So you've made it about halfway through summer break. Congratulations on getting this far. Summertime is certainly a double-edged sword. It's nice to have a break from the rigidity of the school year, but when the kids start to get bored, it can make you go nuts. Below are a few ideas that might add a bit of spice to a summer vacation that's losing its flavor, and might also get your kids out from behind their electronic devices for a little while.
Visit a radio station, TV station or broadcast museum
Public stations (as opposed to commercial) are usually more friendly towards hosting visitors.
But it can be a unique summertime adventure for both you and your kids to see how things work and the equipment that gets used every day to make your favorite radio and TV programs happen. In some cases, your family may be able to drop in if it's a smaller station, but it may work out better if you call and see if they offer public tours and at what hours. In some cities, there is also a museum of broadcasting or a museum of radio and television. This can be especially fun for history enthusiasts or for a curious kid to see how the industry has progressed over the years.
Other area museums
A few other possibilities for museums, which are really nice family-friendly options when it's ridiculously hot or just rainy, could include an aerospace museum, art museum, train museum, or sports history museum.
Sometimes larger cities have more options where museums are concerned, but you can also find a few gems in smaller areas such as the Wright-Patterson Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.
Hiking or camping
If it's an especially nice day or weekend, hiking or camping can be an enjoyable way to get out of the house for a while, enjoy outdoor activities, and reconnect a bit as a family.
The nice thing about this one is you don't necessarily have to Travel very far. Many county and state parks have camping areas and hiking trails. There may also be other fun activities available such as horseback riding, mountain biking, disk golf, kayaking, canoeing, and more. If you don't own a kayak, you can rent one at some parks, or at some sporting goods stores.
You can do a short day trip and just switch up your routine, or you can plan to stay for a while.
A summer concert series
Many suburbs near large or mid-sized cities offer free concerts during the summer. This can offer a great deal of variety from classical music to classic rock to jazz and blues, depending on your location or how far you want to drive. Most of the time, these are at outdoor venues, and so you can bring lawn chairs or a blanket and have a family picnic.
Free movie nights
Watching a free movie under the stars can be a great deal of fun for kids and adults alike. These events are typically family-friendly. Each venue will put their own spin on this, and in some cases might even include a perk such as a trivia contest.
With only a few weeks to go before the kids start back to school again, doing something a bit out of the ordinary, or just having some family adventure together, can really make for a memorable summer that brings smiles when they talk about it years later. Perhaps the above ideas will even spawn a few good ones of your own.
