Happy May 1st! It’s almost time for summer! Who’s ready?
Have you started planning your big summer vacation? Or will you be spending your warm-weathered days at home?
Over the years two of our favorite things to do to prepare for summer are; plot out our vegetable garden and make a summer bucket list. The bucket list has gone from a variety of museums, zoos, and entertainment to a more simplistic version. We realize that out of the 12 weeks or so, more realistically we probably have 1 or 2 days each month to go out of town (for an all day event).
Plus not to mention, it’s hard to take smaller kids to more formal locations. Especially if you’re dealing with potty training and nap time or anything like that. So I split up my ideas into categories from ideal to more realistic.
So for our kids ages (almost 3) to 6, this is what we came up with so far:
- T-ball (registered our oldest)
- Swim lessons (for the older two)
- Fishing
- Drive-in movie
- Camping
- Visit the local ice-cream shop
- Visit the local farmers market
- Visit the beach (at our Lake)
- Have a cookout with family
- Go to the Fair
- Visit the Deer Park
Here are more ideas that your family can consider adding to your own list:
Attractions/Events:
- Major/Minor League Baseball game
- Zoo/Petting Zoo
- Safari Tour
- Aquarium
- Legoland
- Science center/museum
- Old Car museum
- Train museum
- Take a scenic train ride
- Visit a historical village
- Watch glass blowing
- Children’s museum (art/literature…)
- Sky Zone/ Indoor Playground
- Water Park
- Amusement Park
- Put-put
- Go Karts
- Batting Cages
- Get an arcade pass
- Bowling/ Glowbowling
- Take cooking classes
- See a movie
- See a play/Disney on Ice
- See an air show
- Art Festival/ Craft Show
- Air Balloon Festival
- Music Festival
- Rent a boat/book a boat tour
Create your own Fun:
- Rent a cabin
- Ride on a bike Trail
- Hike in the woods
- Explore natural formations near you
- Explore waterfalls near you
- See a butterfly house
- Have a picnic at the park
- Strawberry Picking
- Visit your local nature center
- See a botanical garden/arboretum
- Free kid’s classes at your local county parks
- Story hour at your library
- Kid’s art classes at your craft store
- Geocaching/scavenger hunt
- Go for a scenic drive/road trip
- Make/Try international food
- Check out all of the top rated parks near you
- Visit a splash pad
Fun in your own backyard:
- Bury treasure in your sandbox
- Make a fairy garden
- Grow some pretty flowers
- Build a fort
- Make your own natural playground
- Collect bugs
- Make mud pies
- Have a squirt gun fight
- Get a pool (we like the 10′ Intex Easy Set Above Ground Pool)
- Get a Slip ‘n Slide or sprinkler
- Build a bird house/bird feeder
- Rock painting
- Make natural wind chimes
- Have a tea party
- Have a lemonade stand
- Make your own popsicles
- Make your own ice cream
- Fly kites
- Play a sport together (baseball/soccer/volleyball)
- Have a race/make an obstacle course
- See who can blow the biggest bubbles
- Draw your family portrait with sidewalk chalk
- Decorate a name (room) plaque with acrylic paint
- Make window clings/stained glass pictures
- Backyard camping
- Have a bonfire & make smores
- Have movie night outside with a projector
I really wanted to create sub-lists for those of you who are able to and willing to enjoy a booked day, casual day, and a day where you don’t even have to leave home or get into the summer vacation budget.
Be sure to ask around on Facebook for friends’ recommendations. You can even stop in at your AAA or visitors bureau for more trip ideas.
Now that I probably encouraged you to make your list too big, which ones stick out to you the most? Which of your family favorites would you add to the list?
