Ideas for Inexpensive Themed Summer Day Trips

[mstrohm]

I am looking for ideas on inexpensive themed summer day trips.

Some examples:
* Fish at several local lakes
* Begin a bird watching journal and visit all local parks
* Sample Ice Cream shopes in the area that make their own ice cream.
* Get a local guide and visit area festivals.

What more do you have? I would like to write an article on thriftytimes.com on this. Thanks for any help.

[tinapbeana]

* participate in every available charity run/walk
* attend any free events put on by your local library
* visit a botanical garden at a college or park, have a corresponding day trip to a local state park to find local plant life
* see if there are any local businesses that would be willing to give a tour. for instance, there's a pillow and mattress factory near here that i personally think would be neat to tour!
* visit local cook-offs (here are there are usually a lot of BBQ ones during the summer)
* make up a scavenger hunt for your downtown area and spend a saturday afternoon completing it. check your local chamber: they might already have one made up, ours does...

[cschin4]

Yes, definately checkout your Chamber of Commerce. Go to AAA and get brochures on local sites. When you look around, you will be amazed at all the sites in your area that you have never visited. In fact, my goal this summer is to do just that.

[mom-from-missouri]

We will be doing one a week this year starting this summer, except for the weeks we are at camp. (Ours will be incorp. into our homeschooling) Here is our list so far:

Transportation:
visit Union Station to see the trains

picinic at Sugar Creek park (next to the Missouri River)
visit to the Steamship Arabia (boat dug up out of a cornfield near the MO River. It sunk and the river changed course. A farmer found it, dug it up and now its open for visitors)

take a picinic lunch to KCI airport and watch the planes take off and land. We will do this on one of the days they give tours

History:
visit to Jessie James Farm
visit to Jamesport (Amish community not to far away)
visit local cemetaries to find the oldest tombstones we can
Visit local attractions that feature President David Rice Atchison--Plattsburg MO claim to fame--he was president of the US for 1 day only..
visit to Truman Library in Independence
visit to state capital
visit to Missouri Town (historical old town from the 1800's)
walk thru the local antique stores to try and see what various items may have been used for
visit to Fort Osage, an old fort nearby

Law
visit to courthouse
visit to local police and county jail
visit with local attorney

business and ag
visit to our local milk dairy
visit and tour of the local bank
visit and tour of the local post office
visit and tour of the grocery store
visit to a nearby bakery and candy maker
visit to local factory
visit to farmers market
visit to drive in theatre. they will show the girls the inside of the building where they run the movies from and explain how the sound comes out the car radio, then they get a coupon to come to a show this summer for free. they also show how they run the concession stand
go watch an auction

Personal health and hygiene
Visit and tour of our local dr office
visit and tour of our local dentist
visit and tour of the local pharmacy
visit a photographer and see how film is developed
tour and "makeover" at the local beauty school. they will also talk to the girls about proper way to trim their nails, washing their hair and face.... The "makeovers" run about $5 per girl

Also, we plan to do a unit on animals, and visit the zoo
unit on the heavens, and visit the plantarium
weekly visits to the library
do a unit on art and go to the nelson art gallary
visit our local state parks
visit nearby colleges--they have neat libraries and muesems

I have called several businesses, and told them we are going to home school starting in June and can we tour. They have all been very generous, I have not had a single NO yet. A couple have even told me to come in ahead of time for a brochure or book to borrow and read before our visit. Our state also has several visitors centers that we plan on seeing also.

[mstrohm]

The homeschool theme idea is great for the kids!

If someone had a really tight summer and a week of vacation was out of the picture, what group of trips around a theme would be an enjoyable substitute?

Thanks for the great ideas so far!

[Aleta]

The FlyLady.net has a section during the summer to keep your kids involved. You might want to check it out.

If you live near the beach--beach walk& clean-up

[DayByDay]

Go geocaching to explore your local area. I haven't tried it yet myself, but it sounds fun.

[Fern]

Gardeners or outdoor lovers or homeowners might like this one, something i've always wanted to do but never thought of it at the right time, which is early spring.... keep a journal recording the first date of bloom of various perennials and shrubs and trees on your property I have so much that blooms i mostly know what comes next by heart now after 11 years, but still would be interesting to journal it..

(oh, i guess this is actually something that would take place over a good 6 months, sorry)

[Fern]

Also, commit to doing something different for 30 DAYS STRAIGHT. It's something that is popping up a lot on blogs and seems to be popular. It really opens your ideas to new things.

Like not just not smoking, but something creative, like living on $20 a week for 30 days, or walking to work for 30 days or something different.

For someone who likes to challenge themselves.

(Oh sorry again, wasn't paying attention, this couldn't take place duirng a single summer week...)

[pretty cheap jewelry]

Ride public transportation !!

Picnics at all the various parks
Nature walks
Camping in the back yard
Have your own summer festival in your back yard

[momof1in150]

Originally Posted by DayByDay

Go geocaching to explore your local area. I haven't tried it yet myself, but it sounds fun.

My DH and DS11 did this a lot for about 2 years. They had a lot of fun. I am thinking this is something they need to start doing again this summer. Thanks for the reminder.

[Aleta]

Reexamine the area that you live. I have seen many coupons for the locals. I live in a high tourist area and because of the price of gas, tourism has suffered. Also, check out areas that they farm and sell by the side of the road. Sometimes you can pick your own. My kids used to love that.

[mstrohm]

Wow! Loads of great ideas. I will have much to write on this coming week. Thanks to all (and those to come!)

[mstrohm]

Thanks for all your help. I wrote the article. You can see it here: Vacation Alternatives

[cschin4]

Have you checked out your Local YMCA? They often have some inexpensive summer camps, day camps, etc.