When you see people on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube showing off their perfectly planned summer, do you envy them? Well, sometimes I do because I’d love to have the amount of money and time to plan and spend on the perfect vacation. It’s great to have dreams and goals – to be able to go abroad and visit lavish countries and taste exquisite cuisines, fly on a private jet and land anywhere in the world, or casually pick out an impromptu outfit at Chanel to attend a ballet in Paris, France.
While a perfectly planned summer vacation sounds ideal, not many of us are able to achieve that every-single-minute-is-planned dream vacation. And is it really a dream vacation when you’re so exhausted after traipsing through every mountain or hunting down the most exquisite piece of jewelry only to fall dead asleep on the hotel bed hours later? Might be thrilling for some, but for most the perfect vacation isn’t always the best planned. It’s the impromptu trip down the coast, or the quick flight to the countryside with the kids. It’s the visit as many breakfast spots as you can find, or the laying around the hotel pool watching your kids splashing happily and fearlessly.
I grew up with parents that planned vacations, mini trips, and most outings. But that was fine when I was a child. Now that I’m older and with my own family, my independent spirit takes over once again and I harken back to idling my summer months away in my childhood home’s backyard, picking an apple off the apple tree, laying on the Oakwood bench and reading a good book, or just running around with my Husky dog doing absolutely nothing. So I encourage you to let loose and not plan the most perfect vacation. Below I’ve listed some fun ideas you can incorporate into your own family plans and make them work for you.
-
Throw Seed Bombs – Have you heard of seed bombs? Back in the days it was sort of a guerilla type of gardening where people make little seed “bombs” and throw them into vacant lots, neglected lawns, and sidewalks. While in the present we do have to be careful where we toss these little flower making miracles, seed bombs are still fun to make and throw during an impromptu trip to the market, seaside, or while hiking. Here’s is a how-to guide on making seedbombs: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-make-seed-bomb
-
Beach Clean Up– You’re probably thinking, “wait, how can this be considered fun?” Ideally, beach cleanups are planned through non-profit organizations where data is monitored and analyzed. But throwing your own impromptu beach cleanup is a surefire way of getting your beaches cleaner. Your kind act might even promote others to help you! Next time you’re at the beach or seaside, be sure to pack some trash bags, gloves, and even a litter picker to help clean up the beach. After the clean up, be sure to use some all natural hand sanitizers.
-
Take An Idyllic Route – Get in your car and just drive. You might want to plan ahead where the best locations are to stop and grab some food, but once you start driving you never know where you might end up. You might discover local treats that will become your favorite place, or stop at a museum to discover local arts and crafts. Just be sure to have some water in the car and always be safe in your surroundings.
-
Spend The Day at A Garden Nursery – What I would give to just spend hours at a garden nursery, breathing in the fragrance of the beautiful flowers, gently brushing my fingers across the petals, and admiring the beauty of nature. Take your kids to a garden center or nursery, look around, ask questions, touch, smell, and enjoy the gorgeous array of plants around you. The various colors and scents will definitely brighten your mood.
-
Learn A New Skill – Learning a new skill, a new language, or a good habit helps develop your mind and view of the world around you. A new skill can be as simple as how to use power tools or as complex as how to tune-up a car. Whatever you choose, you can find something new to learn and improve yourself. Get your kids to learn some new skills while they’re still young. Help them choose something they’d like to learn and practice over the summer. Who knows, they might even make that new skill into a lifelong skill!
-
Use Your Savings For Something Fun – Now’s the time to use those frequent flyer miles or points on your credit cards and turn them into a fun and short trip somewhere. Or use some of your savings that you were going to eventually use for a vacation or a large purchase and just do something different. If you have young children, some pre-planning might need to happen. But if your children are older or at least in their early teen years, then a short trip to another state wouldn’t be too much of a strain for the family. Get your children involved on where to go, or surprise them as a last minute trip.
-
Host A Backyard Movie Day – Watching movies at the movie theater can get costly. Add in some popcorn and drinks and you’ve surely spent more than necessary. Throw a backyard movie party and invite your friends and neighbors. If you don’t have a movie projector or a screen, use a white bedsheet and check out some hacks here: https://hometheatergeek.com/beginners-guides/how-to-project-without-a-projector-creative-solutions-for-big-screen-viewing/
-
Museum Crawl – If you’ve visited even one museum in your lifetime you would have gained a bit of artistic knowledge. If your kids aren’t too keen on visiting museums – because they might be “boring” – then grab some close friends and do a museum crawl. Check out several museums whether in the same city or neighboring cities. Make a day of it by enjoying a meal at the museum, pick up some souvenirs, and relax in front of a Monet painting.
-
Park Passes – Get a family park pass or individual pass to national parks. Most parks require an entrance fee to help with the care and keep of these national beauties. Park passes can vary depending on the park you go to and the type of passes. Park passes are good for up to 1 year so you can enjoy the outdoors while supporting national parks and recreational sites.
-
Start A Garden – There’s something magical in growing your own garden. It is a lifelong dedication and joy and your garden can bring you happiness and satisfaction for as long as you take care of it. Your garden doesn’t have to be large and spectacular. It just has to contain plants that you enjoy. Even a small patio can grow flowers and edible plants in planters and pots. Start off with easy to grow plants such as succulents, sunflowers, and herbs such as basil, mint, and oregano. You can grow from seeds which will take longer, but is more satisfying. Or you can buy seedling plants for faster growth. Whatever you choose, try to grow plants that are native to your state or area.
This summer, have a fun imperfect summer. Make simple and basic plans. Or make no plans at all. Get your kids involved so they can enjoy their own imperfectly perfect summer too.
Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.
Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.
Happymomblogger 