How to Have a Great Summer with the Kids Without Ever Leaving Your City

With the price of gas as outrageously high as it is right now, finding things to do with your children this summer that don't require travel can be a very good idea. The following five ideas will get you started.

One: Host weekly picnics at a local park. Pick one or two days a week, pack the kids up into the car, being sure to voice and show your enthusiasm for the adventure you are all about to take, and have an outside picnic. Go the whole nine yards with a table cloth, pretty basket, utensils, drinks and by all means, bring a treat or two along (apples or carrot sticks are great suggestions) as well as a well-balanced lunch. Hang a balloon on the picnic table. You can do this in the evening with dad too, if you prefer that to a daytime jaunt. The evening idea may even be preferable if you have very small children who are easily prone to sunburn. This is a very simple and easy way to get quality fun family time in with little effort and even less money.

Two: Research your city through the Internet or local Chamber of Commerce and find all of the things you would go see if you were a tourist, and then do some of them! So often we neglect the very treasures in our town that we would seek if we were just visiting. Find the local museums, planetariums, historic sites, etc. and choose days on the calendar that you will go visit them. Check beforehand to see if there are days when specials are running. In the summer, especially, you may be able to find great discounts on certain days of the week, for various reasons.

Three: Take your children golfing. Not putt-putting, golfing. Many golf courses have a designated area where you can take children to golf, or they have a 9-hole course (most children will not enjoy an 18-hole course, but will love the smaller version) and they rent out small clubs. Very often, too, these courses do not charge what a traditional day would cost for a round with the kids. I have seen very well-kept, 9-hole golf courses for under $10 a person. This will give you a few hours of family time and teach the children the love of sport as well, not to mention you will get some amount (even if it is minuscule) of work done on perfecting your own swing.

Four: Check out the local haunts that you pass on a weekly basis but never entertain the thought of going to. For example, you could go to the ice rink, skating rink,, downtown area, local old theater, downtown Summer events (such as live music shows) town symphony, etc. There are usually many things going on right where we live, we are just so accustomed to seeing them that we pass them right by.

Five: Check out the local library as it is a terrific source for Summer Fun. Very often there are reading programs that run for a good portion of the season as well as weekly movies, puppet shows, reading sessions, visits from outside sources, plays, etc. More than likely your library will have a list of events that are to take place for the Summer and have them categorized by age appropriateness. If your children do not already have a library card, make sure to get them one and then make it a part of your normal Summer week to head on over to the library. This option is great because most events are free and it gives you the added and very valid benefit of fostering your children's love of books.

Inexpensive entertainment for your children is just as close as where you live. All you have to do is look for it. Make this summer one that is full of fun memories and become better acquainted with your city as well. Chances are it will end up being one of the best summers of you and your children have ever had.