Ideas for Family Fun Without Leaving Your Home Town
Taking a vacation is always fun, but sometimes it can be quite costly. If traveling is not in your budget this year you can still have fun playing tourist and doing exciting activities right where you live. With a little bit of research and planning, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised at how much fun it can be and how much your area has to offer. Best of all, you get to come home and sleep in your own bed at the end of the day.
Find The Water
During summer when it’s hot outside, there’s nothing better than dipping into a cool pool or lake, or going for a swim in the ocean. Take a look at what options you have in your area. Go explore local lakes, rivers, and creeks that you can swim or wade in. If you’re living close enough to the beach, take a day trip to go swimming.
Finding local pools is another great option. Many cities have public pools that are surprisingly fun and underused. Of course, neighborhood pools are another fun option. If you don’t have one yourself, meet up with a friend who’s lucky enough to live in a neighborhood with a pool.
And don’t forget about having fun with water at home. Get a kiddie pool, water toys, or turn on the sprinklers and cool off.
Dive Into History
How much do you know about the local history in your area? You can explore local historic places and museums. It’s fun for adults, but also a great educational experience for the kids. Encourage them to read up, explore, and maybe even create a project around your town’s history.
Many cities and areas with a rich history offer various different tours that you may not be aware of. It’s worth contacting your local tourist office to find out what you’ve been missing. If you can’t find anything in your town, expand your search and go on a few day trips.
Calendar Of Events
Take a look at your local city’s calendars of events. Most communities have several activities planned all year long, both on-going and seasonal. There are often classes, concerts, movie showings, and even festivals you may not be aware of. Also, check your local library. Oftentimes they have classes or events for kids of all ages.
Aside from the events that your city or county puts on, be sure to also check for events hosted by cultural centers, museums, and churches. You’ll be sure to find quite a few things you may want to attend throughout the year.
Fun In The Backyard
There are all sorts of fun things you can do right at home from roasting marshmallows over the fire pit to tent camping and sleeping under the stars. Oversized games are also a great idea. Giant Jenga or Connect Four bring classic games to life right in your backyard. Glow in the dark games are great for night time fun. You can also create obstacle courses or scavenger hunts. There are tons of great ways to get everyone outside and have some fun!
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Explore A New Culture
Just because you’re staying home doesn’t mean you can’t dive into a new culture. It’s one of the biggest benefits of traveling abroad, but with a little effort and imagination, you can experience some of it right at home.
Our city was founded by a German community and the culture is apparent all over. Find out the history behind your city and taste the food, listen to music, watch movies, and read books about that culture. Maybe even learn a little of the language and do it all as a family so you can interact and explore together.
By simply putting as much planning and effort that you would into a destination family vacation, you can have an amazing experience right at home without the hassle or cost of traveling!
