by Leah Black
I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm not the only parent in the Hudson Valley whose budget for family entertainment this summer is going right into my car's gas tank. My plans to take some weekend day trips across the river and beyond will have to be put on indefinite hold.
What bothers me most about the increasing price of travel is that it costs us about $90 (soon to be more) just to visit my parents. They live about 2½ hours away. My son is growing so fast, I hate for my parents to miss out on this special time in their grandson's life. But at 100 bucks a trip, I just can't get out there as often.
To make this summer not so much of a bummer, I have some ideas that don't require an admission fee, and most can be done without pulling out of the driveway.
1. Play games. Turn off the TV and get out the board and card games. It's not only a great way to spend time together, but games help build kids' math, reading, team-playing and sportsmanship skills.
2. Visit the library. Summer reading helps maintain language skills learned during the school year. Besides, where else can the entire family - from infants to mom and dad - participate in educational and fun programs for free? Check with your local library to see what's happening this summer (rcls.org or midhudson.org).
3. Catch free outdoor concerts. There are free concerts throughout the Hudson Valley all summer long. Just check our calendar (hvparent.com) to find some kid-friendly tunes near you!
4. Go for a walk. Take a stroll around the block or plan a long hike for a weekend afternoon. Just don't forget the sunscreen and water, and check for ticks when you're done.
5. Have a picnic in the park. Ask the kids to help make some sandwiches, put together some simple finger foods and drinks and you've got a special occasion.
6. Take a bike ride. Find some safe areas like quiet streets or the rail trail and get out there! Children ages 1 to 14 are required by law to wear a helmet. Be sure it's fastened securely (nysgtsc.state.ny.us/ Kids/kid-bike.htm).
7. Plan a special family day. When I was younger, my family celebrated Christmas in July one year. We each picked a name from a hat, then made a gift for the person we'd picked. On July 25th we had a cookout in our yard, played some games and presented our gifts to each other. It cost us nothing and was a fun way to be creative and share family time. What could you do for a special day?
8. Look toward the sky. Take out some books on astronomy from the library, then go outside at night and see how many stars and constellations you can identify.
9. Camp out in the yard. Pitch a tent, make some popcorn or other fun snacks, and tell some spooky or funny stories by flashlight.
10. Visit local historic sites. There will probably be a nominal fee for mom and dad, but kids under 12 often get in free or at a discount. For a little more than the cost to get your destination, kids can get a sense of the history in their own backyard