Flowers are blooming. Birds are chirping. The sun is providing additional light and warmth these days. We don’t need to look at our calendars to know spring…. and Spring Break are here!
Hearing “Spring Break” doesn’t result in shouts of excitement from daughters quite yet. But after several friendly, unsanctioned wrestling matches in various parts of the house, it’s clear- we need to a take a break and one that won’t break the bank.
I rounded up five Spring Break “trips” that require no time off, no lengthy travel and no plane tickets. Here’s the best part- it will only cost a few dollars. Consider it Spring Break on a dime.
Connect with Nature
The warmer temperatures and extra hour of sunlight makes it hard to stay indoors. Go on a family camp out! Grab your gear and head to a local park for a night. Or simply find some space in your backyard or den and set up camp in your home! Don’t have a tent or sleeping bags? Pull sheets and pillows off your beds for a giant family-size fort. The kids will love it!
Take a hike at a local park or a stroll around your neighborhood. Let your children explore. Can they spot any flowers starting to bloom? What about birds? Bugs?
Save a few minutes to enjoy the sunset, and don’t forget hot chocolate and s’mores!
Embark on a Safari
Looking for a little more adventure? Head to where the wild things are (aka your zoo). Spring Break week often includes special programs for members and day camps for older children. Check out a new show, animal feeding or event at the zoo. Print out a list of the zoo’s animal for each child. Include pictures for preschoolers, names for early readers and trivia facts for older children. Give them pens (or crayons) and see how many animals they can track down.
Hit the Beach
The beach is the number one destination for Spring Breakers. Enjoy the sand from home.
Play in the sandbox. Or bring the fun inside with Kinetic Sand. Don’t worry about a mess. Think of it as playdough made out of sand. The mixture can be modeled into shapes, and it doesn’t dry out or crumble. The colored versions can leave a little color on your hands and white surfaces. But it is easily wiped. There’s even a beach sand version!
What would a trip to the beach be without a cool treat? Enjoy some ice cream or popsicles. Make your own by pouring juice into ice cube trays or disposable paper cups with sticks in the center. Plan ahead so the popsicles can be freezing in the freezer for a few hours.
Experience Culture
Want to enjoy the finer things in life? Head to your local museum. Many art museums are free. Admission prices at others are suggested donations that allow you to give what you can. These days, art museums aren’t just for adults. They are getting more kid-friendly with special rooms, exhibits and programs for children.
Hungry? Grab some food, a blanket and find a grassy spot for a picnic. For once, you won’t have to worry about doing the dishes or the children make too big of a mess.
Relax at the Spa
We all need some downtime. Head to the store and pick up a few single use face masks, new nail polish, some leave-in conditioner and perhaps a bottle of wine or ingredients for special kid drinks. When you get home, turn off TVs, put all phones and tablets in a drawer and pamper yourself.
Have girls? Give them the same treatment with mud masks, manicures and pedicures. (My girls LOVE this, and I find it’s a great excuse to do a very thorough washing of their hair and trimming of their nails without any argument.)
Enjoy a glass (or two) of hot tea or wine. But don’t forget the little ones. Pull out the hot chocolate. Make some lemonade or their very own special drinks. For my oldest, that usually involves missing a little non-alcoholic sparking cider with fruit juice. Her favorite is one part sparkling cider and one part sparkling grape juice. To make it even more special, wet the rim of the glass and cover it with PopRocks or sugar.
Follow our Spring Break on a Dime adventure this week on Instagram. Please share your week with us!
