Upgrading the ‘Staycation’

After seeing my summer nesting story, Anya Waring, press relations manager for Amazon.com, sent in some ideas on how Amazon can enhance the "staycation" experience. She suggests hosting a film fest in your own backyard with the help of products such as an inflatable movie screen and stovetop popcorn popper. Then, as your guests recline on lounge chairs, you can pull out the game Scene It? and quiz each other on movie knowledge. While these ideas are, of course, shopping-oriented, you can also skip the upgrade and go the budget route—microwavable popcorn, DVD in the television set, and your old box of Clue. Summertime fun can be had on the cheap.