10 Fun and FREE Summer Activities to do with Your Family
You don't have to spend a fortune this summer to keep the kids busy and happy. Here are 10 free summer activities that ensure the family will have a blast.
It’s summer in Canada! And as parents, we are all about the free summer activities.
So get out and enjoy the warm weather, sunny days, and lazy nights with the littles…for free! There are so many things that cost an arm and a leg when you have kids, we thought we’d treat you to a few that will cost you absolutely nothing, not even a Big Nickel!
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- <h1>Plan a Long Bike Ride</h1><br /> <br/><br /> <p>It's time for a bigger ride at one of your city’s bike trails. “Choose a distance that your family is comfortable with, and if your children are riding their own bikes, ensure that they are well aware of traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian,” suggests Olena Russell, a mom of three and a member of the <a href="http://gvcc.bc.ca/" target="_blank">Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition</a>. Slap on the sunscreen, pack snacks and water bottles, wear layers and helmets, then get out and ride! </p>
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- <h1>Pose For a Photo at a Roadside Attraction </h1><br /> <br/><br /> <p>Not just a land of natural wonders, Canada is also home to some very odd man-made tourist attractions. In addition to the Big Nickel in Sudbury, Ont., and <a href="http://www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca/Products/T/The-Worlds-Largest-Lobster.aspx" target="_blank">the world’s biggest lobster</a> in Shediac, N.B., we also like the world’s biggest <a href="http://www.vegreville.com/visiting/what-to-see-and-do/vegreville-pysanka-easter-egg" target="_blank">Pysanka</a> (Ukrainian Easter egg) in Vegreville, Alta., the flying saucer in Moonbeam, Ont., and <a href="http://vancouverisland.com/things-to-do-and-see/attractions/worlds-largest-hockey-stick-puck/" target="_blank">the world’s largest hockey stick and puck</a> in Duncan, B.C. </p><br /> <br/><br /> <p><i>Photography courtesy of town of Vegreville</i></p>
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- <h1>Visit a Fire Station</h1><br /> <br/><br /> <p>Gather the kids for a free, educational tour of your local fire station! For tour information, look under Fire and Emergency Services on your town website. Some stations need a few weeks’ notice, so be sure check ahead. Consider taking a homemade treat as a nice thank-you to the firefighters who protect our communities.</p>
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- <h1>Visit a Playground You’ve Never Been to Before</h1><br /> <br/><br /> <p>No two playgrounds are alike. The equipment might be similar, but the surroundings and the vibe won’t be. Ask friends who live in a different part of town for their top picks and head there for an hour. Don’t be surprised if the kids want to do this once a week all summer long.</p>
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- <h1>Greet the Day with Some Early Morning Yoga</h1><br /> <br/><br /> <p>Yoga is a great way to start any day. “With just a few poses, kids can feel energized and inspired to face the day positively,” says Adrienne Rawlinson, an Oakville, Ont., mom of two and the author of Creative Yoga for Children (North Atlantic Books). This yoga routine from Rawlinson only takes five minutes, but will provide kids with a much-needed energy boost in the morning.</p> <br /> <br/><br /> <p>• Kids should start on all fours in table position. Moving into cow pose, they should drop their bellies and inhale. Switching again, they look up and point their bottoms to the sky, exhaling into cat pose by arching their backs and drawing their bellies in toward their spines. Do three or four breaths like this, alternating between cat and cow. <br /> • Have kids tuck their toes under and come into downward dog, with sit-bones reaching to the ceiling (as pictured above), for a few breaths, stretching out the hamstrings. <br /> • Then have them step forward with the right foot, and come into Warrior II pose: front knee bent, right arm reaching forward, left arm behind them parallel to the floor, and head turned to the right. This is a powerful pose. As they hold it, get them to say, “I am brave.” After this come into downward dog again, then step left foot forward to repeat Warrior II on that side.</p><br />
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- <h1>Hit the Beach</h1><br /> <br/><br /> <p>There are more than 30,000 lakes in Canada and three coastlines—which means plenty of spots on the sand for everyone. Find one near you using the free <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/waterkeeper-swim-guide/id435811871?mt=8" target="_blank">Swim Guide app</a> created by Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, a Toronto-based charity. There are also 26 beaches in Canada that are flying Blue Flags, which are awarded to beaches and marinas that meet strict standards for water quality by Environmental Defence.</p><br /> <br/><br /> <p><i>Photography courtesy of Tourism New Brunswick</i></p>
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- <h1>Visit a Farmers’ Market</h1><br /> <br/> <br /> <p>Beyond the farm-fresh produce and delicious baked goods, a family trip to a farmers’ market fosters community spirit, supports local growers and artisans and introduces kids to the notion of consuming less-travelled food. Find a local market near you <a href="http://www.farmersmarketscanada.ca" target="_blank">here</a>.
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- <h1>Visit a National Historic Site</h1><br /> <br/><br /> <p>Squeeze a little history lesson into summer with a visit to a fort, historic house or former battleground. Better yet, do it on Canada Day (July 1) when admission is free to the 200-plus national historic sites, national marine conservation areas and parks administered by Parks Canada. Plus, many spots host special events on that day, such as concerts, scavenger hunts and historical demonstrations. Find one in your <a href="http://www.pc.gc.ca" target="_blank">area</a>.</p><br /> <br/><br /> <p><i>Photography courtesy Parks Canada</i></p>
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- <h1>Watch a Movie -- Outdoors</h1><br /> <br/><br /> <p>What's better than staying up late watching a movie in the summer? Doing it while lying on a blanket under the stars. Pretty much every city sets up a huge screen somewhere (we know Toronto does them all over the place) and shows free movies. <i>Nights. Camera. Action!</i></p>
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- <h1>Have a Lazy Day</h1><br /> <br/><br /> <p>Not every second has to be scheduled. Stay in pyjamas until noon, read under a tree, go for a leisurely stroll after dinner before the sun goes down. Cherish every moment of our blink-and-you-could-miss-it <a href="http://www.canadianfamily.ca/summer-guide/" target="_blank">summer</a>.</p>
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