Preserving Your Summer Staycation Memories

Preserving your summer staycation memories

We’ve had a lot of customers contact us recently looking for custom made picture frames uk as they want to preserve their summer staycation memories. And we have been more than happy to help. What is behind this increase in staycation bookings though, and what is the best way to preserve those family memories?

Read on to find out more.

The rise in the popularity of staycations

We only need to look back briefly on 2020 to discover that the world as we know it has changed. Thanks to COVID-19 we have been confined to our homes for many weeks. Although lockdown restrictions are now easing somewhat, there is still a lot of uncertainty around international travel and so more and more people have embraced the staycation this year i.e. Choosing to holiday in the UK. This is not the only reasons why staycations are popular though:

• The primary reason for the popularity of staycations in 2020 is the fact that are overseas choices have been severely limited. While restrictions are lifting, and we don’t want to be purveyors of doom and gloom, people within the travel industry are indicating that travel disruption could stay in place for a year at least. Even if we are allowed to travel abroad, the waiting times will be longer and the numbers allowed into attractions will be limited – in fact the whole experience of travelling will be affected.  So, it seems like the easiest option is to stay in the UK and use local domestic transport to move around.
• We also need something to look forward to. Many people have had international travel plans cancelled this year, but we still want to escape from everyday life – especially if we have been dealing with working from home and home schooling our kids for the last few months! Booking a staycation and experiencing something a little different is a really positive thing to do, and it will give the whole family something to look forward to. Whether you explore somewhere new or revisit your childhood holiday memories, it will just be amazing to be outside the four walls of your home.
• Stress levels have risen for all of us over the past six months, and so when we are looking for a change of scene, we need the whole experience to be as stress free as possible. Booking a staycation with your family in a private rental should be a great way to escape while still sticking to the Government’s travel guidelines. Using your own vehicle to get there, finding somewhere with lots of outdoor activities for the family to take part in (such as long walks), and staying in a private home (flat or caravan) gives you the break from routine you need while still allowing you to social distance. 
• We are all more used to doing less and seeing less now, as we have been at home for the past few months. So, we are used to the fact that our staycations are going to be different too. There will be less going out, less sight-seeing and less visiting of restaurants – but with a little bit of forward planning you can have fun with this slower pace of life while still being stimulated by the fact you are in a new setting.

How to preserve your happy summer memories

If you have managed to enjoy a staycation this year, then it may seem like a distant memory. The kids are back at school, the weather has turned for the worse, and summer clothes have been packed away until next year.

But if you have been lucky enough to experience a family holiday, with sun-soaked beach days and adventurous camping trips, how do you keep the memories alive all year round? How do you savour the memories when you are in the middle of the school year or the dead of winter, and inspire you to start planning next year’s family trip already?

Autumn doesn’t have to be about bemoaning the fact that summer is over, and the good times have come to an end.  Instead you can use this time to look back at all the amazing family memories you have made over the years, as well as looking forward and planning for the next trip. 

To keep the summer memories strong year after year, here are some great ideas of ways you can preserve the fun you’ve had this summer with art, decorations and so on.

#1 Beach Jars and Ornaments

We all know that heading to the beach with kids usually means that you come home with loads of sand, rocks, pebbles, shells and sea glass which they just had to have. They promise to treasure them, but instead they usually end up on the bathroom window sill or dumped under their beds. Why not help them turn these treasures into precious memories by filling a mason jar with them and labelling it with a picture of where you got them from – Cornwall, Devon or North Wales or wherever. This way, every time they look at it, it will take them back to the beach in no time. 

#2 Create a travel themed gallery wall

Gallery walls are one of our favourite ways to display pictures in photo frame customised online - and having a theme, like travel, is a sure-fire way to make the concept really tight and more put together. Creating a travel gallery wall in your lounge or kitchen, somewhere you all hang out as a family is a great way to keep the memories alive, and spark conversations about what you did and when. You don’t just have to stick with pictures to create your wall either – you can add other holiday mementos to really bring the wall to life. 

#3 Keep a paper journal

A classic idea, but one that has stood the test of time – pick up your pen and some paper and start journaling. Travellers notebooks are easy to come by, and you can keep one per trip or buy a large one and fill it with memories of many trips. Keep it with you when you are on your staycation, and pull it out to jot down any memories when you are waiting in line or the kids are in bed. You can also stick things like tickets and pictures in it to really help you keep the memories alive. You can also add to it later on as well, as more things come back to you.

#4 Make an album of postcards

Some people think that postcards are old fashioned, but we love them! You could go proper old school and actually write on them and send them to people, or keep them for yourself and make an album out of them. Pick some which feature your favourite spots on holiday, and get your kids to write their favourite holiday memory on the back. 

#5 Frame a map

Similar to the travel gallery wall idea, you may also want to frame a map of your favourite holiday spot as well. Pick a room in your home with a clean wall, and then either pin up or frame the map of where you have been together. It’s a great way to get all the family involved, and can lead to a beautiful display. You could also purchase a beautiful map of the world and scratch off the places you have been – it’s a great conversation starter.

We hope this article has given you some idea of how you may want to preserve your summer staycation memoires. Here at Frames.co.uk we have all you need to keep your precious memories safe from customer photo frames to made to measure mounts for photo frames. Keep it simple, get the kids involved and make documenting your trips enjoyable.