on these two pages. Use the bucket list page to come up with the activities you will place on your family’s itinerary.

Stay at Home Family Bucket List Ideas

Movie-a-thon or Movie Night
Backyard Camping
Visit a National Park or Landmark
Board Games Tournament
Spa Day
Have a Scavenger Hunt
Take a trip around the world online

The bucket list includes blank spaces so you can add in your unique experiences for your family to enjoy too.

Visit a Hiking Trail
Head to the Beach
Take local Day Trips
Visit Art Galleries
Rate local Restaurants

… and so much more!

Make sure to send a postcard to family or friend, wishing them that they were there! This set includes two styles of postcard and of course you can print out photos from your own local tourist spots on the internet.

Download Your Staycation Pack

Want to bring this stay at home tourist printable back to your home? Pick up the Staycation Printable Pack in the Frugal Coupon Living store.

Staycation Printable Pack & Instant Download

Included with purchase:

stay at home vacation cover page
2 staycation postcards
hotel room keys
hotel room numbers
2 do not disturb door hangers
staycation itinerary
staycation menu
family bucket list of ideas

Print all items to multiply for as many as you need.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final Staycation Ideas and Staycation Printable Pack. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest! We would love to see and hear how you played tourist in your own city.

Wait! We have so much more. If you need more staycation ideas, check out our Spring Break Staycation post! Can be done any time of the year including summer vacation, winter break and more. Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Enjoy these NO BUMMER SUMMER BOREDOM BUSTERS FOR KIDS.

Also access our Free Frugal Coupon Living Printables to help you find joy through embracing the chaos of motherhood more easily!

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Disney World Bucket List

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December 19, 2020 by administrator Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Facebook, Instagram, Kids, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media, Travel Leave a Comment

Print this Disney World Bucket List out now, as you begin thinking about visiting The Most Magical Place on Earth! Trust me, you’ll want to make sure you do everything on this ultimate list of Disney experiences – so include it in your planning!

Disney World is probably at the top of most families’ “Must Visit” list, especially if they have small children. It’s one of the most visited vacation spots in the world each year, and it’s obvious why. Where else can you find so many characters from your childhood, so many delicious foods and treats, and so many fun rides and shows all in one place?!

There is so much to do in Disney World, you can spend an entire week there and still not see and do everything. That’s why we’ve created a list of the things you don’t want to miss on your visit. This “Bucket List” will make your vacation fun too, I’m sure, since it’s like a scavenger hunt to mark off everything on the list!

Disney World Bucket List Printable for Families

Isn’t it cute?! Just reading over the list makes me want to book a trip to Orlando right away!

I mention this bucket list is for families, but ANYONE can print it and check off the boxes.

Couples. Friends. Solo travelers. Basically, anyone planning a Disney World vacation can benefit from this list.

And it’s better to print this bucket list for Disney World as you begin planning your trip, rather than waiting until you leave. That way, you can be strategic about the 20 items on the list to ensure you get them done while on vacation.

What’s Included in this Bucket List?

Here’s the 20 items you’ll be doing as you complete this bucket list:

Meet Mickey Mouse – because who wouldn’t do this before they left his home?
Take a picture in front of Cinderella’s Castle
Take a silly “on the ride” photo – there are plenty of fun rides for this!
Buy pins for a lanyard
Find 20 Hidden Mickey shapes – No one knows the exact number there are, but it’s been reported there are 1,000 Hidden Mickeys in WDW!
Dine at Be Our Guest and try the “grey stuff”
Eat a Dole Whip from Aloha Isle – Trust me, you’ll want to try one!
Watch a Parade
Buy a Christmas ornament from Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe
Pick up the old fashioned phone in The Chapeau Hat Shop
Get embroidered Mickey ears
Get 10 autographs from characters – Don’t forget a souvenir autograph book!
Spin really fast on the Mad Hatter Tea Cups
Give Ariel a dinglehopper
Ride the carousel
Take a photo with Mickey-shaped balloons – And maybe buy a few??
Watch the Dapper Dans
Get Pixie Dusted at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
Watch the fireworks
See the kiss goodnight at Cinderella’s Castle

Disney Bucket Checklist Set

Disney Family Bucket List Printable

We are offering this bucket list in two different colors, one for girls and one for boys. Print one or both, your choice. The red and yellow option is a bit gender-neutral, but we wanted to make one fit for Disney princess too!

