 VACATION at home FIRST
You had to know I would come up with this one! LOL - Cindy
Have you ever seen a co-worker showing up Monday morning for work looking worse than he did on Friday? Has that ever happened to you? We have filled our weekends with so many activities – the Saturday morning house clean, laundry and ironing, shopping, running kids around, doing errands, renovating our homes, working on our vehicles, etc. that many of us have forgotten what the weekend is really for. Resting. An “interlude” from “one’s customary duties.” When is the last time you actually had a restful weekend?
You don’t need to travel far to enjoy “an interlude.” Regardless of whether you live on a farm in the middle of the prairies or in the center of a major city, a vacation treasure is just waiting to be discovered. Thanks again to our readers for their suggestions!
- Set up the tent in the backyard: if you have kids, you are going to be the hero when you announce a family campout with either mom or dad right in the backyard. Why just mom OR dad? Because some very special kid conversations take place when they only have one parent to talk to. My husband and I swap a lot of one-on-one time with our kids so that they get plenty of time to talk about whatever they need to talk about with whichever parent they are most comfortable talking to.
Save yourself some work and let the kids set up the tent, the sleeping bags, and the “special” snacks. They may not do it like you would, but they are learning and they are allowed to make mistakes. Our kids have been setting up the tent since they were eight years old. Remember, you are just in the backyard! Encourage your kids to load up on their favorite board games and remind them to check the batteries in the flashlight. This could be a long night LOL.
If you have a digital camera, put one of the kids in charge of “capturing the memories.” You are going to be amazed by how much fun your family can have right at home.
Quick note from Cindy: Remember to pack away the gear and take down the tent the next morning. A tent is very hard on the grass if it is left standing for too long (please don’t ask me how I know this LOL).
- A Day at the Beach: When is the last time you enjoyed a simple day at the beach? No beach close by? How about a day at the park? Here’s a quick list of stuff to bring. Let the kids SHOP at home FIRST and load up the supplies. Then enjoy your “interlude” away from home with your family. Keep it simple and it won’t cost a dime (except for the gas or bus money to get to the park or beach).
- a picnic (with icepacks in a cooler) and a picnic blanket
- sun hats and sun lotion (and bug spray if necessary)
- bathing suits and towels (if there is water, a pool, or a spray park)
- Frisbee, kite, baseball and gloves, and a good book for mom and dad
- water and sand toys (and lifejackets if your kids can’t swim yet)
- a lawn chair for mom and/or dad and a sun umbrella (if you have room)
Quick note from Cindy: Remember, if your kids are in the water, your eyes are on your kids!
- Be a Tourist in Your Home Town: explore your local tourist information office. Ask for ideas on what to see and where to visit. Perhaps there is a new museum, outdoor market, historical site, or garden that you never knew existed. Perhaps there are some great family activities planned in the area. The summer months are filled with community events including ball games, fireworks, celebrations, dinners, dances, neighborhood hikes, and other activities. DO instead of BUY. You don’t have to be an out-of-towner to enjoy what your town has to offer.
- Spend a day “on the town:” Start by getting dressed up in your favorite summery vacation clothes. Add some snappy sandals, a cool sun hat, some sunscreen, and a spritz of your favorite “stink” uh – perfume, and you are ready for some fun exploring. Ask a friend to join you. If you don’t want to stop at a restaurant for lunch, load up a couple delicious homemade sandwiches, some fruit, and a water bottle into your picnic hamper. Remember the ice packs. Then enjoy lunch under the trees at a picnic table in one of the local parks. Ideas of where to go?
- The farmer’s market (pick up some fresh fruit and veggies for the following week)
- The craft show
- The summer fair
- Antique shopping (with your eyes only LOL)
- The art museum (the one that has free admittance)
- The library (pick out as many magazines, CD’s, and books as you like)
- A local garden (the flowers are absolutely stunning!)
- Show homes (I love picking up decorating ideas from the area’s newest show homes)
- Spend a night at the “local campground”: this is a great way to start your family camping adventures if this is the first time you have even been camping, or if it has been a few years. If you forget something, you are only a few minutes from home. If you are lucky, your campground will have a nature theatre with a park’s guide who will give a lecture and slide presentation about the park, plants, and animals. I have learned more about bears and alligators (not at the same park LOL) than I ever wanted to know. Our kids have many special memories from the time they were asked up on stage to help demonstrate some of the activities. Bring along a warm blanket, some hot chocolate, and mosquito spray since these talks are usually held in the evenings after the sun has gone down.
- Star gazing: This is a recommendation from my husband. We discovered the stars (the original stars, not the Hollywood stars LOL) when my oldest was in kindergarten. One of my husband’s employees belonged to the local astronomy club. He even has an asteroid named after him. He used to host “star-gazing” parties and lectures at one of our local campgrounds, so we decided to take our family and see what this was all about. Wow! We have been hooked ever since (my husband even bought a telescope). Check out your community events section of the newspaper. Watch for announcements for star-gazing parties. Since that night so long ago, we have viewed Mars, Jupiter (and several of its moons), Saturn (yes we saw the rings), and Venus right from our front driveway. And slowly, but surely, we are learning the various constellations and their meanings. The best part is getting away from the city lights so we can actually see the stars.
Remember, the objective is not to spend most of the weekend planning, packing, and then unpacking. Keep your vacation simple. If you forget to bring something, improvise. This is how memories are made.
Essential Supplies to Experience Your Home Town During the Summer!
With gas prices soaring, you may decide this is the year to stay a little closer to home. Go to your local tourist information office and see what your area has to offer... you may be amazed at how much fun your family can have! Pack along some essential supplies and you will be ready for anything!
 Hat and sun lotion: The sun is shining and those rays can do damage! Get yourself and your kids into the habit of lathering up BEFORE you head out. Add a hat and you are set to go!
- Water Bottle: Before we go exploring, we fill up enough water bottles for everyone in the family. Not only does it refresh after a long walk, but it also saves us $6.00 - $10.00 by not having to stop into a store for some pop, juice, or spring water.
- A snack: Some fresh apples and a few sandwiches packed in your cooler are all you need to offset those hunger pains that always seem to develop a few minutes from home. Get the kids to pack the snack before you go exploring. You will be amazed by how much more they enjoy home food rather than fast food!
 Cooler: This is one of the best things I bought last summer! I was getting tired of carrying my old (a wedding gift) cooler around from the van to the beach and back again. So I invested in one of those fold up coolers with wheels on it (like a suitcase). Even the kids can pull it! Add some ice, your lunch, a cool refreshment, and fresh fruit and you are set for the day! I have paid this cooler off many times over by not having to make the quick stop for fast food when the hunger pains set in!
Side note: I also use this cooler when I go shopping during the summer. I load up all my frozen and dairy products.
- Beach Towel: The water may be a little cold yet, but that won't stop you from dipping your toes in to test the temperature. An old beach towel can be quickly converted to a picnic blanket when the need arises!
- Windshield Screen: This was my very first purchase when we moved to our new hometown. One of the metallic screens that you set up in the front windshield to keep the sun out when the car is parked. I got a chuckle about the warning sign on my screen: "Remove before operating vehicle". Duh!
- Camera and/or Binoculars: you never know what you will see while experiencing your home town. Grab those pictures and email them back home to friends and family.
- A Map: While it may be nice to wander aimlessly and end up where you do, a map is also essential when exploring.
Take care of you,
Cindy
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