20 Ways to Feel Like a Tourist on Your Holiday Staycation

Literally everyone needs a vacation this year, but most of our budgets don't have the flexibility for a getaway, especially during the expensive holiday season. Instead of taking a trip to a faraway destination, grab your fam and play tourist while staying local. You'll save big bucks and make magical holiday memories with the ones you love.

Hometown holiday parades are a fun way to connect with your city. Every town has its own history and culture, which goes on full display with the colorfully decorated floats and performers marching to cheerful Christmas music. This year, make it a point to take your family to the parade and celebrate with childlike joy as your town heralds in the holiday season!

The holidays are all about shopping for the perfect gift. While actually buying things is great, it can be just as much fun to window shop through town and admire all the gorgeous holiday displays. Check out local shops you might not normally visit, and get to know all the offerings in your own town that aren't a part of a major national chain. You might find a special trinket and develop new relationships that can last all year.

Scavenger hunts are easy, fun ways to get out of the house and see something new. Grab your coats and head outdoors with a list of new places to find on your holiday mission. That way, you'll have the fun of playing a game while also exploring your town like a tourist. You can even make it a challenge by breaking into separate teams! Make sure to include a stop at the local coffee shop for a warm treat!

Set a $50 budget and go crazy shopping at your local dollar store for everything you need to throw a Pinterest-worthy holiday party. Keep it intimate with just the family or invite friends over for a potluck to show off your newly purchased mock-mistletoe and floating candles. Turn your home into another space with a minimal budget and major holiday spirit, making it truly feel like you're on vacation.

Who says you need to leave town to go on a road trip? This holiday staycation, load the kids in the car and cruise your local streets with one destination in mind: the North Pole (just kidding!). Stop at popular streets for live music and hot cocoa, stand on the (hopefully) snow-covered sidewalks to listen to carolers croon and, at nighttime, drive through the most decorated neighborhoods to view the best Christmas light displays in your city.

Instead of spending money to drive or fly out of town this season, use your holiday travel budget to stay close and upgrade your accommodations. Picture being able to relax at an indoor pool and hot tub while it's chilly outside, or ordering room service instead of worrying about cooking. Look for hotels where breakfast is included so you can sleep in and not fret about feeding your littles.

Don't you think Santa needs a break after delivering all of those presents? Since technically you are the head member of #TeamSanta in your household, you're entitled to a nice, long rest during the holiday season. Take the opportunity to catch up on some much-needed Santa-snoozing (like a true tourist) and show how a little extra sleep can bring some much-needed good cheer.

Time to slide on those blades for some ice shredding. Whether you've got Kristi Yamaguchi-style moves or can count on falling more times than you can keep track of, ice skating is a memorable way to keep your family bonded and active during the nippy winter months. Plus, who knows? This might be the year you discover you've given birth to a future ice skating Olympic star!

Bakery hopping is a sweet, sweet way to spend your holiday staycation. Visiting a new shop is not only about tasting the different seasonal desserts, but also about meeting new local business owners ready to welcome you with tidings and share the warm aromas of Christmastime. Try a couple new sweet spots this season to get a freshly baked take on your town.

Traveling is all about learning. So, this staycation, take a break from your day-to-day routine and try learning something new every day. Keep it fun and festive by choosing holiday facts to learn, including how different countries celebrate the New Year or how to say wish good holiday tidings in a new language each day. Educating yourself, especially on other cultures, is an escape that will benefit the minds of you and your family.

It may be a bit too chilly to pitch a tent in the backyard, but your tree is prettier than the outdoors, anyway. Hang paper snowflakes to feel as if you're out in the elements, turn on the lights and snuggle under your warmest blankets. Have s'mores indoors with your family while you go glamping in the toastiness of holiday cheer. (Don't forget the cocoa!)

Carolers are the flame that lights the torch of the holiday spirit and they want to pass the seasonal spark on to you. Fill a thermos with hot chocolate and find a sidewalk with these Christmastime harmonizers, or visit different indoor holiday venues to keep warm while cruising to merry melodies. If you can't find any carolers to listen to, take your family and go caroling yourselves. Holiday magic is what you make of it!

Even if you're not interested in sporting events, they're filled with an energetic spirit you can't find anywhere else during the holiday season. Cheering for your family's favorite team, eating nachos and pretzels and getting a smooch from your honey on the kiss cam are only a few activities you can enjoy without even having to pay attention to the game. Choose between several NBA and NFL games to attend on Christmas Day, or re-create the experience at home after presents are opened by tossing the ball outdoors.

You're tired, we get it. After staying up late to eat Santa's cookies (it's OK, we're not telling) and tiptoeing through the house to place all the gifts around the tree, the last thing you want to do is cook a meal for your family. You have a few options: Let the kids binge on chocolate, take the family out to breakfast at one of the several locations open on Christmas Day, or prep a slow-cooker breakfast the night before so everyone can fill their bellies while you catch some zzz's.

What better way to tour the world from home this holiday season than to visit other countries through food? From Mexican wedding cakes to Swedish rice pudding, sample various traditions through Christmastime treats and dishes from around the globe. Each day of the season can have a new food from a different place in the world, making up a literal buffet of culture for you and your family to learn from this holiday staycation.

Holiday expenses—including gifts, decorations and food—are extreme enough without you adding extra babysitting hours to the list. This season, barter with close friends and family to score cost-free QT time with your honey. Try arranging a kid exchange with friends you know well so you both can get a much-needed free day to go out and explore the town as if you were truly on vacation.

The day before a holiday is often more hectic than the holiday itself. This season, slow down the moments leading into Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year's Day by watching the sun slowly set under the horizon with your family, just like you would if you were vacationing in a new place. Use this as a chance to reflect on the season and the upcoming day while creating meditative memories with the people you love most.

Being a tourist is all about doing something new! Grab a white sheet to use as a screen, start a small fire and bring the popcorn out back. It's cooler out for sure, but with the right preparation, you can have an outdoor movie night during your staycation. Pick out your favorite holiday movies and get a projector going for a backyard viewing sure to feel more like a drive-in theater than home.

The family that plays together, sleighs together. This staycation, use the winter weather to your advantage to play unique games with your family. Pretend you're truly on vacation and able to cut loose with the ones you love. See who can make the best snow angels, snowman, or if it doesn't snow where you live, then enjoy the fresh air and sunshine! The holidays provide special recreational opportunities, so have fun and throw a snowball already!

A staycation doesn't have to just be in your city. Why not travel locally to a nearby city and check out all the cool holiday offerings they have? Not only will you feel like a total tourist, but you'll also save money on the trip and get a chance to explore somewhere close to home that you might not venture to that often. Plus, nothing makes the season more merry than sharing in the warmth and joy of the holidays, whether you're in your own zip code or the one next door.