If money’s tight and you can’t swing airfare to a beautiful beach or other tropical destination, why not consider a staycation? These at-home holidays are more and more popular in recent years, and here are some fun ideas for your own.

Research Your Town
Chances are your town has an interesting history, but it may not be something you've ever really considered! Why not take some time this summer to learn about its past history, its buildings, and what your neighborhood was like years ago?

International Cuisine Potluck
Spend some time reasearching the food of another country, then have a potluck where guests each bring a unique dish. Indian cuisine, Thai cuisine, and other national cuisines offer some enjoyable new tastes to experience together.

Game Tournament
Each night, play a different board or card game with your family members. Record the winner every night and have an awards ceremony at the end of the “season” giving prizes for various things.

Geocaching
This popular hobby can be enjoyed just about anywhere. People hide waterproof containers with logbooks in various locations all over the world, and anybody with a GPS and a sense of adventure can follow clues to find them.

This fantastic tapas restaurant has been a Somerville institution for years, helping to popularize the small plates concept on the East Coast and serving up astounding Spanish cuisine. Dali has been a labor of love from the beginning, and its idiosyncratic design and one-of-a-kind menu are like nothing else in town. Like many other tapas places, the offerings are split into hot and cold choices. Start off with a “plato mixto,” a carefully-curated selection of Spanish cheeses, Serrano ham, peppers and olives. Other cold plates that win raves include the potatoes in garlic-caper aioli and the amazing boquerone anchovies. Hot plates include the delectable garlic soup, the grilled octopus with pimento and especially the salt cod fritters, which are a revelation. The freshly-made sangria is absolutely amazing. They even have a late night menu until 12:30 a.m., perfect for filling your stomach after a night out. Prices are very reasonable and you’re guaranteed to have a good time.

Dali
415 Washington Street
Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 661-3254
http://www.yelp.com/biz/dali-restaurant-and-tapas-bar-somerville

Wishing all moms a wonderful day filled with much love and happiness!\