2014 Summer Adventure List

 

Summer vacation is fast approaching. This is the time of year I am lulled into a blissful daydream of enchanted summer days filled with refreshing swims, playful Nerf gun wars, enthralling discoveries, and glorious lazy days. The reality is, with two boys 22 months apart in age, our summer days are more about bickering, wrestling, and whining. 

Two things should define summer: putzing and playing.

We plan for both each year as we make notes to craft our annual Summer Adventure List. Some of the things on our list are old favorites that we repeat, while others are new adventures. The boys are getting older and enjoying more time with their friends than at home these days so I realize our family days are numbered. We’re taking full advantage of summer togetherness this year. And for the times we’ve over dosed on each other, there’s a gaggle of neighborhood kids to romp around with.

2014 Summer Adventure List (in no particular order)

 

1. Hunt Library
2. Greensboro Science Center
3. CAM Raleigh
4. City of Raleigh Museum
5. City scavenger hunt
6. Play mini golf
7. Lake Johnson Pool 
8. Make homemade ice cream and my friend Jen’s orange creamsicle frozen yogurt
9. Read. A lot.
10. Frankie’s for laser tag and bumper boats
11. Charlotte — so much to check out!
12. Play golf
13. Chase Hit tennis balls
14. Frolic at Pullen Park
15. Get crafty
16. Geocaching 
17. Arboretum
18. Duke Gardens
19. Try new restaurants. And indulge.
20. Indoor skydiving 
21. Paint, draw, color, sculpt
22. Make garden stepping stones
23. Cook, bake, eat
24. North Carolina Zoo
25. Watch movies
26. Lip sync
27. Actually Do stuff rather than Pin stuff
28. Volunteer
29. NC Art Museum
30. Frisbee golf
31. Joel Lane House
32. Chore system (determined to create this as a team and make it work!)
33. OD on Neflix
34. Landfill Park
35. Wilmington sightseeing cruise
36. Science experiments
37. Abundance Foundation and the soda shoppe in Pittsboro 
38. Museum of Life & Science
39. Duke Lemur Center
40. Carolina Tiger Rescue

I believe summer is a time to play. I believe playing and learning aren’t mutually exclusive. I believe in being free, lazy, and spontaneous. I don’t believe in workbooks, rigid schedules, and over scheduling. Summer is license to be lazy and follow your whims. Summer play is about more than having fun; it’s about stimulating our senses, breathing life into our souls, and giving our creativity a boost. Well, and yes, it actually is about unadulterated, joyful fun.

However, one must plan for said fun. I pack my car with a bag that carries some summer necessities:

• water
• blanket
• bandaids
• sunblock
• bug spray
• extra hats
• dog dish (Hey, Lark gets thirsty too!)
• Neosporin
• lip balm  

It’s important to be prepared with the products you need to clean, treat, and protect your mishaps, so you can carry on having fun. Visit HealthyEssentials.com for expert advice and tips!

This post is part of the HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® 2014 program by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. and The Motherhood, who sent me a box of products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences and photos shared here are all my own, and I hope you enjoy them.