Summer Vacation Ideas

One of the challenges for ANY parent is WHAT TO DO DURING SUMMER BREAK???? This is especially true when you have children who need structure and a "routine". Things can go from bad to worse rather quickly if you don't have a game plan. I thought it would be fun to post some ideas of things you can do over the summer. I am going to start with the cheaper ideas and move on to the more expensive ideas. I got a lot of ideas from magazines I have read at the waiting rooms at doctor's offices, friends, and on television. I am hoping we can do a lot more this year since my kids are older and everyone is doing so well. I can't believe we only have a few days left of school. I know this summer is going to fly by.

The ultimate "cheap" vacation is to take the family to a nearby Recreational Park or State Park and go on a hike. We did that about a month ago and it was so much fun. Afterwards, we ate lunch that we packed ahead of time and the kids thought that was so much fun. The place we visited was an old fort that has people who stay there and dress up like colonial folk. They answer questions and show everyone what it was like to live during those times. They had a garden and the kids loved the rosemary so much that we have planted some at our home and we use it all the time. The best part of it all was that it was FREE!! We did this in lieu of camping since we don't own a tent that is big enough for all six of us. However, we plan on purchasing a tent soon and so we can extend our stay at the park overnight. THAT would be a blast!!

Another "cheaper" idea is to join your local YMCA. You can live at the pool during the summer. Also, they have lots of programs that the kids can enjoy. Our neighborhood has a pool and so we like to go there during the summer months as well. We have close friends who live here too and so we join them and have lunch together by the pool. That is a wonderful way to keep in touch with friends after the school year is over.

Again... we're staying on the cheap side for now.... Many churches have Vacation Bible School. They are not only free, but they are a wonderful program for the kids to be involved in. Our church does a three-day "B.O.O.T (Building Our Own Testimony) Camp" and they can invite friends. Other churches do week-long VBS and usually involve crafts, food, and singing. Do your research and find out which one is best for your child. Also, always check and make sure they take kids with special needs. You would be surprised how many do not.

Everyone knows about summer camps. However, did you know that there are actually camps designed for kids with Autism! My son doesn't have severe autism and so I have never had the need for it. It is a great idea though for parents who want something for their child. Our city also offers sports with children with Autism and other handicaps. They call it the "Miracle League" and I have heard wonderful things about it. That is definitely something to look into. I know there are fees involved, but they are minimal and often are run by volunteers.

I am about to step it up a notch.... How would you like to keep in touch with distant nieces and nephews without having to buy a bunch of plane tickets? My husband came up with a neat idea he coined a "cousin swap". We have four children, but we have about thirty nieces and nephews who live in the State of Washington (we live in Alabama). We thought it was sad that the cousins were not able to see one another often since it costs so much to fly these days. So... we came up with a way to do it. What we are going to do is send some kids over to Washington to stay with the family for a week and then they will send some kids over here after our kids get back. That way the cousins can spend a couple weeks visiting with one another in each other's homes. We discussed things and determined that they need to be at least eight and we figured that a week was enough time. This will make it affordable and the kids will have a blast!

If you live in an area where there are farms, you need to check them out during the summer. There are a few "You Pick" farms where you can pick your own berries and fruit. There are also dairy farms where they offer tours and even have complimentary ice cream for you before you leave. I googled and found dozens of places near our home. I love things like this because they are also good learning experiences for children.

One of our favorite places to go is Chuck E Cheese! It doesn't cost anything to enter. You can eat beforehand and then all you would need is money for games (if your children are older)... however, my kids would enjoy just jumping on the rides, playing in the indoor tubes, watching others play, and watching the shows when they were toddlers. We get coupons in the mail all the time. Just the other day we got a coupon in the mail for pizza, 4 drinks, and 30 tokens for only $19.98! It helps to call ahead and make sure there aren't any birthday parties that day. That is a trick we learned over the years. (FYI: at OUR Chuck E Cheese we have celebrated birthdays without reserving a table and paying a bunch of money. You can bring an outside cake and if you tell them that you are celebrating a birthday they will give the birthday child a complementary balloon and crown to wear)

On a less cheaper note... we have gone to places like the McWayne Center (a children's museum) and the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. They were really nice and a lot of fun. We stayed at nearby hotels and enjoyed getting away for the weekend. By the way, going to hotels.com or expedia.com is a good idea. You can get very good rates and find some good options. We have four children and so we usually have to stay in a suite or similar set-up. We have been able to find rooms for around $100/night that have been REALLY nice and had ample space for our large family. Sometimes the resort or hotel can be an experience in itself.

Our best FAMILY vacation so far has been our five-day stay in Orlando, Florida last year. We went to three theme parks and stayed in a beautiful resort. Our room was like a HOUSE!! It had three separate rooms, separate dining room, separate living room, kitchen, washer and dryer, two bathrooms, master bedroom with jacuzzi tub, and walk-in closet, AND it was only 2 miles from the entrance to Disney!! The best part was that it only cost us about $100/night!!

The best thing to do is figure out what your kids like. If they are into nature and things like that then you know that nature walks, going fishing, or camping are things they would enjoy. Whatever you do.... don't let your kids vegetate on the couch all summer watching t.v. or sit around all day in front of a computer. Summer is a time you can take advantage of and do all the things you couldn't do during the school year. If you have smaller kids then just take advantage of the warmer weather. Teach your child how to swim, for example. If you have to work then take advantage of the weekends. Make every moment count. It's not about quantity of time, but the quality that counts!
******************************
Feel free to share any ideas
YOUR family has enjoyed doing
during the summer.
******************************