Imagine… you and your significant other enjoying 2 nights and 2 days of sleeping in, leisurely walks, enjoying a quiet coffee in an actual coffee shop, going to the theatre, eating out at a new restaurant you’ve never tried and actually having the time and energy to GET IT ON!

If this sounds too good to be true, it’s not!  I’m going to walk you through the steps to planning your own ultimate kid free staycation!

date night

1. Ask someone you trust to watch your kiddo’s for a weekend 

If you are lucky enough to have your parents close by, or your sister or best friend ask them to take the kid’s for a weekend.  You could even offer to do a kid swap. You take their kids for a weekend and then they take yours!  Pack up everything your little ones will need and then wave good bye as they drive off into the sunset. Then do a happy dance and get your weekend started!

2. Make reservations ahead of time

Think about all of the restaurants you would love to try out and then choose your favourites and book ahead of time.  I love booking tables through Open Table as you can earn points that eventually means money off a meal – doesn’t get better than that! Enjoy brunch on a Saturday morning and then go for dinner at a new restaurant that you’ve been dying to try out.  Take your time, talk and connect over good food and drinks. If you love going to concerts or shows, plan your staycation around the date of that special event.

3.  Head to the movies! 

Is there a movie you have been dying to see?  Now is your chance!  The kids are taken care of and you aren’t going to the theatre to see the latest Disney movie this time!  Pick up your tickets ahead of time at costco.ca or try out the ultimate pampering experience in the VIP theatre.  Even if you’d rather watch a movie in the comfort of your own home, no need to keep the volume low or watch that movie downstairs on your laptop… use the big screen and turn up the volume because you can!

4. Get your exercise on when you want, where you want! 

Always mean to get in a morning run or love the idea of taking a brisk walk without a child whining and asking when it’s going to be over.. now’s your chance to grab your hunny and your dog and get outside and explore!  Take some time enjoying the trails in your neighbourhood or head to the nearest dog park or local river valley.  Walk, run or bike!  Pack a picnic lunch and make a day out of it!

5.  Chat, read or daydream over coffee 

Head to your favourite coffee shop, order a drink and sit for a while.  Read a book or take some time to chat about life – short and long term goals, dreams for your next vacation,  and even just day to day stuff that you have on your mind but never feel you have the time to express!  You and your love will feel like you are on the same page again!

6. Sleep in … I repeat … SLEEP IN!!!

Don’t set the alarm.  Wake up when you wake up.  Even if it’s 10:30am and you haven’t slept that long in a few years.  Your body will thank you for it and there’s no guilt attached!  Remember, you are on vacation!! 

So there you have it, some great ideas to get you started on organizing your very own kid free staycation.  The sky is the limit!  If you have some extra money available, consider getting out of town for a few nights.  If not, your own home can feel just like a hotel when the kids have been shipped out for a few nights!

I truly believe that investing in a few days for just you and your significant other will refresh your marriage, leave you feeling relaxed and rested and will give you that extra dose of patience that every parent needs to keep on going in this crazy bit of chaos we call parenthood!