Download our Disney Bucket List printable set. This set includes two styles (a yellow and red pattern and a pink and purple pattern.)

While you are in Disney World mode, be sure to check out our other Disney Printables too! Pin to Pinterest.

We also have The Best Copycat Disney Recipes if you aren’t able to take a trip to Disney World for your favorites just yet! Pin to Pinterest.

Take a look at these Seasonal Bucket Lists for Every Occasion. Pin to Pinterest.

Kid’s Camping Journal Printable

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July 14, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media, Summer, Travel 3 Comments

Create a memorable outdoor adventure with this Kid’s Camping Journal Printable. Using guided prompts have your child share favorite events, who they traveled with, memories and more. Continue the tradition each year and add to your camping printable as a kid’s camping logbook.

Kid’s Camping Journal

Many of us have taken our kids camping and it was a great experience. However, there is a way to take your camping adventures a step further. If you’d like to get your kids even MORE involved in the camping experience, then it’s time to check out a camping journal. I want to walk you through how to utilize a kid’s camping journal and how it can be a great asset to learning.

Camper’s Profile

I love the idea of a camping journal because kids camp more than once in their lifetime. Each time you take your child camping, they can have a new profile. It’s so fun to look back on the camper’s profile and see what age, grade, location, etc, for each camping trip. Putting together the camper’s profile is one of the best parts for kids and creates a memory page you can keep forever!

Camping Education

When we do something with our kids, we strive to make it a little educational. I have found that this camping journal for kids is an excellent way to teach them about camping and where it all started. Everything we do didn’t just happen, there is always a story behind it and a camping journal is a great way to track that history!

Camping Education Answers:

What is Camping? Camping is a _____ activity. It is usually done _____ for _____ . (These can all be personalized to your child.)

Who is Thomas Hiram Holding?Thomas Hiram Holding is the founder of modern recreational camping. He made the first camping handbook in the world.

Camping Buddies

Whether your child is going off to camp with a recreational group or you are taking them camping, they always meet someone new. It’s always a lot of fun to get their information, so that you can keep in touch. There is space in this camping journal for kids to be able to keep track of their camping buddies and even get in touch with them when they get home and get settled. Perhaps a future pen pal!

Camping Lessons

You can’t live if you don’t learn. While camping, your child is bound to learn a lot from camping. This camping diary will allow your child to keep track of what they have learned from camping. It’s fun to use this journal as a memoir as well. Your child can hold onto these journals and look back to see what they’ve learned through their camping experiences.

Extra Options

I have to say that this camping notebook is an excellent way to add to a kid’s camping experience. Some of the extra options of this camping journal that I really like is that your child can keep track of their favorite memories, draw or paint their favorite scenes, and even add to their camping photo wall. Print every where and you can keep a running journal and watch your child age.

And for you and to create family memories, grab this The Camping Logbook (Camping Journal) to Record Your Adventures.

Use this camping journal to record the details of your camping adventures so you can look back on and share experiences and favorite spots. Use fill-in the blank pages that act as a guided prompt to write in such camping details such as location, date, notable amenities and attractions, who shared the trip, who you met, favorite events, and things to avoid next time.

Camping Games

Do you need a few games to keep you busy while you camp? There are plenty of ways to keep children entertained while outdoors. Keep this camping journal by their sleeping bag at night. You can also find creative ideas in our overnight camping ideas including camping crafts and camping games. We have a large series of Outdoor Games for Night or print our Flashlight Scavenger Hunt for fun memories and family traditions.

You’ll enjoy camping with your child and ensuring they are learning as much as possible while being in nature. Continue this tradition by printing new pages each year and creating a yearly camping logbook for kids!

Download Your Free Printable

Download our free Camping Journal for Kids printable and Camping Games Printable. Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

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By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

How to Print at Staples

I have a video to show you how I print my PDF documents at Staples.

*Note: these Staple print service steps were added in Winter 2020. The directions may change as the website changes. They should give you a general outline of how to upload and order a print on Staples.com.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final camping journal and camp notebook. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

And make sure you download this Hiking Journal and Hiking Trails Bucket List for the Adults too!

Going on an outdoor adventure? Also take a look at our Camping Hacks and Tips. Pin to Pinterest.

