For families with school-age children, summers take on new meaning. Roughly 90 days with kids with no agenda other than kicking back and relaxing is probably one of the reasons the great American road trip came to life. It keeps the kids contained, busy and the family engaged! But road trips only last so long, long vacations aren’t always a possibility, and sometimes a road trip brings family and friends along. So what should a family do over the summer to keep the kids entertained, a little active, and maybe create some fun family togetherness? Here are five great ideas (literal and figurative!) for kids and families of all ages to have fun this summer.
driving adventures
The road trip above may not be a possibility, but a bit of driving may still be in order. Spend a day recreating NASCAR or other racing competition while racing go-karts. Or create a multi-visit competition schedule that has you visit the go-kart track once a month, weeding out drivers until it’s time for the winner’s victory lap.
arcade daze
For families with kids too young for go-karts, take a similar track and enjoy driving games from an indoor arcade. Or take a day to enjoy the game room in all its glory. There’s a memorable summer time with a child learning the joys of classic video games from a parent or other adult family member or friend.
take a swing
For families with growing athletes or sports fans, summer can be a great time to bond away from the game or competitive environment. A summer focused on quality time and social interaction can easily be achieved by enjoying time at a miniature golf course, batting cages. Such adventures are often fun for boys and girls and can offer an opportunity for a group of school friends and their parents to get together to bond and enjoy a chip shot in a lazy river.
Aquatic world
A great way to stay cool during the summer is to take a dip in the water. But family fun is literally taken to the next level by enjoying the challenge of a water wall. Put your rock climbing, coordination and thrill-seeking skills to the test as you climb a spray wall and other water features. If the family is new to rock climbing, start with the basic rock climbing wall and then move on to the water wall. Or enjoy a day of both, comparing and contrasting the different experiences.
If the water wall isn’t a good fit for your family, stay on the water with bumper boats! Have fun while staying cool with splashes, bangs, and squirts. Nothing says love between family members like a little fun on the water, especially bumper boats!
a maze tag
Grab the cool of the bumper ships and head to the mainland with some tech and fight to the finish via laser tag. Running through a dark maze with lasers to tag the opposing team not only brings video games to life, but also brings out a little extra energy. The energy allowance can also mean extra calories burned for a guilt-free treat after a challenging game of classic ‘tag’.
The ideas for summer fun are endless, and the five above can be enjoyed as standalone events or in any combination.
