How To Staycation At Home During Coronavirus Quarantine

The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on travel, with many people having to cancel or reschedule vacations. If you have some paid days off that need to be used, however, or even if you just wish you could get away for a long weekend, there's plenty of staycation fun to be had at home.

Every good vacation has a playlist, so create one to help set the vibe with some classic songs, beachy tunes, summertime hits or your personal favorites.

Shorts, themed T-shirts and other vacation gear are packing essentials when leaving home, so why not wear sundresses, Bermuda shorts and bathing suits to get yourself in the vacation mindset at home?

Try to decorate your home so that it looks a little less like home and more like a resort, with anything from tropical table settings to new wall hangings to fake or fresh flowers or string lights.

Treat yourself to a nice brunch, whether that means ordering in from a diner or bakery or making some of the best brunch recipes around.

Test your teamwork and competitiveness by designating a night to play games with others, such as board games, parlor games or video games. Keep in touch with friends and family by playing virtually through video chat, streams or online game sites that allow multiple players.

Relax with a marathon of your favorite movies or recent releases. In the age of streaming, movie nights don't strictly have to be for just movies either. There are plenty of happy shows you can binge-watch to take your mind away from the outside world.

Getting enough sleep can do a body good in many ways, so take the chance to catch up on your sleep without worrying about waking up early.

If you're working from home, it can be especially hard to separate your home life from your work life. Get yourself truly in vacation mode by unplugging entirely from your emails, social media and devices.

While there are plenty of fun indoor activities for kids, sometimes little ones can get pretty restless and just want to go outside. With water lawn slides, sprinklers or an inflatable pool, you can create a waterpark right in your own backyard.

If you miss camping at a fancy RV park or out in the woods, pitch a tent in the backyard and get to know nature in your own neighborhood.

If you really are stuck in the house or you don't really have a backyard, put out a tent in the living room or even build a pillow fort. Use sleeping bags for extra realism.

Since you're not able to dine out at expensive restaurants at the moment, set the table and order in a fancier meal — or try making one yourself. Dim the lights, craft a special menu and follow these other tips for making dinner at home feel like dinner out.

Another way to get into the vacation vibe is with some fruity, frozen drinks. Make yourself some of your favorite cocktails that you typically drink when you're on the beach or at a resort, like daiquiris or piña coladas.

You can create a Disney vacation right at home, complete with the iconic snacks found at Disney parks. Bake some Mickey Mouse beignets and find some point-of-view videos of the best Disney attractions and fireworks on YouTube so that you really feel like you're there.

Food really is a great way to create the illusion that you're on vacation. Make or order things you'd find at a great seafood shack, like lobster rolls or fried shrimp, or typical treats at a classic boardwalk like funnel cakes or hot dogs.

Museums may be closed, but many offer patrons the option to view their exhibits online. Make a day of it by visiting museums that offer virtual tours.

For even more vacation treats, brush up on your baking skills and try out some new dessert recipes. You can make anything, from simple five-ingredient sweets to some seriously impressive — though difficult — desserts.

Set up a wine trail right in your home, with different rooms designated for different wines to be tasted. Pair each wine with a different cheese from around the world for extra measure.

If you had to get a refund on summer festival tickets, all is not lost. Many film festivals are going online this year, such as SXSW, which is now streaming its movies on Prime Video. Multiple film festivals around the world have also come together for We Are One: A Global Film Festival, a 10-day festival hosted on Youtube beginning May 29.

If sightseeing is more your thing, you can even visit iconic landmarks from the comfort of your couch thanks to virtual tours being offered online or through the Google Arts & Culture app.

Treat yourself to some aromatherapy with bath salts and essential oils in your bathtub, or join in with other people in your household to give each other pedicures and facials like you'd experience at a splurge-worthy spa resort.

One of the best parts of vacation is lying in a super cool pool, and maybe you don't have to miss out entirely. Get an inflatable pool for some fun in the backyard or pretend your bathtub is one and hop in with your bathing suit and beach ball.

Quarantine is a great time to pick up new skills you can learn from home, such as dancing. Throw a dance party in your living room to add some fun to your staycation and get some exercise too.

Trying new foods is one of the best parts of travel, and culinary classes are a great way to get to know a new destination. Luckily, there are also plenty of cooking classes you can take online to emulate that experience at home.

Buy a painting kit or another DIY kit that can help you pick up a new hobby. Then have a "paint and sip" session or art night at home. Ask your friends to order the same one too and do it over video chat.

Many zoos such as the Bronx Zoo and Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden are hosting live streams during quarantine for animal lovers to enjoy from home. You can also find great videos on YouTube or specific zoo websites.

There are plenty of free online workout classes and exercise apps that you can take advantage of to relieve some stress through your own yoga retreat.

Make your bedroom more comfortable for sleep with amenities such as higher thread count sheets and some faux down pillows to resemble the kind of accommodations you'd find in one of the world's most spectacular hotels. The only downside is that you won't be able to call housekeeping to make the bed for you.

Since you can't go out to a park or the beach for a picnic, turn your backyard or living room into an awesome picnic area, complete with the blanket and basket. Make sure to make some picnic favorites, like steaks or hot dogs.

Many artists are streaming concerts from their living room to yours on YouTube, Instagram and other social media, so why not add a live show to your itinerary? It's also one of the best ways to connect with others during the pandemic.