Summer is fast approaching. I will be spending lots of lazy summer days with my four children, but I know they will ask "where are we going today?" daily. My budget doesn't allow a lot of elaborate trips and new toys to be scattered around the backyard. Here is what we are doing to keep the cost down this year:
1. FREE BOWLING
Register on this website to receive 2 free games of bowling PER child for the entire summer. We did this last year and it was the perfect activity for those rainy summer days or when I needed to mix things up a little bit. Our bowling alley does charge for shoes, FYI.
2. LOCAL LIBRARY
Find your local library website HERE and see what activities they have this summer. We participate in a weekly reading program, ice cream socials, puppet shows, story time and cultural events throughout the year. And they are all FREE!!
3. PINTEREST
Pinterest is my new best friend in finding summer time activities. From activities to crafts to project ideas, this website is sure to keep me busy. Need an invite? Just let me know:)
4. PARKS
Our wonderful parks (Cleveland Metroparks) has year round activities to explore nature. From educational programs to swimming to fishing and anything else you can imagine, they provide activities for the summer. New this year is Kids Club that gives children a passport to collect stamps for a end of summer party.
5. SUMMER CONCERTS
Most towns hold summer time concerts for free. We have plans to see various music performance from West African drumming to community orchestras. Our town even hosts an ice cream social yearly.
6. ZOO
Our local zoo is free to county residents each Monday. While these are the busiest days, we pick one area to explore in depth and spent the first 2 hours of opening time there. Not only is the weather cooler, but we get a close parking spot and avoid most of the crowds.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Kalahari Resort, Sandusky Ohio
Our family has visited the Great Wolf Lodge and the Castaway Bay indoor water parks a few times since they opened. Now that our family has grown to six (children ages 13, 7, 6 and 3), we were ready to give Kalahari Resorts in Sandusky a try. From what we heard, it was the largest of the 3 in the Sandusky area which can be good or bad. Here are some of our thoughts after the trip.
The Good:
- for a family with children of different ages, there is plenty to do for every one
- during spring break week, they seemed to have plenty of room options just a couple of weeks in advance. When we arrive, they were booked to capacity though, so reservations are a must.
- even when full, the place didn't seem overly crowded and lines to slides were reasonable
-there are areas such as the lazy river and wave pool that the entire family can enjoy
-our room was clean and the pull out sofa was a good option for the children
-good coffee and donuts gave Mommy energy to keep up with the children
The Bad:
- it's difficult to stay together and find each other unless you make a plan to meet at a certain time
- wish they had more clocks to figure out what time it is when trying to meet up with your group
-late check in and early check out make the time spent in the room very limited, but the locker room facilities were adequate to shower and get ready to go home
-observing the lifeguards staring off into the distance and bored looks on their faces didn't give me the biggest confidence in their abilities to respond to emergencies, but I am CPR certified and actually use those skills, so I was ok with that:)
Tips:
-Many area rec centers offer discounted rooms when school is out during the week, but expect to see all your neighbors there :)
-arrive as soon as you can to avoid long lines at the reception area
-pack swimsuits in a separate bags and head to swim since rooms are most likely not ready right away
-research nearby restaurants and print coupons ahead of time as food is pricy at the resort itself
Will we be back to Kalahari? Absolutely. But next time we will likely return to Castaway Bay and combine it with a summer trip to Cedar Point.
OVERALL: 8/10
PARENTS: 9/10
KIDS: 10/10
FUN: 9/10
EDUCATIONAL: 2/10 (there are educational opportunities at the resort, but we didn't go there for that)
The Good:
- for a family with children of different ages, there is plenty to do for every one
- during spring break week, they seemed to have plenty of room options just a couple of weeks in advance. When we arrive, they were booked to capacity though, so reservations are a must.
- even when full, the place didn't seem overly crowded and lines to slides were reasonable
-there are areas such as the lazy river and wave pool that the entire family can enjoy
-our room was clean and the pull out sofa was a good option for the children
-good coffee and donuts gave Mommy energy to keep up with the children
The Bad:
- it's difficult to stay together and find each other unless you make a plan to meet at a certain time
- wish they had more clocks to figure out what time it is when trying to meet up with your group
-late check in and early check out make the time spent in the room very limited, but the locker room facilities were adequate to shower and get ready to go home
-observing the lifeguards staring off into the distance and bored looks on their faces didn't give me the biggest confidence in their abilities to respond to emergencies, but I am CPR certified and actually use those skills, so I was ok with that:)
Tips:
-Many area rec centers offer discounted rooms when school is out during the week, but expect to see all your neighbors there :)
-arrive as soon as you can to avoid long lines at the reception area
-pack swimsuits in a separate bags and head to swim since rooms are most likely not ready right away
-research nearby restaurants and print coupons ahead of time as food is pricy at the resort itself
Will we be back to Kalahari? Absolutely. But next time we will likely return to Castaway Bay and combine it with a summer trip to Cedar Point.
OVERALL: 8/10
PARENTS: 9/10
KIDS: 10/10
FUN: 9/10
EDUCATIONAL: 2/10 (there are educational opportunities at the resort, but we didn't go there for that)
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