Ideas for family outings?

BEACH, well not in the winter. But in the summer the beach (ocean, or lake) Has to be the best. In the winter, going to the snow is always fun.

We have a list of a few things we really like to do:

1. Bookstore - Everyone gets to pick out a book and have a hot chocolate or coffee.

2. The park - We take a picnic and then pick flowers pinecones and twigs up and try to make something out of them.

3. Ball games - We live near a city that has a baseball team and a hockey team.

4. Ice or roller skating during the day - The night skaters are usually teens. It's just easier to keep up with kids in the afternoon.

5. Local museums

6. Try a new cuisine day - We try a new type of food once a month. This past month was ethiopian. Most times we cook at home, but if there's a new restaurant, we'll try that too. We also sometimes do "everyone's favorite food day". One time we had pizza, falafel, and sushi.

7. Pajama ice cream - We usually do this in the summer. Once in a while when we've already gotten ready for bed, we'll go to the local ice cream shop and get ice cream, but you have to be ready to be stared at.

8. Christmas carolling in May or any other inappropriate time. - - I did this when I was really young. I haven't tried it with my family now, but my grandmother was a lot of fun and really creative. She did that once when my friends and I told her we were bored. I then made it a tradition, and my neighbors thought it was adorable. They still talk about me and my friends carolling in the summer.

In the cold weather the kids LOVE the mall. I know it doesn't sound so original but the mall here has a game room, some coin opertated cars throughout. We go when it's not too busy like early on a Sunday and let the kids run around a bit, then we go up and down the escalator and they love that. Then we go into toy stores or the game room. At lunch we visit the food court. Then later on we get a pretzel for a snack. Also, we give our son quarters so he can get candy from those candy machines.

We only spend about $20 and we don't go in wind shopping mindset, we don't buy any items of clothing or anything. We just "hang out" and the kids love it.

My kids are 4 (just turning 4) and 1.

I went on my first camping trip at age 1 and a half. I've loved camping ever since.

A lot of state parks offer great programs for families at very reasonable prices. Try checking the state park website.

check your home state's website. they often have listings of attractions and stuff to do in that state. also try activitiesforkids.com. they have listings for each state for things to do w/ your kids. For instance, I have a 3 yo and a 1yo and we found out that the crayola crayon factory is near our house. So we packed em up and took a day trip and we all had a blast!

3 and under is so tough...I wouldn't go too far from home with them. Why not just set up your own back yard with a tent and picnic table. You could "pretend camp".

The Junior Museum in Palo Alto is great.

check website for Chamber of Commerce. or Go to parks, camping grounds, zoo, concerts in the park. festivals,

to the park, picnic, beach, circus is always a good one. Concerts like the wiggles or hi5

the park, the zoo-local petting zoos, the aquarium, the circus,

a show(kids show-sesame street, dora, etc)