When the family is sick of the same hikes, family fun zones, and bowling nights week after week, it might be time to branch out and find something a bit more exciting to do. If you’re struggling to find fresh ideas, some of these should get the creative juices flowing!
Hit the Water
You don’t have to live by the ocean to have fun on the water. Many outdoor stores rent kayaks and canoes so you can head out and have fun at the local lake or river for a few hours. Depending on your area, paddleboarding might be available, too, and it’s a great workout for family members who are old enough to balance and then swim if they topple off the board.
Pick Your Own Food
Unless you’ve grown up on a farm, your kids probably don’t know the joy of harvesting their own food and taking it home to prepare. Depending on the season, you can find local farms that let you pick your own produce, so your family can go berry, apple, or vegetable picking in the morning, and then take the goods home for a fresh meal that the kids got to pluck straight from the ground. Making this a seasonal excursion helps kids learn about the importance of local agriculture and supporting area farmers for the most sustainable practices.
Have a “Staycation”
If you’re itching to get out of town but don’t have the time or the finances, consider staying in your own town and seeing some of the sights you’ve neglected. Many towns are rich with things residents haven’t heard of, and it will feel like a true vacation when you’re learning your area has a side you didn’t know existed. Contact your historical society and set up a tour of the area’s most historic and prestigious homes or learn where to find important historical sites that shaped the founding of your town. The money you save on travel can be put towards a nice hotel with a particularly swanky pool for a true vacation vibe.
Get Your Adrenaline Pumping and Your Minds Working
There are businesses popping up with puzzle rooms that invoke the same adrenaline and critical thinking skills as mind-bending games on smartphones and tablets. Some businesses like Houdini’s Room Escape will put your family in a room and give you a series of puzzles to solve in less than 60 minutes, with some of them are more intense than others. Some of these puzzle houses will bribe you with prizes at the end of the game, while others are more intense and the room will get physically smaller the longer it takes you to solve the puzzles.
Having fun as a family doesn’t require beat up board games or the typical movie night. With some out of the box thinking, you can easily take up your family night a notch or two!
