The 13 Best Staycation Tech Tips

Watch a Movie in the Backyard

Staycations are the perfect opportunity to binge-watch your favorite shows and movies, but why stay cooped up inside? Try setting up a small smart TV outside and soak in some rays while you catch up on your favorite shows. Failing that, you can always use your laptop, tablet, or phone.

For a bit more fun, consider picking up a portable projector, outdoor projection screen, and a nice Bluetooth speaker if you don’t already have one.

Set it all up in your backyard, throw in some string lights and other accouterments, and you’ll have everything you need for a fantastic movie night under the stars.

Tour the World Through VR

Just because you’re staying close to home for your vacation doesn’t mean you can’t also explore the world. Strap on a VR headset, and you’ll instantly be transported to the pyramids in Egypt, the dizzying heights of Machu Picchu in Peru, the bustling city streets of New York City, or just about any other destination you can think of.

For the best experience, consider picking up a Meta Quest VR headset. It’s more expensive than a phone-based headset, but it’s entirely self-contained, doesn’t need additional hardware, and provides a much more immersive experience. Of course, you can also use it to play exciting virtual reality games.

Set the Mood of an Exotic Locale With Streaming Music

Visiting an exciting foreign destination might be outside the cards right now, so why not use a streaming music service like Spotify to set the mood?

Load up your favorite music streamer on your phone or tablet, search for a playlist that matches your dream designation, close your eyes, and you’re there. Pair your phone or tablet with a Bluetooth speaker and take your destination staycation outside for extra fun.

Learn Another Language With an App

Since you’re using music and virtual reality to really dig into the world traveler experience without leaving your home, why not use an app to learn a language that matches your dream destination?

Apps like Duolingo and Rosetta won’t turn you into a native speaker overnight, but you might have the basics down when you visit your dream designation for real.

Try a New Streaming Service

If you are starved for content, consider picking up a free trial for a streaming service you haven’t tried before.

Dive into a wealth of Marvel and Star Wars content with Disney Plus, check out exciting documentaries, original series, and reality shows with Max, or stray off the beaten path with a niche option like Curiosity Stream for informative content or AcornTV for British shows.

Grab an Affordable Streaming Device

If you’re a stranger to streaming media, why not pick up an affordable streaming device like a Fire TV Stick or Roku? These devices plug right into your TV and work with various streaming services, so you aren’t stuck watching stuff on your phone anymore.

Combine a streaming device with a portable projector and projection screen, and you’ll have virtually unlimited entertainment.

Catch Up on Your Reading With a Kindle

Kindle e-readers are great for standard vacations because they let you bring a whole library of books wherever you go, but they work just as well at home as they do on the road.

The e-ink screen of a Kindle is vastly superior to any phone or tablet screen if you’re looking to stay entertained while laying out in the sun. Most screens tend to wash out in bright sunlight, and glossy screens suffer a lot from glare, but the matte e-ink screen of a Kindle is just as easy to read in direct sunlight as any traditional paper book.

If you already have a Kindle, expand your horizons with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. Picking up a free trial of Kindle Unlimited opens up a vast library of millions of books, along with thousands of audiobooks.

Check Out Free E-Books From the Library

Another great way to open up your literary boundaries during your next staycation is to check out free e-books from your local library. You’ll need a library card for this to work, so make sure to have that ready before you start your staycation so you don’t need to waste valuable relaxation time driving to and from the library.

Most libraries support borrowing e-books through the Libby app but check with your local library to see what they use. If your library doesn’t lend e-books, there are other sites where you can download free books.

Listen to Some Audiobooks From Audible

If reading while you’re laying out in the sun seems too much effort, or you find it’s straining your eyes, why not keep the party going with audiobooks from Audible?

In some cases, you can even buy a book on your Kindle and switch freely back and forth between reading and listening whenever you want.

Plan Fun Local Activities With ChatGPT

There’s no rule that says you have to stay cooped up in your house during a staycation, so why not roleplay a tourist with the help of ChatGPT?

You don’t need to be an AI prompt expert, either. Just head over to chat.openai.com, and input this prompt, replacing (your city) with the name of your city or location, and adjust the time to match the length of your staycation:

“Plan an itinerary for a two-week staycation in the vicinity of (your city), including unique and fun destinations and activities within driving distance so I can return home each night.”

ChatGPT will provide an itinerary for each day, including an excursion to a specific area, with fun and exciting things you can do and see there.

Use an App To Explore Your Area

Another way to get out and explore your area during a staycation is to use an app that surfaces local hidden gems you may need to know, like Hidden Place, Atlas Obscura, or a road trip planner app.

These apps are also helpful for regular vacations and road trips, but the idea here is to use them to find stuff to see and do in your area that may not occur to you otherwise.

Whether it’s a local destination that you haven’t been to since you were a kid or a fun new activity that’s outside your regular comfort zone, your area is likely to be full of new and interesting experiences that you can check out while using your house as a home base.

Play a Portable Game System Outside

If you don’t typically have much free time to play games, a staycation can be the perfect opportunity to check out all the great games you’ve been missing. But why chain yourself to your desk, or even your couch, when you can get up and move?

Portable game systems like the Nintendo Switch and Valve’s Steam Deck are perfect for this, allowing you to play your favorite games anywhere. The Switch even supports two-player multiplayer with the included Joy-Cons, and you can connect an external controller to your Steam Deck for multiplayer PC action.

Load up Mario Kart or Fire Emblem on your Switch for a relaxing lounge in the sun, work through your Steam backlog over coffee, and take the fun with you wherever you go—even if it’s just to shuffle from one room in your home to the next for a change of scenery.