Planning Family Day Trips

Pack up the minivan and get ready
to explore.

Your own backyard and beyond are full of possibilities for family fun. No matter where you live -- big city, small town, out in the country -- there's plenty to explore. Firsthand experiences nourish your child's imagination and intelligence. Give your kids hands-on travel and exposure to adventures and you'll equip them with curious, bright minds for life.

• Plan a routine. Once a month, declare a family trip day. If it's the first Sunday of every month, try to stick with it. Of course, you can't ignore soccer practice or a best friend's birthday party. But you can make the Family Day plan a firm one most of the time by planning activities your kids will enjoy. Even if everyone wants to sack out with a rented movie, that counts. Being consistent about taking special family day trips tells your kids that time together matters. The regular rhythm of the monthly plan will contribute to your family's fun factor and to the stability of your emotional connection as a unit.
• Brainstorm ideas. First, get a local city or county map and, with your kids at your side, use a compass to draw a circle with a 5-mile radius around the dot that represents exactly where you live. Get out a magnifying glass and take a good look. What's nearby that looks interesting in any direction? It might be the woods across the street or a nature preserve you've never been to. If so, get tree, flower, and bird identification books and spend some afternoons learning about the flora and fauna in your area. Is there a river or stream that looks like a good picnic site? If so, pack a Frisbee and the family pet and off you go. How about that catfish restaurant a couple of miles away that people drive to from miles around? If you've never been, mark it on the list. The same goes for fishing holes, swimming holes or county parks that may offer a range of recreational activities. Use a colored highlighter pen to note any spot on the map that seems like a possible destination. Increase the radius of your day-tripping possibilities until you've exhausted what's realistic for your family!