Top 5 Summertime Getaways for Childhood

 Boy mom shares her top 5 summertime getaways for childhood.

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You know that Summer has arrived in Alaska when the sun has been shining and the temperatures have entered the 60’s.  (Considering our average summer temp in 2010 was in the 50’s, it is warm!)  The local school district is out for the summer and we are on a lighter workload in our homeschooling.

Naturally, we are thinking about summertime activities now!

Curious as to what getaways I’d consider the top five for any childhood to be complete?

Make a long-distance drive to visit family

We did this for years when I was growing up and until our move to Alaska, I continued the tradition with my boys. 

The longer the drive, the longer we planned to visit at our destination. 

Spending time with family members and hearing their stories might seem ‘boring’ at times to a child. 

The Alcan highway is an incredible drive. However, it took over a week each way to reach family.  By the time we moved out of Alaska, we had driven the route 4 times!

But as an adult, I can say that I now cherish all the times we spent a week or two with family during the summer.

Plan Stops Along the Way

Dad did this for us which afforded us the chance to see historic places like Williamsburg and Gettysburg over our multi-day drive from Louisiana to Rhode Island. 

When I was going from Ohio to Louisiana with the boys, I often combined it with a family reunion meeting mid-way or even a few museums in towns on our route. 

The science museum in Birmingham, Alabama was a favorite with my boys. 

Knowing you had something fun to do and a way to stretch your legs helped make the longer trip more bearable.

If you aren’t making a long-distance trip, hit some spots in your community.

Visit an Amusement Park

To Mr. O there is little difference between big theme parks like Disney World and those under the Six Flags name.  They all have rides, long lines, and tons of people. 

While it is not his cup of tea, I think every child should experience it once in their life for that point of reference. 

My older boys had the Six Flags experience. We had a small one in NE Ohio when we lived in the area and my parents gifted us a season pass.

I am a big fan of Disney and dreamt of taking them to Orlando, Florida.  Disney in California is okay, but just not the same!

Spend a Day by the Water

Okay, I’ll be honest and say that looked different for us in Alaska.  The thought of jumping into cold water is just not bringing warm, fuzzy feelings to mind. 

But, there is something therapeutic about being in proximity of water. 

A day by the swimming pool could count, but has less likelihood of forging life-long memories compared to a day at the beach

Since moving to south Mississippi, a day at the beach is an option again. We haven’t gotten into the water, though, as health hazards are often present.

Sleep Outdoors

In a tent or camper would be my personal preference for this one. 

Where is not as important as just doing it. 

Set up camp in your backyard or find somewhere close by to pitch your tent.  Or, enjoy sleeping under the stars. 

My husband and boys have gone camping for fishing and hunting trips.  Of course, camping in Alaska brings with it the need to think ahead about the bears! 

After hearing stories of bears and moose coming right up to your tents, we elected to purchase an RV. It made camping more pleasant for me and provided peace of mind.

Our first trip with an RV was going from Louisiana (where we bought it) up to visit family in Maryland, New York, and Ohio and then driving back to Alaska.

The entire trip took a month and helped create many memories as a family.

When we had a home base in Colorado, we made a trip out to the Grand Canyon.

There you have it… Laura O in AK’s top 5 summer ‘getaways’ for children to do while they are still a child
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So, do you have any to add to the list?

Disclaimer ~ I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Alamo blogging program, for a gift card worth $25.

This post was originally published on May 23, 2011, and has since been updated.