Family Fun!

I just realized I neglected to post a Summer Fun article this past week.  It was a bit crazy due to the college trips we did. My youngest daughter is done with her private ballet lessons and will start back up again in the autumn with 2 ballet classes plus a jazz class.  So.... now that July iswinding down and our lives can be more relaxed, I can find some family fun things to do with my daughters and share them with you!

Here is one we did last summer.  Actually we do this for any type of lengthy vacation we plan.  For example, when traveling to Acadia National Park last June/July, we had the girls choose at least one thing they really wanted to do/see (playing in the surf didn't count) and my husband and I chose one thing. 

We call this Family- Planning Fun!

Here's the steps to take:

• Decide on a destination.  It can even be your own hometown!  Stay within your budget.  Tell your children what your budget is (depending on their ages...we said "we have $_____ amount of money, after the cottage rental fee, to spend on fun activities.  Mom is choosing hiking.  Hiking is free."
• Research the area via the internet or a travel guide from an agency like AAA or other travel club.  Because we are members of AAA we get free books, guides, and maps.  We also paid less for our passports by going through AAA!
• Make a list of the things that you really want to see/tour/do.

Here is a sample of our list from last summer: (we stayed in Bass Harbor, Acadia National Seashore. We had already decided NOT to camp in our pop-up as it needed alot of work.  My husband said we could spend the money for a cottage but we knew if we rented the kind of cottage we wanted, it wouldn't leave much vacation money left for pricey, touristy "stuff".  Bar Harbor was on the other side of Mount Desert Island which is the part of Maine where Acadia is located.  That town is very pricey to stay in and much busier.  We prefer the "quiet side of the island" so that is why we chose Bass Harbor)

1. Biking on the Carriage Roads (free)
2. Eating fresh seafood ($$)
3. Ferry to Nova Scotia ($$$$)
4. Hiking at least one mountain, maybe 2 (free)
5. Driving up Cadillac Mountain(free)
6. Shopping in Bar Harbor (depends on how much we buy!)
7. Celebrating our Anniversary with a good dinner ($$)
8. Kayaking (free)
9. Exploring the Bass Harbor tidal pools/lighthouse (free)
10. Swim in Echo Lake (free)
11. Eat lunch at Jordan Pond House ($$$)
12. Miniature golf and a water park

We had 12 things that looked great.  Keep in mind that we had already camped for a week in Acadia, back in 2004.  At that time, the girls were 11 and 5.  We hiked every single day and swam in Echo Lake and the Ocean.  We did not have our kayaks back then nor did we bring our bikes.  

• Bring list with you.  Once you arrive, decide over the first night's dinner, what you want to see the next day.  
• Be flexible. We planned on biking the carriage roads on the first day.  It rained. and rained. We did the Oceanarium instead which wasn't even on our original list.  It was low cost and Claire, being just 10, had a reduced admission rate.
• Let every person choose 1-2  things from your list.  For example:

Courtney chose riding bikes on the carriage roads (the 3rd day we were able to do this....it was cloudy but dry!)

I chose Hiking. We hiked one day, up a moderately steep mountain.  The one sunny day!

Claire chose the Oceanarium and kayaking in the harbor.

Dave chose to take me to a great restaurant near our cottage for our anniversary dinner AND he got to eat his fresh seafood.  The prices were so reasonable that we were able to stop in at the Jordon Pond House for lunch, after biking most of the morning one day.  Jordon Pond House is VERY pricey but very worth it.  They have scones that just melt in your mouth. It is what they are known for.

Dave & Faith
Claire, Courtney
exploring/biking along Seawall
Bass Harbor, Acadia National Park
July 2009

Now take a look at our original list.  We were able to do everything on our list except take the ferry to Nova Scotia which we ruled out on the way to Maine.  After researching it a bit further, we realized it would be at least a 2 day trip and the money we would need to spend would not be worth it. Our youngest would NOT have enjoyed that trip.  We also did not do the miniature golf nor the water park.  It was a cool, cloudy week and we didn't want to spend the extra money those things would require.  We can do mini golf here in our hometown anytime and water parks are no fun unless the weather is warm! We decided to just window shop in Bar Harbor and we allowed Claire to buy a stuffed animal and Courtney and I bought sweatshirts.  Dave didn't want anything but he bought a book from the top of Cadillac Mountain where we also bought a beautiful calender.

There was something for everyone and the girls felt great that they were included in the making of memories!

Try it with your own family this summer.  If you are doing a "stay-cation) then research your surrounding area.  HAVE FUN!