Alternative to grass

Many years ago we visited a Spanish garden which was fully paved, but with lots of plants.
Probably what you'd call a courtyard garden.

We've done the same at home: taken up three areas of grass, put paving slabs down but just laid them on sand for drainage, and kept all the plants and shrubs.
They've grown well because they're not competing with the grass for water!
It works for me because I can go out, walk round and potter any time of year. I can also send the children out to play without worrying about a lawn being too wet to walk on.

I don`t have grass. I have lots of sedums, dark brown rubber stepping stones, which a partly hidden, pops of colour with echinacea, ground cover geraniums and roses. A few apple trees and berry bushes for height. 3 of my roses grow up iron obelisks, I like height in my garden. Now very low maintenance

Or could you afford to pay someone to mow?
Alternatively get a really good mower. I bought a battery one which is excellent and I can lift it if I want to.
When DH died I gave away the big heavy petrol mower which was hard to start and find this one does a good job

I would highly recommend resin, not cheap but water drains so no mucky marks from plant pots on it, it’s very slip proof and comes in a multitude of colours.

I have a gravel garden. On one side of the path it satisfies my passion for having lots of plants closely planted, cottage garden style and the other side, where the whirligig is and shed at the bottom has large pots with shrubs and plants like hostas, agapanthus and a Japanese acer.

Self seeders love gravel, I have primroses, aquilegias and Nigella popping up all over the place.

With no grass to mow or edging to worry about, it’s fairly low maintenance and bees and butterflies love the casual mix of shrubby salvias and perennials.