With summer here, spending time outdoors with your family is likely foremost on your mind. Outdoor activities can lead to healthy physical exercise, a lot of fun and quality together time. But you might also be tight on cash and not wanting to have a luxury outing. Fear not, there are plenty of fantastic and affordable outdoorsy activities your family can partake in this summer.
1. Go To A Park
If you want to get your family outside this summer, going to the park might be first on your list of ideas, and for good reason. Parks in your area can range from the standard community park, to a nearby state park or even a national park or forest. They can have playground equipment, sports fields, and miles of hiking trails, beautiful scenery and more for your family to enjoy. With some exceptions, parks are generally free and open to the public, and can host a number of activities throughout the summer.
2. A Picnic
Having a simple picnic can be a fantastic experience for your family. Whether you make things at home or pick up artisan baked goods, like those at Klosterman Baking Company, you can have a nice, relaxing meal while you bond with your family in the beautiful weather. This can be a great opportunity for one on one conversations, or outdoor activities that the whole family can enjoy. It’s also a fairly affordable activity since it’s mainly just the cost of food.
3. Attend Festivals
Unique local festivals are held all around the country, and they can be a real joy to attend. In many cases, some of the acts and events these festivals put on, such as live music or performances, are free to the public. The carnival food and souvenirs can be expensive, however, so if you’re pinching pennies it’s best to avoid them.
4. Go On A Scavenger Hunt
You can do this in your own backyard fairly easily, at a nearby state park or nature center, or even around town. Depending on how you set it up, your whole family can be involved in deciding the things you have to find. This encourages creativity. Or just one family member can be responsible for setting it up and play the role of judge. Scavenger hunts can be everything from gathering bits of nature to taking pictures of particular items or passerby.
Always strive to make room for some outdoorsy family activities every now and again during the summer. It will entertain your kids, get your family out and exercising, expose you all to some pretty cool places and give you quality family together time. No matter what your family likes to do, there’s bound to be something nearby you can all enjoy. Use these ideas or discover your own!