Going overnight camping? In our Camping at Night Hacks and Tips post, download these Outdoor Games for Kids to Play at Night! Pin to Pinterest.

Beach Camping Basics & Tips

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July 6, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media, Summer, Travel Leave a Comment

Reinvent your typical camping vacation by taking your tent to the beach! These Beach Camping Basics and Tips will have you ready to embrace the sand and sun at your favorite local beach campsite. Camping at the beach has never been easier or more enjoyable!

Beach Camping Basics & Tips

Nothing feels more relaxing and fun to me than kicking back on a sun-drenched beach while my kids giggle and splash in the water. This could just be the Florida girl in me, but very few things beat beach camping in the summertime. Whether you’re embarking on this adventure for the first time on your own or with your family, preparation is key to making this a worthwhile endeavor for everyone, especially you. Keep these tips for camping on the beach handy for your next excursion to stay prepared and make some unforgettable summer memories.

Can you camp on the beach?

In short, it totally depends on the beach! Make sure you research the rules and regulations pertaining to camping on the beach at your desired shore. Doing your research ahead of time will give you peace of mind knowing that you well-prepared for an unforgettable beach vacation.

Know Your Destination Area

Whether you’re camping directly on a beach or at a nearby campsite, it’s important to know the area you’re going to. Will there be a source of water available? What about electricity and showers/bathrooms? If it’s a bare campsite, that means you’ll need to bring everything you need and be prepared to haul it back out again.

Regardless of the facilities and amenities provided, you’ll need to plan accordingly for how long you’re going to stay. There are plenty of camping hacks out there to help you improvise for what you need as well. Grab a map of your campground and see if you can get there by car or you’ll need to walk a ways. That will affect what you decide to bring with you!

Make a List

There’s no worse feeling than arriving at your camping spot, boogie board in hand and poised to dive in, and realizing that you forgot diapers or deodorant. While that might be a unique tactic for claiming more sleeping space, forgetting necessary items will most assuredly add unwanted stress to your getaway vacation.

It might be the natural organizer in me, but I feel more confident that I have all the essentials when I have a checklist in front of me. Try this free beach packing list to make sure you remember everything for your beach camping trip.

Plan Your Meals Ahead

While carving a fishing spear out of a tree branch in order to “live off the land” may seem quite rugged and exciting, that excitement will quickly wane after your three-year-old’s piercing screams for animal crackers. Unfortunately, you can’t hunt and gather those in the wild.

It’s important to have meals planned BEFORE you arrive at your campsite. Make sure the meals are low-prep and can easily be prepared over a campfire. There are some delicious foil packet meals out there that my family has tried and loved. Also, speaking from experience, aluminum foil is the quintessential camping meal prep item that every beach camper should have in their arsenal.

Snacks are a must. After all, the sun can quickly take you from full to famished. One recipe we always make for the beach is our beach snack mix! Double or even triple your recipe for hungry bellies.

Have the Right Equipment for Camping at the Beach

Having the right camping equipment can make or break your beach camping experience. You’ll want to invest in gear that’s appropriate for the place and time of year you’re making your trip. This doesn’t mean that you’ll have to take out a second mortgage on your home, though. Ask your friends if you can borrow their tents/gear first, and there is nothing wrong with gently used camping tents and equipment either.

Regardless of how you get your hands on a tent, you’ll want to ensure it has the following qualities:

Well-ventilated
Easy set-up and breakdown
Lightweight
UPF 50+ Protection (Recommended)

You’ll also want to make sure that you have good ground cover to prepare for any type of weather. If it’s hot, there’s a virtual certainty of sand fleas and ticks. No one wants to worry about sharing their sleeping quarters with sand fleas. No one.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

The type of beach you’re camping at (sandy or rocky) will determine what clothing you’ll want to throw in your suitcase, but for the most part, you’ll want items that are:

Lightweight and moisture-wicking
A nice hat that shades you from the sun
Mosquito netting
Water shoes (if beach is sandy)
Water-resistant sneakers (if beach is rocky)

Have Activities Planned

While it is fun to be spur of the minute, consider planning ahead some of the things you might want to do on your trip. Get organized by downloading these Beach Games or Camping Games. Both can be played when beach camping and include game directions and a supply list (so you have your camping packing list ready before going!)

