Planning Family Days Out This Summer

The summer holidays are quickly approaching and we all know what that means – six weeks of fun, six weeks of keeping the kids busy, six weeks of expense. But these days out need not be that expensive. There are plenty of ways you can keep costs down and also keep everyone happy – both very important! 

Here are some top tips for planning family days out this summer.

Search for free things to do in your area

There are plenty of fantastic resources online that list things that you can do in your area – both paid and free. Take a look and see what wonderful things in your area that you haven’t visited yet and that are, best of all, free. You will be surprised at the amount of attractions that are in your area that you didn’t know about or haven’t considered before. Here are some in Nottinghamshire that I know about.

Plan in advance

We all like to have a couple of days in the summer where we like to do something really big. Whether that’s a week’s holiday abroad, a weekend in the UK or a day out at a theme park or in London. These things take planning and preparation.

With just a few weeks to go until the summer holidays start, it is best to start getting prepared now.

Take everyone into account

When deciding what to do, you will want to make sure everyone has a voice.

There are six whole weeks to fill so everyone should get to do something of their choice at least once. Some things may not be to everyone’s taste but everyone should get their turn.

Make sure you’re comfortable

Depending on what you are doing, comfort is key. If you are going round a theme park for the day, that is a lot of walking. The same goes for visiting National Trust properties. Comfortable clothing and footwear is vital.

Set money aside

It is quite close so this may not be too easy for this summer but setting aside money throughout the year is a great way to ensure the summer holidays don’t become too expensive. Even starting now, you should be able to save a little money to the various expenses that come from days out as a family.

Pack your bags in advance

When going out for the day in the summer, there are so many things that you need to consider and remember to take with you  – the most important being sunscreen, sunhats, sunglasses and drinks. Rushing around the morning means things inevitably get forgotten so try to pack your day bag with the stuff you’ll need the night before.

Finally, have fun

The last thing to remember is that it is important to have fun together as a family. The summer holidays can be stressful but don’t let them be so – enjoy the time you are spending together and make some memories that you will remember forever.

For you are wanting some more specific ideas on free things to do. There is a comprehensive list of Free Things To Do In The Summer Holidays With Kids written by the lovely Jen at The Mad House if you need in-depth inspiration!