backyard; why should someone else have the right to question you about the things you do? Here's an extensive list of ideas, for you to enjoy your staycation with your family and friends. *Clicking on the images will give you a better view. Some of my best memories as a kid have been, playing for hours together in the backyard; mostly with my cousins and a few friends. I vividly remember playing Hopscotch, House etc., during the vacations and I should say that they were indeed one of the best times of my life. Those days of loitering around in the sun, in addition to spending quality time with my family, posed as an opportunity to explore the surroundings to the fullest, as well as to learn something new on a daily basis. These ideas are definitely tried and tested ways of enjoying a stay-at-home vacation. The best part is, you can try something on a daily basis during the tenure of the vacation.

Go Carting Ditch your car, use the cart and go sightseeing! Your children will surely have a gala time exploring the surrounding like this.

Go Raking Take your shovels and rake the leaves around. It's a fun way to get your garden cleared while spending time together.

Sack Race Invite your family and friends over and hop around in sacks! Beware though, this activity would make you squeal with laughter!

Treasure Hunt Hide some goodies in places you would want your children to hunt, hand each one a map of the area and let them start searching. Go treasure hunting at the beach; it sure is more fun.

Chase Hens Have a "farm time" chasing chickens and try to put them back into the coop. You can lend a helping hand to the local farmer if you manage to do so.

Have a Pool Day Splashing about in the pool on a hot summer's day is a fantastic way to let your hair down and cool off simultaneously.

Family Day Set time aside for your family; during this time, you can ask everyone to share their life experiences with the others, thus working on your bonding.

Tree House Fun If you do not own a tree house, then rope in the family members to help build one. It's a serious fun activity when it's done together.

Star Gazing A cloudless night is definitely a good time to go star gazing. Better still, you can throw in some sheets and lie in your backyard and catch shooting stars.

Camp Fire You can have sing-song and storytelling sessions, while roasting marshmallows sitting around a camp fire.

On days when it is too hot to venture outside, or when you simply aren't in the mood to go out and play, you can try out some of these indoor ideas and have a great time at home. Have you ever given a thought to the number of things that can be done just sitting at home? Take a look.

Have a Fashion Parade Here's an idea; instead of actual clothes why not have a fancy parade of clothes made from paper, straw and whatever you can think of.

Groom Your Pet During regular working days, we often neglect our pets; dedicate the vacation to pamper your pet. They would love some extra attention too!

Watch Movies Together Holidays are a good time to catch up on movies that you haven't been able to watch because of a hectic schedule. Gather together with your family, pop some corn and plop in front of the TV set.

Gaming Championships Own a gaming console? Then why not use it to have a gaming championship at home? Challenge your kids or friends to a game you are fond of.

Have a Girls/Boys Night Out This is an ultimate idea to have fun at home, have a girls/boys night out and practically ban the others. Indulge in some pure fun time doing what you like best with your best buddies.

Pillow Fights Pillow wars! You bash me, I bash you, we all bash each other. So much fun!!

Babysit If you are fond of children, volunteer to babysit for your friends. They would be thrilled with the idea of a vacation themselves.

Bake Gingerbread Houses There's no right time for baking, just get your ingredients and ask your family to help out, and lo! You'll have a brewing family time.

Learn Something New You are never too old to learn something new; learn to play a guitar or a violin, a mouth organ or whatever your mind fancies.

Slumber Party Think of the many things you can have at a slumber party: spa treatments, pool party, etc. Plan accordingly and have a gala time.

If you can spend your holiday in a worthwhile manner, then there's nothing like it! Enroll for a hobby class, or conduct some yourself, visit fairs, or organize them; do what you like in your spare time, but do not let boredom get the best of you.

Organize Something Different Organize a puppet show in your backyard and get people hooked on to your storytelling ability. That would make sure everyone is entertained.

Paint Faces Put a signboard that says, 'free face painting' and enjoy using faces as your canvas. Get the best of your creativity flowing.

Paint a Corner You may have been putting off painting a seemingly invisible corner for too long. Seize the opportunity and bring it to life.

Redecorate with Beads If not paint, then use beads or any material that you like, to bring a hint of freshness to your house. Simply redo the arrangement of the furniture to while away time.

Competitions Have a balloon blowing competition with the elders and then for fun, go and pop them in their face. I still have loads of fun popping balloons.

Pose for Snaps Go clickety-click with the camera and shoot your family and surroundings. Do not forget to pose for snaps too!

Organize a Funfair Want to do away with some stuff? Try organizing a fair; maybe someone else would be interested in purchasing antiques. Pay a visit to a local fair, you would land up having a fantastic time there.

Fly Kites Make colorful kites for your family and friends, ask them to join in a kite fight. You wouldn't know how your day flies away along with your kite.

Vacations are fun times and doing things that make you happy will ensure you have a good time. Shopping, trekking, picnicking, sailing or simply loitering will definitely be worth a staycation.

Go for a Picnic Fill in a goody basket and get going; find a cozy spot by the lakeside or place of your choice and have a day of fun running and skipping in fields and watch the hills come alive with you.

Visit an Orchard/Farm If you live in city limits just like I do, I bet you must be awfully bored with the regular humdrum that follows. Hitchhike to a nearby orchard/farm and taste the rustic life; you would be rejuvenated to face the city music again.

Revamp the Garden Holidays are a nice time to tend to your garden. Plant some exotic flowering shrubs, revamp the look of the garden, decorate it with lights; so many options that you would have a tough time getting out of your gardening boots.

Catch Butterflies/Fireflies The ultimate childhood fun is to run around the garden catching butterflies during the day and fireflies during the dusk. The one with maximum butterflies is the winner.

Hop, Skip and Jump Purchase a huge rope, get your family together and jump. It will give you a healthy workout as well and you won't have to worry a bit about putting on extra pounds.

Have a War Tug of wars are an excellent idea of fun especially when you have your extended family visiting. Try letting go off the rope and watch what follows.

Play Local Detective Snoop around your locality pretending to be a local detective. Make secret pacts and solve mysteries. I bet it is so much fun doing this!

Play Games There are so many games that you can indulge in with your family. Have a gala time playing Dog and the Bone, Seven Tiles, Queen of Sheba etc., with your family and friends.

Shop Till You Drop Now we get serious; go shopping with your family, friends, or whoever you are comfortable with. I do that so very often that I bet I burn large holes in everyone's pockets! (wink n smile)

Share a Meal Why not spend an entire day with those less fortunate? You would make someone's day by spending some time and resources with them. You would even inculcate a few values in your children by doing so.

Here's all I have to offer for now, as my brains have stopped working temporarily, and I'm out of ideas for a family staycation. Those of you wishing to ditch your kids and have a romantic vacation with your spouse, you might want to try some romantic staycation ideas. Here's where I sign off, longing for a vacation of any kind for myself.