All in all, the key to a fun, memorable beach camping experience is preparation, organization, and a healthy thirst for adventure. Follow these Beach Camping Basics and you’ll be a pro in no time. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s go to the beach!

Don’t forget our Camping Hacks and Tips. Pin to Pinterest.

Also take a look at our Overnight Camping Tips. Pin to Pinterest.

Road Trip Scavenger Hunt

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July 3, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media, Travel 3 Comments

Erase cries of “I’m bored” with a list of Kid’s Road Trip Games for the Car. You can download this free printable Road Trip Scavenger Hunt to keep the kids busy until you reach your final destination. Honk if this makes you happy!

Road Trip Scavenger Hunt

Keeping the kids busy in the car is a lot easier than when we were growing up, no? Between game systems, tablets, e-readers, audio books and movies, it’s easier to get fewer and fewer complaints of “I’m bored!” Of course, when it is uttered, we all have a long story of “Let me tell you what it means to be bored. When I was growing up….”

While your kids might have plenty of resources for staying distracted in the car, we wanted to provide you with some newer ideas to keep their minds fresh, to keep family engaged, and to just go back to some of the original “old school” resources of a paper and pencil.

Road Trip Games for the Car

Before embarking on a road trip (Or any travel for that matter), I try to pick up at least one or two new items. This often includes road trip games. Having something that is new 1.) buys time learning the game 2.) kills time enjoying the game 3.) and often gets reused because it was … well, enjoyable.

Take a look at these Road Trip Games for Kids.

Scavenger Hunt Games

More Road Trip Games

How to Play Road Trip Scavenger Hunt

We created a collection of Printable Scavenger Hunts for Kids, but one thing that was missing was a Road Trip Scavenger Hunt. Take a look at this printable game as well as Road Trip Games in the car for the kids.

Our road trip scavenger hunt is general enough, it can be played on most any adventure. You can make the game your own identifying your family’s rules and directions or follow these directions for how to a play road trip scavenger hunt.

Directions

Each player gets their own printable game board. Set the game for a certain amount of time (30 minutes, one hour, the entire trip.) As you travel down the road, check off items you see on your journey. You must identify the object out loud before checking it off. Once that object has been identified by the first player, the same object cannot be used to check off another players box. They will need to find that same object in another place. For example, if player A finds a deer they announce “deer” and check it off on their scavenger hunt printable. All other players must wait to find another deer before they can check it off. The first person to check off all their scavenger hunt boxes wins or the person with the most checks at the end of the time limit, is the winner.

Road Trip Scavenger Hunt List

Camper/RV
Motorcycle
Person on their phone
Red Truck
Park with a playground
Cow
Flag
Ambulance
Yellow flower
Water tower
Dog in a car
Bumper sticker with a name on it
VW Beetle
Church steeple
Airplane
Bench
City bus
Squirrel
Caution sign
Duct-taped car part
Flowering tree
Bicycle
Rusty car
Taxi cab
Person wearing sunglasses
Tractor
Billboard with children on it
Gas station
Sleeping passenger in a vehicle
River
Population sign
Fire Truck
Hospital sign
Smart Car
Deer
Toll booth
Personalized license plate
The letter “Q”
Hotel
A picture of a chicken
Detour sign
Flashing lights
Horse
Police car
Tow truck
Windmill
Military vehicle
Stick figure family stickers
Helicopter
Field
Adopt-A-Highway sign
Someone eating in a vehicle
Purple car
Barn
Statue
Train
Duck
Lake

If you have a toddler, also take a look at our Road Trip Bingo. Perfect companion to our Scavenger Hunt Road Trip game for the older kids.

Road Trip Printable Scavenger Hunt

Get all of our free printables including our Road Trip Printable Scavenger Hunt. Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

Games You Can Play in the Car

Want more? Also take a look at these Car Games for Kids. 12 Road Trip Games for Kids using little to resources. This set of seven printable games with the Road Trip Scavenger Hunt, Family Conversation Starts and 12 Games for the Car including instructions. It is a must for any sized road trip with the kids.

The Best Car Games for Kids Printable PDF

By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

How to Print with Staples

I have a video to show you how I print my PDF documents at Staples. You will first, sign in or create a Staples account. Then return to the Staples Printing Service Page. You can ship this to your home or pick up at the store.

