STAYCATION BEACH BUCKET LIST
Top Tips to Savor Summers’ End
Take time to re-discover the art of the perfect root beer float, have a white hot white elephant party, host a “best in show” pie contest or experience a drive-in pot luck
CHICAGO (August 25, 2009) — With the lazy, hazy days of summer coming to a close, it’s time to maximize the last moments of the season with sizzling staycation ideas for all ages.
“Cranking up the all-age fun can be simple,” says staycation, lifestyle expert, Rachael Ray contributor and author Stacey Ballis. “Here’s my top eight beach bucket list of how to have sip back and relax and enjoy the dog days of summer.”
Beach Bucket Top 8 List
- Host a How-To-Make-The-Perfect Root Beer Float party. Invite six of your closest friends over. Have different sassafras-based root beers, frosty mugs, and a variety of vanilla ice creams. Guests create-their-own combo and have a tasting. They can vote on their favorite root beer and ice cream combo. For a sampler pack of great root beers, visit Foods Across America here.
- Picture a White Hot White Elephant Art Party. No money to hit the local art fair or galleries this summer? Invite close friends to bring objects d’art. Have kids set up an exhibition in your garage, yard or balcony. Have everyone give a brief “art talk” about the piece they have brought. Then do a white elephant swap....everyone draws numbers and gets to pick one item, people can “steal” items or grab new ones.
- Join a Culture Club. Pick a culture that’s well-represented in your area and spend a day learning about it. In Chicago, you can get a taste of Mexico by visiting the Pilsen neighborhood, going to the Mexican Fine Art Center Museum, eating a traditional meal at one of the many great restaurants in the neighborhood, and going to hear live mariachi music at a local bar. In Miami, experience the dynamic Latin influence and go to Little Havana and Calle Ocho, a street made famous for its Latin celebrations.
- Vote for “best-in-show.” Invite neighbors over and ask them to bring their favorite pie recipe. Get party store blue ribbons and hand out “best in show” prizes for best fruit pie, best crust and most original. Include recipe cards for each and to exchange. Want to check out the country’s best pies, order some at Foods Across America here to help boost tastings and add inspiration.
- Pitch a DIY Carnival. Can’t afford the local amusement park? Have the kids set up classic carnival games, like ring toss and dunk tank (or sprinkler run). Serve carnival food favorites like corndogs, homemade funnel cakes, and soft pretzels (order those from Foods Across America here, here and here). Buy prizes and decorations at the dollar store. Serve shaved ice slushies for the kids with nostalgic sodas like Green River or Faygo flavored sodas. Try orange soda with vanilla vodka for a grown-up dreamsicle.
- Experience a Drive-in @ Home Pot Luck. Pick a movie that appeals to families and assign each family to bring a dish that’s inspired by the flick. Ratatouuie for French-inspired cuisine or National Lampoon’s Vacation for road-side fare. After the fun food, get kids in jammies and project the movie on a sheet against the house or on a clothesline. There are a host of on-line companies offering great flicks.
- Step Out In a Hometown Scavenger Hunt. Create a scavenger hunt of landmarks that can easily be found in your community….write cryptic clues, forcing people to decipher what the landmark is and then go take a picture of themselves in front of it. Finish the day with a dinner of “landmark” local faves…Chicago Hot Dogs, Kansas City BBQ…whatever is tradition where you are, celebrate!
- Helping Hands in the Heat. Philanthropic dollars are as scarce these days as disposable income for trips. But nothing makes you forget the misery of not being able to leave home for a vacation than helping people who have no homes to leave. Take your vacation days and use them for the good of others, volunteer for a local charity that moves you…sweat equity is as valuable as dollars, and you’ll feel great.
To help savor these last days of summer and ease into fall, check out Foods Across America and get inspired.