That trip to Europe cancelled for Summer 2020? Campsites and RVs overbooked? Now’s the time to look in your own backyard for creating some staycation fun. Here are some trending outdoor ideas to resort at home-

Outdoor Movie Spot - You can’t beat seeing a movie outdoors during a warm summer night. Get a projector screen or use a blank wall and hook up your computer or a projector. Create comfy seating with large bean bag chairs or cushions with plywood backing. Make some popcorn and settle in!

Fire Pits- Maybe it’s the caveman living inside all of us but who doesn’t like gathering round a fire? Whether it’s a hand dug pit, a movable wood burning pit or something more elaborate that is stationary with a gas line, fire pit features are huge hits for gathering to sing songs, tell stories and roast s’mores.

Tree Houses- If you need a loftier perspective, tree houses are a great way to enjoy the outdoors from on high. Take the fantasy of living in the woods to new heights. Find a tall, sturdy tree and you can make make your own platform with walls and a roof or buy ready made. The sky’s the limit!

Outdoor Kitchens - dine in style by bringing your kitchen, the hub of the home outdoors. Wood fired pizza ovens, green eggs, grills, wine refrigerators, dish washers and outdoor sinks with plenty of counter space to do prep work. Make space for plenty of electrical outlets for counter top appliances and provide good lighting too so you can use those precision knives. Pro tip: Outdoor products should be built to weather the elements, so durability should be top of mind. Enlist a trusted general contractor to provide an estimate for building the outdoor kitchen of your dreams. If you’re not all in on a built-in outdoor kitchen, you can create a makeshift space by curating readily available, inexpensive items: a table with a flat surface for prep, a tiered bar cart or shelf for storage, a grill, and a cooler. Shop in a tight colorway for a cohesive look.

Hammocks - Is there anything more soothing than a hammock gently swinging under string lights? This easy-to-pull-off setup using a ready made hammock or strung between two trees or posts is guaranteed to be your favorite spot to relax.

Lounge Area - Create a cozy outdoor seating area by adding a comfy sofa or daybed, a few extra armchairs, a coffee table and plenty of cushions or throw pillows and an outdoor rug. Add string lights for evening twinkle and an umbrella or awning for shade during the day.

Outdoor Shower - There is nothing more romantic or practical than bathing outdoors. Hosing off the sand from the beach, the grime from the dusty hike with the sky as your ceiling is the most amazing feeling. Find a spot that is private and bring interior plumbing to the outside or buy a kit that attaches to an outdoor water source.

Hot Tub - The hot tub may have originated in Japan as part of the soaking culture but California made this tub uniquely our own starting in the 1960s with simple redwood barrel tubs. Now there is all manners of fiberglass, steel and acrylic models with jets, built in pillows, lights shows and even piped music to make soaking in very hot water under the stars a luxurious experience year round.

Yurts - Whether you want to go glamping close to home, set up a guest house or just expand your outdoor living space, a yurt can make it happen. Yurts are essentially portable tents usually on a wooden platform that do not require permits unless you add plumbing or electricity. For the budget conscious, Amazon has several to choose from and if you’re looking for something higher end, there is Pacific Yurts.

Fountains and Water Features- there is nothing like the soothing sound of water gurgling to bring a sense of calm or mask unwanted sounds. Fountains or water features are sculpture in auditory motion and add dimension to outdoor spaces. You can buy a simple or elaborate fountain or there are plenty of easy DIY projects.

Play Structure/Play House/Swing & Slide Set/Zip Line/Sandbox/Trampoline - Keep the kiddos entertained within your property line with your own swing/slide set or play house. Build a climbing wall. Run a zip line or add a trampoline. Any or all of these items will ensure many hours of fun and games and make your home the most popular house in the neighborhood.

Bocce Ball Court - Bocce ball is an old Italian lawn game traditionally played on a flat surface covered with crushed rock, sand or short grass and contained within a wooden border. Bocce is played by tossing different sized balls around the court and calculating points based on the balls' positions. A regulation sized court is approximately 13 feet wide by 91 feet long but can be as small as 5 feet wide by 20 feet long.

Raised Beds - With the amount of time we are all spending at home, there is a greater interest in raising our own food as well as decreasing the amount of trips to the grocery store. Create raised beds in your yard by building your own beds or buying ready made boxes. Start easy with growing herbs and then graduate to lettuces, tomatoes and other vegetables such as kale, chard and squashes. There is no greater satisfaction than growing the ingredients to your meal!