How to Preserve Your Road Trip Printable

I suggest you laminate your printable. This will allow you to check the boxes with a dry erase marker and then wipe off with a wet paper towel to reuse. It also will keep the printable in the car sturdy and keep it form getting dirty or wrinkled.

I have had my Scotch Thermal Laminator for 12 years and it still is going strong. I suggest this brand though there are many other great laminators on Amazon.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final Road Trip Scavenger Hunt. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

Enjoy these Road Trip Hacks and Tips for Kids. Pin to Pinterest.

Planes too? If you are embarking on an adventure of planes, trains and automobiles, take a look at these Airplane Activities for Kids. Pin to Pinterest.

Overnight Camping at Night Hacks

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May 31, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Frugal Living, Hacks, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media, Summer, Travel 5 Comments

Ready for the great outdoors? These Overnight Camping Hacks and Tips will keep you and the kids busy while you enjoy your camping trip! Save these creative camping activities, campfire games, and recipes to complete your list of things to do while camping at night!

Camping at Night Hacks, Activities, and More

Camping is such an adventure, and there’s nothing like camping at night to give you the full immersive experience of the great outdoors! The trouble comes when you’re trying to find a way to keep the kids occupied while spending the night at the campsite. These Camping at Night Hacks and Tips has all of the fun stuff to keep everyone busy while serving up some wisdom that will make camping easier. Keep an eye out for our list of Things To Do While Camping at Night – games, activities and traditions to start with the family on your next camp trip! These camping hacks and camping activities will be a winner among kids and adults alike!

What should you not forget when camping?

Even if you’re only camping for one night, there are a few key supplies that everyone needs when going overnight camping!

Tent and tent stakes
Sleeping bags
Pillows
Flashlights, headlamps, and/or a lantern
Water and water bottles
Camp-friendly food
Fire starter

What is the most comfortable way to sleep in a tent?

Simply having a sleeping bag will still feel like you’re sleeping on hard ground. If you’re looking for a more comfortable way to camp overnight, we recommend bringing a sleeping pad or cot of some sort to make your temporary bed a little cushier. These aren’t necessary, so don’t stress if you forget to take them along!

Before your camping vacation, take a look at these camping ideas including…

Camping Hacks and Tips (our original post, filled with camping tips and goodness!)
Easy Camping Recipes
Foil Packet Meals including our Campfire Hot Dogs and Cinnamon Rolls Baked in Oranges
Camping Packing List
RV Packing List

For a kids overnight or sleepaway camp, take a look at Summer Camp Hacks and Tips. For a girls weekend, enjoy these Glamping Ideas.

Overnight Camping Hacks

We took some of our beloved Camping Hacks and Tips and stepped it up with new Overnight Camping Tips and Ideas.

Keep your personal sleeping space clean. Your tent should be clean so you can get the best sleep possible, even when you’re camping! This shoe basket camping hack keeps all shoes out of the tent and the sleeping area free of mud and dirt. | Sunny Simple Life

Hitting the road in an RV? Save this RV Packing List from Frugal Coupon Living. This camping checklist resource will help you get organized before taking off.

Busy the kids with their very own Camping Journal and Logbook from Frugal Coupon Living. They can add to it each year and look back on all their memories!

Want to take a hike while camping? If you are looking for the best places to hike in the U.S., download our hiking trail bucket list and hiking journal too!

Prevent cool air from escaping the top of the cooler with a DIY cooler cover. Recycle an old foam sleeping pad or yoga mat and cut the foam mat the exact dimension of the cooler interior. This is a great hack for camping at night to keep your breakfast ingredients chilled! | Cabela’s

Bring solar lights to illuminate your campsite when you’re camping at night. Stake them around the campsite (especially near your tent stakes to prevent tripping) or mount in an inverted Terra Cotta pot. | Starling Travel

Don’t just bring water — freeze your water jugs before you go! Use them as your drinking water as they melt. This way you’ll have cold water all night (and morning) long. You can also illuminate water jugs with a head lamp with this creative Camping at Night Hack. | Instructables

This camping hack is a must for everyone. Prevent yourself and your family from tripping over tent stakes by marking them off with bright pool noodles. Can’t miss them! | Source

No pool noodles? Check out these LED light up ten stakes to prevent tripping over stakes in the night.

