Staying at home for summer vacation can be very enjoyable. We can take advantage of this to finally take time to rest, do the little chores that we always put off or discover places in our region that we didn’t know about.

If you’re short of ideas to enhance your days off this summer, we’ve prepared a selection of activities for you to enjoy your vacation at home.

Get started with gardening

Whether you have a large outdoor courtyard or a city balcony, there are several ways to enjoy beautiful summer days while staying at home. First of all, one of the most popular activities is without a doubt growing your own vegetable garden. Many varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers are easy to grow, whether in a soil garden or simply in pots. This allows you to have good fresh food all summer long, or to attract butterflies or birds so you can observe a little more closely the animals and insects that live near you.

You can also garden to give a helping hand to bees, so important to our ecosystem , and whose health and numbers have been declining in recent years. Indeed, with the urbanization of territories and the use of chemicals in mass crops, bees have less and less to eat healthily. Thyme, raspberries, rosemary, lavender or sunflower are all plants that will make your neighborhood bees happy.

Plan water games to cool off

On hot summer days, there’s nothing better than water games to cool off! Whether it’s simple garden hoses with a sprinkler, a game of wet baseball where the ball is replaced with water balloons, or a chase with water guns, it’s easy to refresh yourself at home while having fun.

If you are lucky enough to have a swimming pool or spa at home, don’t forget to check that your home insurance coverage  is up to date!

Become a true BBQ master

With more time to spend at home, why not perfect your skills behind the BBQ? A delicious way to enjoy the good weather and prepare hearty meals with your family.

In addition, you can take the opportunity to discover your local producers and prepare feasts with flavors from your region. In addition, eating local has many benefits !

Be sure to cook with caution though! To read all our advice on the subject, consult our article Barbecue and the safety measures to take .

Explore your neighborhood

By walking, by bike or by scooter, exploring your own neighborhood can allow you to discover or rediscover little gems from places close to home. Take the opportunity to have picnics in municipal parks, which are often well maintained and designed for families, or to discover independent businesses in your area.

To make it more fun with the kids, why not do treasure hunts in the neighborhood? Challenge younger children to find, for example, three red cars, two cats, two basketball hoops, greet a dog, and more. Let your imagination run wild!

Visit our national parks

Across Canada, we are fortunate to have access to grandiose national parks where we can observe the fauna and flora unique to our immense territory. The Parks Canada website and that of the parks in your province will provide you with all the information you need to properly prepare your visit. If your budget is limited, be aware that some places open their trails for free to visitors.