The Lollipop Road

Posts Tagged ‘summer travel’

So, for most kids school is officially done for the year and as parents we’re scrambling to figure out how to keep our little angels occupied and out of trouble this summer.  I am hearing more and more that families have retreated back into saving mode and many are trying to cut their summer travel budget.  Well, we’ve come up with five out-of-the-box ideas that you can do as a family this summer without going broke.

1. Have a Family Yard Sale – This is the perfect opportunity to recycle some of those old toys, cloths and rarely used items that have been collecting dust all winter.  Get the kids involved in gathering items, planning and then working at the yard sale.  You can then use the money that you make for other fun summer activities.
2. Volunteer as a Family – Every parent struggles with keeping their kids motivated to participate and learn once the school year is over.  By volunteering, kids get to learn about people and places outside of their everyday world.  By volunteering as a family, you’ll spend quality time together while teaching your kids compassion and giving.  Check out the family volunteer center at idealist.org.
3. Plan a Family Reunion – There has never been a better time to reconnect with family and get everyone together for a special day, week or weekend.  By traveling in a group, you can negotiate discounts and share accommodations in order to help cut down on the cost of a summer outing.  The more the merrier!
4. Start a Genealogy Project – One of the best ways to help your kids learn about history is to get them involved in their own history.  Create a family tree by conducting as much research as you can online, then visit the National Archives, Ellis Island or one of your ancestors hometowns.  This makes a great summer long project that can even turn into a school project down the road.
5. Sponsor a Student Reading Group – For those parents with older kids who are always wondering how to motivate their kids to read over the summer, why not make it a group activity.  Coordinate with other parents in their class and once a week a family can host a get together.  Make it fun with snacks and a few improvisational games to break the ice.  Set a goal for each group session so that everyone is at the same point in the book.  Discussing what they are reading will help make it more fun and reinforce what they are learning.

Okay, so maybe not every idea is right for you.  Like I said, these are out-of-the-box activities that will hopefully inspire your family to begin planning the best summer activities ever!

Disclosure

The school year is almost over and we’ll be spending some time in the next few weeks focusing on deals for summer family travel.  With airfare up and additional fees the new norm, flying the family across the country may not be your best option this summer.  More car trips and local excursions could save you a bundle.

Here are a few family focused specials that just might help you save a few bucks this summer.

• As part of their conservationist efforts, SeaWorld is offering child admission tickets for only $5 with the purchase of an adult admission.  This offer is valid for kids aged 3-12 through December 31, 2010.  At an average savings of over $50, you can’t pass up this deal!
• For only $25 you can get 7 daily passes good at over 200 California State Parks. Save $15 off the regular sampler pass rate and up to $80 off of regular admission fees.  Act fast as this sale could end at any time!
• The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is offering FREE admission from June 7-11 and again on August 30th.  A family of four can save as much as $60!  Check out additional free days throughout the year.
• Visiting Vegas?  Our friends over at Travelzoo have a humdinger of a deal.  You can score seats for popular Cirque du Soleil Productions through August for just $50pp.  At a savings of up to 65% off, you can afford to see a few.  Book by July 5, 2010 using promo code SUMMER.

Until next week, be sure to follow us on Twitter as we tweet the best summer deals as they happen…enjoy!

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