Active Family Summer Vacations

Are you looking for something to do with your family this summer that doesn't involve standing in theme park lines or eating heaps of junk food? Instead of a regular vacation, why not go for an active one instead? There is no reason why you can't enjoy some exercise while enjoying the summer!

Hiking. This is a great pastime that the whole family can enjoy. Even if you can't travel this summer, there should be some great hiking areas near your home. Pack up a picnic lunch and do a day hike. Or get adventurous and go out for the whole weekend! Kids of all ages enjoy this and if you live near a national park, chances are you will be able to see quite a few small animals, too.

Build a house. Why not give back a little something? Join up with Habitat for Humanity for a week or two and get building. The exercise is great and many families find that it brings them closer together. Habitat for Humanity has projects all over the world, so you aren't limited to working near your hometown, why not head to Mexico and build a cement block house?

Train for an event. Another option is to get the whole family training for a marathon. Pick one that is happening in your area near the end of summer and start now with the training. This doesn't even have to be a vacation, it could go on all summer long and in fact, it should! Running in a charity marathon for cancer or another good cause is extra motivation and you can get people to sponsor the family.

Whitewater rafting. This is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors. You can take a one day trip, or opt for up to a week of rafting fun. This is best for families with older kids, since small children might not enjoy the bumpy ride and won't be able to really participate. Older kids and teens can really get into the wild ride.

Learn to scuba. What better way to enjoy the summer than getting into the water? Taking scuba lessons is a great activity for the whole family and you can hit some pretty nice places to learn. Try taking classes in Hawaii, Fiji or Belize to get your tropical tan on! Then you can get out and look at all the brightly colored fish and coral reefs.

An active vacation is ideal for growing families. You can have a blast doing something unusual and your kids won't have to write yet another "I went to visit Gramma" essay when they get back to school!