As the warm weather rolls in and children get out of school, you may be looking for things to do this summer to keep them entertained. The common solutions to this are pool days, walks in the park, overnight camping, and other activities you’ve probably done dozens of times with them in summers past. But there are plenty of family friendly activities out there for you to try. This summer, consider stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something new with your family.
Go Whitewater Rafting
If you’re looking for a fun adventure to do with your family, whitewater rafting is a great excuse to get out of the house and cool down during the summer. If you live anywhere near a river, there’s a chance you’ll find a place to go whitewater rafting. Depending on the river, there are different levels of difficulty for the adventure, so you can choose the one best for your family’s activity level.
Zipline Through a Forest
Similar to whitewater rafting, ziplining is another fun activity to do with the whole family. You can fly through the trees, experiencing a fun adventure in a safe environment. Most ziplining courses have a variety of difficulty levels, so you can choose the best one for your family (especially if someone has a fear of heights). Guides will help you through each course, so you can relax and see the nature around you while having a fun summer adventure.
Escape an Escape Room
If your family loves a good puzzle, consider heading to an escape room! Escape rooms are an adventure game where you’re “locked” in a room with a group and need to solve puzzles to escape before the time runs out. Each escape room is themed and designed with a certain difficulty in mind. This information will be on the location’s website, so you can know what you’re getting when you go in. If your family is on the smaller side, you may be paired up with another group depending on the size of the room (usually 8-10 people).
Gather Around a Backyard Campfire
People have been sitting around a fire and telling stories for a thousand years, and it’s no different today. Bonding around a campfire is a time honored tradition, and one that you should consider trying this summer. You can make smores or even cook dinner for your family over a fire and spend a nice evening together outdoors. Make sure to plan your campfire for after the heat of the day breaks, so you can properly enjoy the moment.
Tour a Museum
There’s no reason education should stop while school is out of session. There are plenty of museums all over on a wide variety of topics, some extremely niche that you may not have ever thought of like the Spy Museum in Washington DC. Most museums have some sort of activity for younger children, especially over the summer, and some are designed specifically with children in mind. Find something that your kids are interested in and spark their curiosity by making it a family activity.
Watch a Drive-In Movie
Drive-in movie nights are making a comeback. When it wasn’t safe to be around others back in 2020, drive-in movie theaters popped up all across the country. Many of them have stayed open since then. Some focus on showing classic movies while others show new releases constantly. Check the schedule for your nearby drive-in, and choose the best movie for your family night out.
No matter what you do with your family this summer, make sure you have fun. If you’re adventurous, try ziplining or whitewater rafting. If your family is more reserved, a museum or drive-in movie night might be just the thing for you! Take this time to enjoy moments with your family because your children will grow up faster than you think.
