It’s the final countdown to summer! In just a couple of weeks the
kids will be home eating all the good snacks and complaining there is nothing
to do. Ah good times. But you can be ready with a plan of action. Planning activities
in advance gives me hope that I will survive the summer alone with two
kids. Creating a monthly schedule, even
if it is just a loose schedule, gives us something to look forward to. And I always have a Plan B for rainy days and
unexpected schedule changes.
The Hudson Valley is never short on amazing things to do. A
few weeks before school releases for summer (like now), I create a monthly calendar for
each summer month. I simply print out a one month calendar, and then I fill in
our vacation times, or planned trips to visit family. I load the rest of our calendar with fun
things to do locally. Here’s how you can find activities to fill in your
calendar:
· Look around at area libraries. Check out what programs they are offering
for summer. Select age appropriate activities, or camps for your kids to
attend. Libraries also sponsor family friendly activities like magicians, movie
nights, animal shows and summer reading activities- all for free! Not all
libraries are created equal; you will find different programs at each library.
Check out the activities calendars for libraries in a town or two away.
·
Shop the
local farmer’s market. Many farmers’ markets include a kid’s tent or activities
area just for kids as well as free music. Ulster County offers a stick2local
map program where you can collect stickers at each market you visit. Grab a map and start visiting farms to collect your stickers. Once you
collect 10 stickers you receive a cook book and 4 passes to play homegrown golf
at Kelder’s Farm in Accord (home of the largest gnome). If you fill your map
you get a bag of market goodies.
·
Check the
local parks and recs program schedule. Check
the website for your town, or surrounding towns for community activities. These
are usually free and planned with families in mind. You can find programs like
movies under the stars, kids’ parades, fireworks displays and more.
·
Sign up
for local newsletters. When you
subscribe to local publishers like Hudson Valley Parent you’ll get the inside
scoop on upcoming activities. You can also sign up for newsletters for a
favorite museum, or family friendly businesses to receive event alerts.
·
Search
Facebook. When you open the events tab on your Facebook page you will
notice a link titled “Discover.” If you click on that you can then customize
your town and time frame you are looking for something fun to do. Browse
through all the local event pages and create a fun week, or month ahead of
time.
·
Check
your county’s chamber of commerce. Find dates for local community events
and festivals. Then mark your calendar!
·
Stop by the visitor’s center for your town. As you exit the Thruway you can
often find a visitor’s center filled with pamphlets for local businesses and
all kinds of local adventures.
·
Don’t
forget the local colleges. If you live near a college take a look on their
website to see what kind of summer programs they are offering. Sometimes you
can sign up for affordable swim lessons, or art camps, or even a planetarium
tour.
·
The YMCA.
You can always find family friendly programs from swim lessons, to sports camps
to family memberships so you can use the free childcare that’s
included.
·
Radio
station community calendars. If you browse the websites for local radio
stations they often list upcoming events on their community calendar.
Occasionally you can find great local discounts too.
These are all my go-to places to find what's happening in my town and beyond. You can decide which activities will best suite your family
and budget. There are so many free festivals and events that take place every
summer in the Hudson Valley that we have yet to duplicate any. We just keep
picking new adventures and new places to see. With all the museums, art
galleries and unlimited hiking trails and water ways there is no way you will
fit it all into one summer.
How do you plan for your summer adventures?
Other adventures you may be interested in: 7 Art-Filled Day Trips To Take This Summer Visit The Den of Marbletown Mead Orchard Create A Backyard Summer Camp
The Whatever Mom is a full-time wife and twin mama living on coffee and wine. She enjoys the pure rush of cleaning the BIG potty between loads of laundry. It is her dream that moms everywhere accept and embrace the Whatever Mom philosophy which can be found here. You can also find her musings and popular shares on Facebook and Twitter. Stay up to date with her creative ideas and outings on Pinterest.
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