It's official! The summer season has begun - and that means longer days, lightning bugs, cute sun-dresses, and for many of you, "summer hours". Good stuff all around!
As you read this, I will be enjoying my jump-start of the season, on a long weekend in the mountains with my family. I can't wait for days filled with canoeing on the lake, campfire s'mores at night and lots and lots of uninterrupted play time with the babe.
Now is the time to start planning your lazy summer days; whether you are a stay-at-home Mom or a working gal, you've got adventures to plan and memories to create. I do too, and I can't wait to get started!
In honor of my favorite season I emailed a bunch of my mommy friends, of children young and old (including my own Mom), asking for input on their favorite summer excursions with their families. I got back so many great ideas that I had to share them with you. One of the highlights is that many of the activities are free, which enables you to save your hard-earned cash for the vacation that you were hoping for, without breaking the bank on the other days of the season.
Get outside! Pull the kids away from those video games, put down Wii Sports and go play a real game of baseball in the back yard! One of the best parts of summer is the warm weather and ability to run around outside. There are sidewalks to be colored, bubbles to be blown and bikes to be ridden. Have a picnic lunch or camp out in the yard. Go for a walk, have a cook out, swim at the town pool. There's just so much to do! One of the coolest things that I've come across is the new outdoor kids' program by REI, Kids' Passport to Adventure. The program, created for kids ages 5 - 12, was designed to teach children an appreciation for spending time outdoors and features an Adventure Journal, where kids can document their fun summer adventures - trips that you take and activities from hiking to biking and camping. Your kid can earn certificates of completion and even win prizes. The journals can be picked up for free at any REI store or you can download them online. This is a great way to encourage your children to be active while earning a sense of accomplishment.
Another great activity that's free? Reading. Visit the library, check out the local bookstore for free children's events, or swap books with friends. Another very cool site that I've used for a while now is paperbackswap.com. This site allows you to list the paperbacks that you have already read and are prepared to part with. You then get to create a wish list of books that you want to read. When someone wants to read one of your books, you get an email and can decide if you want to send it to them. When you do, you print out a piece of paper that includes the person's mailing address. You wrap that around your book, slap a few stamps on there and pop it in the mail. When they get your book, you earn points that can then be used to get a book from someone else. It's a great way to recycle your books and save money while getting the books that you want to read. Best part? They have children's books.
Let's talk about the Zoo. Yes, everyone knows that the zoo is a great place to spend a day. However, did you also know that some zoos offer family season passes as well as the basic daily pass, gaining entrance to numerous attractions and events? The Denver Zoo not only has fun shows and demonstrations, but also boasts a carousel and train on site. The Bronx Zoo has a Children's Zoo as well as "Toddler Time Tuesdays", which is presented by Fisher-Price (so you KNOW that will be something the wee ones like!) and includes a two-hour tour of child-friendly exhibits. The Toddler Time Map guides you through the park while listing valuable info on where to eat, diaper changing sites, and play tips offered by Fisher-Price. The Bronx Zoo also has weekend events for families with young kids (ages 2 - 4), the "Bronx Zoo Education Adventures". The San Diego Zoo has summer camps for kids entering grades 1 - 9 (how cool is that?!) and when you buy a Membership at the Maryland Zoo, which has a new baby elephant, Samson, that is just the cutest thing ever, you also get free or reduced admission to over 100 other zoos and aquariums as well as discounts on zoo camps, classes and an invite to a zoo picnic. Very cool.
Petting Zoos and local farms can also be a great way to spend a summer day with your family. Check out your town's website for listings not only on those locations but also on other happenings in your town. Many towns celebrate the season with festivals, parades, farmers markets and fairs, all of which are free to attend. My town has movies in the park, which are also free admission. Pack a picnic dinner and a cozy blanket to sit on and you've got yourself a fun evening with the family that the kids are sure to remember fondly. Movie night under the starts can also be a great date night - just check the movie showing to be sure that you won't be seeing the latest animated G-rated film on your night out with the hubby, or you could find yourself surrounded by wee ones anyway, while yours are at home with the sitter!
My sister-in-law has twin boys, age 4, who LOVE trains. One of their favorite things to do in the summer? They take short train rides from the local station to surrounding towns where they can have lunch, walk to a local playground or just walk around, exploring the town. It's inexpensive and a great adventure for the boys.
Holidays and celebrations are another highlight of the summer. July 4th parties and BBQs, parades and fireworks happen in every city around the nation. Labor Day weekend means a weekend away for most families - in our neck of the woods, that usually means to the beach. The boardwalk and rides are a hit with everyone; young or old.
One of the collective favorites of the summer? Vacations! Be it long weekends away or a week-long family vacation, everyone loves a break. There are so many options to choose from, but my favorite suggestion came from my friend Beth, a stay-at-home mother of a cutie one year old. Check out what she's got in the works:
"We wanted to plan a summer vacation that is not only fun but affordable. We are renting a house in the Outer Banks that we can drive to (8 hours - not so bad!), that we are sharing with other families who all have kids from 6 months to 7 years old. Each family has their own room and bathroom so we'll still get to have some "alone time". The house has everything in it: a game room, games, toys, and movies. So, we don't have to bring everything with us. Each day a different family picks a theme and they are responsible for providing breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. At the end of the week we vote on which "theme" was the favorite."
I love that idea! A great way to celebrate the summer, the kids are entertained and having fun and so are the parents. A sure win-win situation. A colleague told me that her friends did something similar in Italy, but each set of parents was babysitter for all the kids one night while the others went out. In other words, you babysit all the kids one night of seven, and the other six nights you have "grownup" dinners on the town with your friends. How cool is that? And, I am happy to remind you that EVRentals.com is a great source for rental houses all over Europe and growing inventory in the US. I'm actually using their services for a trip in the fall with a close couple friend of ours, so I'll fill you in on the scoop when we're booking and then again after we take our trip.
Renting with friends or alone, going to a great resort or visiting using your timeshare points - no matter how you plan to spend your summer vacation, enjoy dreaming about and planning your precious summer days!
Happy Summer!