Safety first with this unique camping hack. Keep sharp knives safely tucked away in pieces of pool noodles. | Kid Friendly Things to Do

Taking an extended camping trip or staying near water? Start stockpiling your bread tags for this next camping at night hack. They make great clothespins for drying clothes or other items. | REI

I highly recommend water shoes when camping. However, it can be inevitable a pair of cloth sneakers gets soaked. Have extra newspapers. Pack some newspapers to line a table, help start a fire or speed up the drying process overnight. | According to Elle

This camping food hack is the best. Make your own on-the-go-traveling pantry. You’ll get easy access to all the essentials and can close the door to keep out critters at night! | Mountain Campingz

When it’s time for bed, turn a pool float into a mattress and cover with a sleeping bag, blanket and/or sheets. It’s like your own air mattress, but you don’t have to pack or pay for one! | Meg for It

Things To Do While Camping at Night

Get creative with these fun nighttime camping activities that go beyond the standard board game and ghost story.

You can partially prepare this camping arts and crafts idea at home. Write your kid’s name on white paper with Sharpie. Once you go camping, collect nature (leaves, sticks, twigs, etc) to create this adorable art, a nature name activity. | Mrs. Jones Creation Station

Pick up some glow in the dark paint and paint your walking sticks! It will help you see while you’re moving around at night. You can use a glow in the dark paint, glow in the dark spray or even glow in the dark tape. | Creek Line House

During the day, talk about constellations. Teach your kids about what a constellation is — a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that is traditionally named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological figure. While it is light outside, make this camp craft, a Stellar Constellation Viewer for Kids. At night, stargaze around the campfire and talk about the constellations on your viewer that you also see in the night sky.

Everyone loves a classic s’more recipe. Once the sun goes down, put a twist on your average camping dessert with our Campfire Cones! Maybe less messy, definitely more fun!

Want to try something different? Make colored fire. How cool is this? Packages of colored fire crystals or pine cones are sold at most camping supply stores or online on Amazon. If you want to make your own, you can check out these DIY colored fire ingredients.

Don’t forget about telling stories around the campfire! Use a flashlight and your tent to make a shadow puppets show. This How to Make a Shadow Puppet tutorial is very helpful. | Fine Art America

Have camping activities planned for the kids. These are some of the Best Camping Games for Kids and include directions and a supply list. Most of the supplies you will already have on your trip!

13 Best Camping Games PDF

Outdoor Games at Night

Get ready for a strike with this glow in the dark bowling game using glow sticks and 2-liter water bottles. (As seen in our Summer Bucket List.) | Growing a Jeweled Rose

Have you ever heard of flashlight tag? This is one of the most fun camping activities, and it helps the kids get some energy out before it’s time for bed.

Flashlight Tag Directions: Similar to hide and seek. Everyone carries their own flashlight but only the person who is IT has their’s on. Instead of tagging with hands, you tag with light. Once you’ve been tagged, you turn on your flashlight, point it toward the sky and stand still. Another player can free you by crawling in between your legs (or tagging you). Once everyone is frozen IT wins and the game starts.

Before everyone hides, establish a perimeter (area you cannot go past.) This is especially important for campsites or unfamiliar areas.

We have plenty of other night games you can play outdoors! Print our night games for kids. This includes Glow Sardines, Flashlight Tag, Gloweyball, Ghost in the Graveyard, Firefly, Kick the Can in the Dark, and Night Statues.

Speaking of flashlights, don’t forget our free outdoor games printable. Our Flashlight Scavenger Hunt download (see more Scavenger Hunt Ideas.)

To get your free flashlight scavenger hunt printable, subscribe to our emails and look for a link and password in our inbox. The access code allows you to access and download all of our free printables, as well.

What didn’t I think of that?! Camping Hacks and Tips for the great outdoors. Pin to Pinterest.

Enjoy these Camping Recipes for dinner, snacks, breakfast and lunch. Pin to Pinterest.

Gaylord National Christmas on the Potomac – Cyber Monday Savings!

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December 2, 2019 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Christmas, Coupons, Travel Leave a Comment

Gaylord National Christmas on the Potomac – and Gaylord Ice Coupon Code Cyber Monday Savings.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.…” After this weekends visit to the Gaylord National, I really can’t get the song out of my head… I am ready for Christmas!

