School’s out! For me these words have always ushered in my favorite time of the year. The kids were home and we had lots of unstructured family time. “What’re we gonna do today?” wasn’t usually a problem because there were always enough camps, ballgames, and church activities to keep us busy, so time to sleep late, read, and play at home was welcomed. But, there were still days we wanted to mix it up and do something out of the ordinary.
There are several great posts lined up on the blog this summer that will give more in-depth and focused articles and lists of things to do, so today’s post is an A-Z list to get you started, spark your imagination, give you some ideas, and perhaps suggest some nearby attractions that are new to you or that might not have come to mind lately.
Keep in mind that the past two years “we shall not speak of” may have brought changes to some of the places listed, so always look at the website or call first to check them out ahead of time before packing up the fam and heading out on an adventure. And, as always, realize that some of the things listed may include hazards, so please do your homework before you embark. And, after your prep is done, Have So Much Fun!
A. Auburn University Arboretum (Auburn, AL)
American Village (Montevallo, AL)
Alabama Archives and History Department (Montgomery, AL)
Do an Alphabet scavenger hunt
B. Biblical History Center (LaGrange, AL)
Baseball games: Atlanta Braves, Montgomery Biscuits
Butterflies-Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center at Callaway Gardens
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum (Birmingham, AL)
Blow bubbles
Build a treehouse
Bake cookies
C. City Market Saturdays (Auburn, AL)
The Columbus Museum-Children’s interactive floor (Columbus, GA)
Civil Rights District/Civil Rights Memorial (Montgomery, AL)
Coca Cola Space Science Center (Columbus, GA)
World Of Coca Cola Museum (Atlanta, GA)
Construct a Cardboard box Castle
Build a house of Cards
Play Cards
D. Desoto Caverns (Childersburg, AL)
Delta Flight Museum (Atlanta, GA)
Do Tie-Dye T-shirts
“Drive in movie” make cardboard box cars
Build a Domino creation and/or have your own Domino masters competition
Play Dominoes
E. Environmental Learning Center at Oxbow Meadows (Columbus, GA) (reading days/summer exploration activities/film festivals/pollinator celebration July 9th)
Ecology Camp–Kreher Preserve and Nature Center
Have an “Everyone Eat your favorite foods day”
F. Flint RiverQuarium (Albany, GA)
Fernbank Science Center and Planetarium (Atlanta, GA)
Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Atlanta, GA)
Make and Fly paper airplanes
“What’re we gonna do today?” Fix-it day around the house
Fun Friday
G. Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta, GA)
Columbus Botanical Gardens (Columbus, GA)
Birmingham Botanical Gardens (Birmingham, AL)
Callaway Gardens (Pine Mountain, GA)
Decorate a flower pot and Grow a plant
Give a neighbor a Gift
H. Hike: Chewacla (Auburn, AL), Pine Mountain (Pine Mountain, GA), FDR State Park (Pine Mountain, GA)
Hem a garment (learn to sew by Hand)
Handprint a mural with washable paint
I. National Infantry Museum (Columbus, GA)-Summer kids camps, movies, family friendly activities, interactive exhibits/simulators
Visit Bluebell Ice Cream shop/creamery (Sylacauga, AL)
Make Ice Cream
Invent a Rube-Goldberg/Heath Robinson machine
Make an Invitation and send to a friend for a meal or play date
J. Learn to Juggle
Embroider an old pair of Jeans
K. Kreher Preserve and Nature Center (Auburn, AL)
Learn to read a map Key
Start a Key collection
L. Visit the Library (check out books, do learning challenges, puppet shows, movies, craft times, special guest talks, hobby days)
Learn a new skill
Leave surprises for family members (good surprises ;))
M. Museum of East Alabama (Opelika, AL)
McWane Science Center (Birmingham, AL)
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts (Montgomery, AL)
(Galleries, outdoor spaces, Artworks interactive gallery, food on site but picnics welcomed, closed on Mondays)
Museum of Arts & Sciences (Macon, GA) (Check calendar there’s lots to do)
Still wondering, “What’re we gonna do today?” Make a craft
Hunt for local Murals
Have a Mixed-up day and eat dinner for breakfast, breakfast for dinner, etc.
Make and follow a Maze
N. Get out in Nature
Be especially Nice to everyone
Make sure your room is Neat
O. Oak Mountain State Park (Pelham, AL)
Have an Opposites day
Make an Obstacle course
P. Providence Canyon State Park (Lumpkin, GA)
Go to a Planetarium (call first for information, some closings and limited hours)
Look at the Planets with binoculars or a telescope
Watch the Perseid Meteor shower July 14-Aug. 24 ( Peak August 11-12)
Play with your siblings
Need more ideas for “What’re we gonna do today?” Help your Parents around the house
Pop Popcorn
Go to a Park
Q. Have a Quiz day with prizes
Go on a Quest to find treasure, or knowledge, or whatever your family decides
Have a Question day and get to know your neighbors, family, friends
Watch an EQuestrian event
R. Rosa Parks Museum and Children’s Wing (Montgomery,AL)
Columbus Riverwalk (Columbus, GA) Biking/picnicking/parks/splashpad
Raptor Show at Callaway Gardens and check out the Auburn University Raptor Center for special programs
Start a Rock Collection
Read a book aloud as a family
Run a mile on the track or at the park
S. Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and Museum (Birmingham, AL)
Silly Dress-up day
Have a Sing everything day
Slip and Slide in the back yard
Go see Snakes at the zoo
T. Tellus Science Museum (Cartersville, GA)
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (Tuskegee, AL)-Two hangers and outside exhibits-open Friday’s and Saturday’s only
Tubman African American Museum (Macon, GA)
Thronoteeska Heritage Center (Albany, GA) Thursday-Saturday only
Have a “Try Something New” Day
Teach your pet a new Trick
Tell a story to someone
Try a new language
U. Look Up into the trees, the stars, the air
Clean Under your bed
Make the Ultimate ice cream sundae
V. Attend Vacation Bible School
Plan a Vacation
Have a Very, Very, Very good day
W. Historic Westville (Columbus, GA)
Take a Walk together
Weave a mat or pot holder
A good answer for, “What’re we gonna do today?” Have a “Work without complaining” day
X. Have an EXtra Day-extra helpings, extra time to read, extra hugs
EXamine things under a magnifying glass or microscope
Measure EXactly how tall you are
Bake something with a flavored EXtract today
Play a Xylophone
Y. Go treasure hunting at a Yard Sale
Wear Yellow all day
Eat only Yellow foods all day
Z. Go to the Zoo (Montgomery, Birmingham, Atlanta)
Go Zip-lining
Use zig-zag craft scissors to make something
Well, there you have a list to get you started. Use your imagination! And stay tuned for good posts from the blog for more ideas and more information.
Happy Summer!
