In my mind, the cold winter months are the best time to fly, while summer is the best time to drive.
So, every year when the weather warms up, I start planning vacations within driving distance of our small-town Saskatchewan home. And luckily for me, there are quite a few!
Want to plan a road trip and you’re not sure how to get started?
This month, I’m sharing my top three choices for summer road trips with kids that the whole family will enjoy.
Wilderness Adventure
When my boys and I want to spend a week away without having to drive too far to reach our destination, camping in a nearby provincial or national park is always something we enjoy.
From spending time on the beach to running around the playgrounds to biking along the campsite paths, there’s always plenty to keep the whole family entertained.
And, it’s a vacation that’s suitable for everyone from babies to adults.
Even better, many campsites now offer rentals of ready-to-camp tents so that you don’t need a lot of gear to have a lot of fun outside!
City Exploration
Spending a long weekend exploring the attractions in a nearby city is something that’s educational as well as fun!
Visiting local art galleries and museums is a peaceful way to spend an afternoon, while local festivals can provide active and entertaining fun for all ages.
Just make sure to check a few websites to find the city’s hotspots and make a list of the top places to eat!
Family Bonding
There’s no better season to enjoy a little time with your extended family than summer, because it turns a regular visit into a vacation!
Take a little extra time to plan some outings with relatives, whether it’s something extravagant like dinner and a show, or simply spending an afternoon at a local splash park.
The extra time spent with relatives that you don’t see very often is so important for helping kids to bond with their extended family.
You could even send your little ones out with family members on a special excursion of their own! They’ll appreciate the chance to connect with one another and you’ll get a break!
In the average summer, my boys and I make at least one of each of these road trips, and sometimes many more than that.
To make a spontaneous trip easy, I keep a bag in the car that contains a change of clothes for each of us and a few basic toiletries so that we’re always ready to hit the road.
No matter where you live, there are sure to be all kinds of fun adventures within driving distance.
Pick your favorite, pack up the kids and get ready to enjoy some summer fun on the road this year!
fun photos
Road trips are always fun when more families are going together!
We usually do lots of wilderness exploration and family bonding.
That’s exactly how my family likes summer…just being together.
I love exploring things in my own city as well since there are always plenty of things to see or do. We have only been here for 2 years so there are plenty of places to explore.
All three look like they would be a great time! thanks for the tips!
love doing road trips, especially spontaneous ones! We love to explore off the main road areas and living close to the mountains have found many wonderful places.
Roads trips can be so much fun for the kids and super educational too. We try to road trip every summer when we can, but mostly end up going camping when the weather’s nice. We spend far too much time in the city as it is!
Love all the ideas !! Nothing better than family fun time and time spending together with your love ones. Family is precious always be my most priority, childhood is so short not to miss being with them and just enjoy the moment when possible. Great memories will sure be long last in the family with all the fun time sharing !!
Provincial parks are nice places to visit.