Quick Trips for the Last Days of Summer
In August it feels as if the long days of summer are quickly disappearing. But before your family goes into back-to-school mode, there's time to squeeze in one last blast of summer fun.
"You don’t necessarily need to go far to feel the fun of being on vacation. You can find great adventures close to home," says Jonathan Adolph, Editor-in-Chief of FamilyFun Magazine. "If vacations are as much a state of mind as a state of being, you really don’t even need to leave your home state to pack in a quick vacation."
Adolph suggests creating a stay-at-home getaway. "This is a great last-minute vacation because you don't have to pack, wait at the airport or spend a lot of money. It is really the type of trip you can do without a lot of planning."
Start by figuring out what you would spend if you and your family went away. Then, Adolph suggests, take a percentage of that money and spend it on sightseeing in your hometown.
"Think about the fun things you would like to do but wouldn"t normally do," says Adolph. "Go ahead and splurge for these outings. It really will put you in a different state of mind.
"In my family’s case, we went to a nearby river for white-water rafting. It definitely isn’t something we would normally do," he adds.
Take advantage of nearby amusement parks, water parks, historic sites, museums and national parks.
"There are those local places you've seen a million times, the places you frequently pass by and the flyers you see up around town but never seem to be able to go and do. This is the perfect excuse to do them. Go ahead and make your city or town a little more special," he suggests.
Here are a few other simple ways to create a vacation in your own backyard:
Go ahead—indulge your appetite.
Allow the kids to purchase foods they don't normally get to eat. Eat donuts for breakfast. Pack a picnic lunch with fun fare and dine alfresco. Buy ice cream treats and popsicles. "Go ahead and buy the food you don't think twice about having when you are on vacation," says Adolph.
Create a carnival in your own backyard or a nearby park.
Set up the badminton net. Get out the croquet set. Plan a water balloon shaving contest followed by a water balloon fight. Make your backyard a special place for fun and games.
"You don’t necessarily need to go far to feel the fun of being on vacation. You can find great adventures close to home." Jonathan Adolph, Editor-in-Chief of FamilyFun Magazine
Make the ordinary extraordinary.
Don’t own a Nintendo Wii® console or an Xbox 360? Try renting one with a bunch of games for a few days from the local video store.
Mark your calendar to attend local events and festivals.
Most metropolitan areas offer outdoor concerts, day or weekend festivals, art shows and food-tasting events, many of which are free.
Make great memories.
"Create fun family memories by doing all the things you've wanted to do but never have the time to do," says Adolph.
If you'd like to get away for a quick night or two but still stay close to home, you may think about visiting a nearby bed-and-breakfast. Contrary to popular belief, B&B's are not just for couples on romantic getaways.
Many B&B's and inns accommodate and even cater to families, providing activities that can't be found at a standard hotel. From hiking and swimming and golf to kids' camps, working farms and spa treatments, there's often something for every family member at an inn.
Here are just a few examples:
A Family Farm VacationWeatherbury Farm, Avella, PA,
http://www.weatherburyfarm.com/Make some down-on-the-farm memories. Families staying for two nights or more are invited to participate in the Official Weatherbury Farm Kids Program. Younger and older kids are invited to do farm chores and are awarded a certificate for their work. You can also simply relax on the grounds and enjoy the countryside.
Family Fun PackageThe Mountain Top Inn & Resort, Chittenden, VT,
http://www.mountaintopinn.com/This 350-acre resort is pet-friendly and offers a full-day children's summer program with enough activities to keep kids 6 to 12 busy. You can also take a pontoon boat ride and use the resort's facilities (including a private lakefront beach), hiking trails, kayaks, canoes and more.
Families Are Welcome Greenlake Guest Home, Seattle, WA,
http://www.greenlakeguesthouse.com/Families with children (ages four and up) will enjoy this overly friendly locale. A welcome basket includes age-appropriate toys and videos to use during your stay. Green Lake Park is right across the street and has a playground, bike and inline skate rentals, paddleboats and canoes and a swimming beach.
Check out these resources for more information and ideas:
http://www.bnbfinder.com/This online bed and breakfast directory has more than 1,000 family-friendly bed and breakfast inns (www.BnBFinder.com/FamilyTravel). The site also highlights amazing specials and great packages (
www.BnBFinder.com/FamilyPackages).
http://www.travelchannel.com/Looking for ideas on where to take a family vacation? The Travel Channel maintains lists of the top water parks, national parks, theme parks and other family-friendly destinations. You can find a list of the top water parks at
http://travel.discovery.com/ideas/family-travel/theme-parks/water-parks.htmlhttp://www.expedia.com/Expedia serves up information about family-friendly activities in the Family Travel section of its Web site.
Discover EDGE contributor Sara Fiedelholtz loves to travel with her nieces and nephews.
posted by Jane
Post a Comment
<< Blog Home