F: Festivals/Fairs

For these, think with the seasons. Many areas have spring festivals based on the first signs of spring, like Washington D.C.’s Cherry Blossom Festival. Spring and summer bring most of the Renaissance fair(e)s. Fruit festivals often take place in summer, like the Winterville (North Carolina) Watermelon Festival. So do state fairs, which may include fun 4-H sections. Fall gives us months of farm, harvest, and Halloween festivals.  Perhaps the oldest winter festival in the U.S. is the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, during which ice sculptors compete for prizes, prestige, and the pleasure of hearing spectators’ oohs and ahhs.  The Sundance Film Festival takes place every January in Park City, Utah.

A: A Tourist In My Own Town Day

Try to forget you live in your town and become tourists for a day. You can go to a library or bookstore and browse a travel guide to your own city. Look up your city or state tourism department, too. Choose a few things your family can do, and don’t forget to bring your camera!

M: Museum Day

Since 1977, the International Council of Museums has deemed May 18th International Museum Day. Check their website to find activities around the world. If it’s far from May 18th, google “free museum day” and your city name to see what comes up.

I: International or National Treasure

Use http://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm to find a national park near you – you may be surprised. Living in Florida, I knew of the Everglades as a national park and St. Augustine as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States, but to my surprise I also found two national sites in my own city.

L: Leaves and Petals

Visit a botanical garden near you for a tranquil day out. Wikipedia has a list of botanical gardens in the United States.

I: I Love My Park Day

Check out a county or state park for hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, camping…

E: E-Travel!

Most sites using the terms e-travel, e-tour, or e-trip are online selling sites. But what if you planned your own trip and explored the area, its attractions, and its food all through the computer in the comfort of your home? It wouldn’t cost a penny to put together a list of websites that could show you and your family some of the sights of a faraway land and even give you recipes for local cuisine. No, it won’t be anything like going in person, but if you’re broke or rained-in or considering very young children in your plans, it might be a nice alternative to real travel.

To give an example, for an English “day trip,” I could use one website to take my family on a virtual tour of Oxford, England. I could use Wikipedia to help me plan and cook a day’s worth of English cuisine. I could look up an inviting Oxford bed and breakfast and try to recreate as much of the atmosphere as possible in our home. There’s even a site to “translate” British English into American English for us!

S: Summer Days at the Beach…And More

Everyone knows about summer beach trips, which are usually popular with the kids. But don’t forget about ways to enjoy your beach in other seasons. A mid-winter beach picnic might even be possible if you all bundle up and keep a large thermos of hot cocoa available. Think of it this way: You’ll avoid the crowds!

The themes spell out a word: Have a meeting to ask your FAMILIES which theme sounds like the most fun!