Christmas on the Potomac

Visiting the Gaylord National was an amazing way to get into the holiday spirit. The resort and convention center were beautifully decorated. This year, the Christmas activities and spirit is magnified with everyone’s favorite green Christmas Character – Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas!

This year was imply amazing. It was the very first year the entire family could participate. I wondered if it would go well, the twins being just shy of 2 years old, but it was great. They seriously had the time of their life and I have never laughed so hard, I cried watching the twins come down the ICE! ice slide! You can imagine how great tears feel in 9 degree temperatures!

You and your family will marvel at more than 2 million holiday lights and acres of magnificent decorations, plus spectacular holiday activities and events that are sure to get you in the spirit of the season and create lasting family memories!

As always, our favorite part of ICE! is this ice slides. The kids enjoy that even their mom gets a spin in this winter wonderland of a playground. This year the sculptures were incredibly bright! Amazing colors that really stood out telling the story of The Grinch movie.

Fascinating details about ICE!

Walk-through holiday attraction, kept at a chilly 9 degrees
Two million pounds of ice sculptures hand-carved by 140 artisans from China.
Colorful ice sculptures depict the story of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas!
The tradition – A stunning crystal clear ice sculpture scene of the Nativity – our favorite!

Dress warmly, but don’t fret. You are given a Blue Parka for your comfort. I personally forgot my winter coat and was fine – though I would suggest not forgetting yours! We wore our ski hats, ski gloves, wool socks, and scarves with our parka. I even had the girls put their ski coat below their parka. This native to Florida girls had to stay warm, 9 degrees is cold!

Back again this year is the 25-minute Cirque Dreams Unwrapped performance in the Gaylord National atrium. This was pretty incredible! All the great things of Cirque with a beautiful Potomac backdrop!

This Christmas, the Garden Atrium at Gaylord National comes alive with Cirque Dreams Unwrapped. Be dazzled with this spellbinding production of Seasons Dreamings combining breathtaking artistry, music and showmanship from around the world. The entire family can enjoy this uniquely inspired 25-minute Christmas fable performed on our atrium stage and in the air with spectacular costumes and soaring imagination. Don’t miss this new intimate entertainment extravaganza that will have everyone on the edge of their seat and feet!

Gaylord National Resort featuring ICE!

2019 Dates are November 15 – December 30.

Christmas Village Activities

Activities for this Gaylord event include…

Ice Skating
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Gingerbread Decoratins
Photos with Santa
Potomac Express Train
Reindeer Rush Tubing

The tubing was pretty amazing and boy do those tubes go fast! The girls really loved it!

Gaylord ICE! Tickets

If you are looking for a Christmas Tradition for your family, be sure to pick up Gaylord ICE! Tickets. Prices vary depending on packages, ages, and dates. Take a look at all the options here.

Cyber Monday Savings – Gaylord Ice Coupon Code

If you are shopping Cyber Monday, take a look at these discounts including 30% off rooms and steep discounts on ICE!

You can try Gaylord Ice Coupon Code CYBER19 though I believe discount price is already reflected.

Coupon code details: 40% off is valid for adult and children tickets for online purchase only. Offer cannot be combined with any other discount or special pricing. Not valid on group or military tickets and subject to change or cancellation with our notice. Limited supply and other restrictions apply

Also consider staying the night. Extend your fun, enjoy rest in the comfort of a hotel bed, and have a tasty breakfast with The Grinch, himself, before you begin your day.

Visit Gaylord National also on Twitter and Instagram. This season be sure to use hashtag #BlueParka and #ChristmasonthePotomac.

Disclosure: I was provided tickets for this event. All opinions are mine and should not be used as your own.

Every Kid in a Park – Free National Park Pass

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November 7, 2019 by Frugal Coupon Mom Filed Under: Travel Leave a Comment

See the national parks for free with your Every Kid in a Park pass! Every year, beginning September 1, all kids in the fourth grade have access to their own Every Kid in a Park pass! This pass provides free access to national parks across the country.

Every Kid in a Park is a federal public lands youth initiative to get all 4th graders and their families to experience the places that are home to our country’s natural treasures, rich history, and vibrant culture.

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