10 Summer Activity Ideas for Families

Warm weather brings a whole new list of family activity possibilities that are free, or pretty darn close to free.  It’s the best time to use the long days and warm evenings to your advantage.

Here are 10 ideas to keep money in your pocket and still have family time this summer:

1. Go for a hike.  Getting kids outdoors can be a struggle sometimes when video games and air conditioning promise a little more ease, but once you get them out there, they always seem to love it.
2. Have a backyard camp-out.  BBQ dinner, look at the stars, and tell ghost stories.  If you don’t have a tent, consider just sleeping in sleeping bags underneath the stars.
3. Find a nearby lake, river, pond, etc. and jump in.  If you don’t live near one, consider a public pool.  You can cool off and enjoy each other’s company.
4. Check out your local park activities or city provided activities.  A lot of times, parks will have a “free fishing day”, street fairs, or farmers’ markets.
5. Have a water gun/balloon fight.  Kids love it when you participate in “their activities.”  Spending time, especially with younger ones, seriously doesn’t have to be that impressive to really impress them.
6. Go miniature golfing.  Miniature golfing caters to a pretty wide range of skills, so if you have older and younger kids, it will make them both happy.
7. When the temperatures finally reach unbearable, it’s time to break down and have a “family video game-a-thon.”  They will be both annoyed and amused by your sheer lack of skill {I am just speculating here, it is absolutely not from personal experience.}
8. Make a picnic and take it to a local park.  Bring a frisbee or football to toss around while you are there.
9. Go to the zoo.  This one is best in early, early summer or late spring–that way, most of the animals will be out and visible.  Once it gets too hot, they tend to go into their shelters to cool off.
10. Go for a bike ride.  Most cities have some sort of bike path, consider riding it, or just take a ride through the neighborhood.  You’ll get some exercise and spend quality time together.

Enjoy the warm weather, I know we will.

~Mavis