News surrounding the pandemic can be emotionally-distressing and hard to escape, especially while most of the nation is under quarantine and limited travel is advised. Planning a weekend staycation could be the key to helping your family decompress. Nowadays, there are a variety of online tools that will help you organize a reasonably priced staycation! To help with that challenge, here are five of our favorite websites to help with the process – especially during times of social distancing.

1. Grubhub

Grubhub will deliver all of your favorite local eats straight to your front door. The service makes it easy to search for restaurants that deliver in the area, whether local or chain. You can search by specific type of cuisine or type of food and have it delivered immediately or at a specified time in the future. They also offer Grubhub+ which is a subscription program that allows you to receive great perks including unlimited free delivery from select restaurants and ten percent cashback. They are temporarily offering $10 off orders of $30 or more with select restaurants. It is a convenient way to grab excellent food while supporting a local business, online or through the app.

2. The Louvre (& Other Virtual Museum Tours)

Finding your perfect adventure can be a difficult and costly challenge at times. Visiting online museums is the best way to travel all over the world while staying in the comfort of your own home. This activity can be fun and inclusive for the whole family while providing an educational and  intercultural experience for everyone at home. Plug your computer into your favorite television using an HDMI cord, and transport the family to the museum exhibit of your choice. The Louvre is one of many museums which offers free access to different exhibit rooms and galleries – including a virtual reality experience of the Mona Lisa.  Other museums with similar virtual access include the Nairobi Gallery, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Korea, the Museum of the World (desktop only), and the Guggenheim in New York City.

3. Kanopy (& Other Online Libraries)

Is your family feeling Netflix-fatigued? Believe it or not, a library card or university ID may be the answer to your problem! Most local libraries or colleges have access to family-friendly content online (including critically-acclaimed foreign films, children’s novels, audiobooks for story-time, and way more) through platforms such as Kanopy, Overdrive, and Hoopla. Check your local library’s website for information about online platforms available to you for free!

4. Harmony Family Yoga (or YouTube)

Here is the most relaxing option that you can plan ahead of time with your family. If you are looking to center this staycation around mindfulness and compassion, yoga and meditation are great group activities that help you achieve a more stress-free home environment. It is a great way to start your day and get the children moving while being fun for all. Harmony Family Yoga hosts a variety of affordable workshops and classes that focus on “healthy, happy and quality time together” with the whole family. There are many YouTube videos with the same intention – all free to you!

5. CreateMyCookbook

Family recipes are always fun to make and celebrate! Together, make a list of several different meals that bring joy to each family member and find ways to modify them. Dedicate specific times for family members to prepare their favorite, modified dish. If you are looking to save these family dishes, CreateMyCookbook is a user-friendly website that allows you to craft your own beautiful family cookbook and have it shipped straight to your home. They make it affordable to grab multiple copies of your cookbook and easy to share with your loved ones as a gift, with an eBook option available to share via email or post on social media.

Check out our articles relevant about making the most of your family staycation and about local getaways in the Chicago area.

This article was written by Sarah Moradi.