It seems a lot of people around us have lavish plans to travel this Spring Break with their families. Many Arizonans head to California, to Disneyland, Sea World, Legoland, or the beach for some R&R. Others choose Mexico or Hawaii, a cruise, or go up North. When others post about their travels, we might wish we could be a stowaway in our friends’ suitcases so that we, too, can have the time of our lives as well.
For those of us who might feel “left behind,” do not fret! We have enjoyable weather, creativity, and a desire to have fun right here in the good ‘ol “Valley of the Sun.” For little to no money, here are some ideas for outings the whole family can enjoy:
1. Local libraries: Have you looked into your local library lately? There are always free activities that range from babies to adults, crafts, etc. Ask about a Culture Pass. This allows admission for two people to check out local museums and gardens. Consider Boyce Thompson Arboretum or the Mesa Historical Museum.
2. Playground carousel and picnic in the park: Look up different parks in surrounding cities. Some have cool themes, train rides, and beautiful ponds. After playing on the cool playground equipment, why not enjoy a nice picnic lunch at the park? Consider alternating parks each day of the week.
3. Hike a local trail. Check out Lake Pleasant’s trail and see wild donkeys and beautiful flowers in bloom. Check out Thumb Butte, Thunderbird, White Tanks, Camelback, or South Mountain, paved or unpaved trails, and enjoy nature in all its glory.
4. Check out meetup.com or go to your neighborhood community’s page and find like-minded people to buddy up with for a playdate. Plan a scavenger hunt and find little trinkets and treasures to give out as prizes.
5. Volunteer at Feed My Starving Children. Age 5 and up can spend under two hours working together to pack food for those in need all around the world.
Some other fun spring break ideas:
- Movie night under the stars.
- Attend local free concerts.
- Walk the mall and get pretzels or ice cream.
- Call and see if you can volunteer at a food pantry or animal shelter.
- Obstacle course — create one with stuff around your house. Invite friends and neighbors to compete.
- Sidewalk chalk positive messages.
- Make a castle or village out of cardboard boxes.
- Write a play and act it out. Use old dress-up clothes as costumes.
- Check out fun “how-to” videos on YouTube.
- DIY arts & crafts Let me know if you implement any of these ideas and remember, have fun, and take photos!
Enjoy!
