by Molly Horton

Created on: July 08, 2009

Camping

While camping may not be for everyone, there are lots of ways to adapt your camping experience to fit your needs and wants. For the most basic camper, head out with a tent. This is certainly the most affordable way to camp. The only cost is the daily or nightly fee to the campground and any food items you bring along with you. The idea of camping is the less the better, so throw the tent in the car and away you go on a very affordable getaway.

Miniature Golfing

This may not be an all day activity, but it sure is good for an hour or two of family fun. Miniature golf costs very little and is great for the young, old and in between. There are often various levels of courses to choose from. For the little kids, you want to look for lots of sculptures and characters that you will be golfing your way through. Often they have some sort of children's theme running throughout. For older groups, you likely will find less sculptures and more green. There will be hills and slopes and maybe even some water to contend with. So consider you age group and make an appropriate choice.

Water Play

Not everyone has a pool in their backyard or easy beach access, but that doesn't mean there aren't options for cooling off and splashing around in the summer heat. For those of you who are looking for ways to stay cool at home there are loads of water toys that hook up to your hose on the market today. It's easy to find something of interest to your family, but if all else fails, there is always the sprinkler. Kids can have a great time just running and jumping through a sprinkler on a hot summer day, and adults won't mind the feel either. Also, many local lakes usually offer daily beach access for a small fee. Sometimes this is right at a local campsite. So another option is to pack a picnic and head to the beach for the day.

The Drive In

While drive ins are not as common as they once were, many towns and cities still house one or two. You can usually go and get two movies for the price of one as compared to the regular theater, plus you get the added fun! Wear your pajamas, bring or buy some snacks and make your car all comfortable with pillows and blankets and then make a night of it. At many drive ins pets are welcome too, so you can bring Fido along. Often the first movie is suited for a younger audience while the second movie is geared toward a more mature audience. So, the kids can sleep in their comfy car beds while Mom and Dad take in the second flick. If for nothing else, the drive in is enjoyable for it's nostalgia. It certainly is worth visiting at least once a summer.

Hiking

Hiking is great on a cooler summer day as you are sure to work up a good sweat. It is great exercise, and even better, it's free! It's prefect for all ages as well as the family dog. Find a trail that leads you to a spectacular view or a great swimming spot and pack a picnic. This can be as lengthy or short as you want to make it. Just do some research as to where you want to go and what kind of trail you will be on, it's important to be aware. Then strap on your boots and off you go!

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