It's summertime, which means vacation time - at least for families with children in school.
Now is the perfect time for some family outings before the little ones return to school.
But what are some of the ideal summer break activities to do with your families?
Here's everything you need to know.
Go on a Nature Hike: Explore local trails, nature reserves, or national parks
Do you live in a rural area away from major urban centers? You might think that makes fun attractions hard to come by, but they can still be abundant.
You would be surprised how many scenic locations can be found close to home, and what better way to explore them than hiking?
Find a national park or nature reserve, or just check out a local hiking trail. You'd be surprised how many could be nearby, just waiting for you.
Go Biking: Take a family bike ride along scenic routes or bike trails
Hiking not for you? That's fine; you can always go biking instead.
There are plenty of biking trails around especially scenic routes or views. Have fun riding together while admiring nature's beauty.
Play Sports: Organize family games of soccer, basketball, or frisbee
Summer sports are always fun, and they don't all have to be very intense, wearing lots of heavy equipment. They can be casual fun, a good way to get your kids to expend their energy while also letting you share some of your own favorite nostalgic summer activities.
Games like baseball, soccer, or frisbee are fun, low-effort, and can be played by the whole family - especially if it's extended family.
Visit the Beach: Spend a day swimming, building sandcastles, and enjoying water sports
Is there a summer activity more iconic and relatable than a beach day?
Beaches are fun for all ages. You could go for some intense extreme water sports such as surfing, or you could just spend time going for a relaxing swim.
Even if you don't like the water, you can spend time with your kids by the sand building sandcastles.
Beach days are a summer classic for a reason - so don't miss out!
Camping Trip: Set up camp in a national park or even in your own backyard
Another summer classic is the camping trip. Going out and spending time in nature, building tents, roasting marshmallows around a campfire - what's not to love?
Plenty of national parks allow camping or nearby camping grounds may exist. If you have a backyard, you could just use that.
Outdoor Movie Night: Set up a projector in the backyard for a family movie night under the stars
Another fun thing you can do with your family in your own backyard is set up a movie projector in the backyard for a movie night.
Put out a blanket and sit down with your family under the stars as you enjoy a nice, wholesome movie, a hilarious comedy, or maybe even a horror film if that's what your family likes.
Picnic in the Park: Pack a lunch and enjoy a relaxing day in a nearby park
So you found a national park but aren't in the mood for a strenuous hike or camping at night. That's fine; you can always enjoy nature by just sitting down for a picnic.
Pack sandwiches, salads, or whatever you like for a good picnic lunch. Just remember to take your garbage back with you.
Gardening: Start a family garden and grow flowers, vegetables, or herbs together
Spend the summer teaching your kids how to have a green farm by setting up your own garden. Whether you want a grove of flowers or a veritable pumpkin patch, you can't do anything with a bit of elbow grease - along with seeds, water, fertilizer, etc.
Just remember to stay patient - plants take a while to grow.
Crafts and DIY Projects: Spend time indoors or outdoors doing creative crafts and DIY projects
Don't want to go outside at all? You can still do plenty of things in the comfort of your own home.
Try taking up new DIY projects or crafts with your family. You can make fun new art projects to hang on the wall or build new furniture—really, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination and the materials you have.
Amusement Park or Water Park: Spend the day enjoying rides, attractions, and water slides.
Who doesn't love a theme park? Enjoy the adrenaline-filled thrill of roller coasters, or have fun trying your hand at carnival games or any other exciting activities at amusement parks.
But are you in the mood for something a bit cooler to beat the summer heat? Then pack your swimsuits and go to a water park. They have plenty of relaxing water-filled attractions, from lazy rivers to wave pools. But if you're a thrill seeker, don't worry - water slides can be just as fun as roller coasters.
Visit a Zoo or Aquarium: Learn about different animals and marine life
Most kids love animals, so going to the zoo is a natural choice.
Zoos are always a popular summer break attraction. They are home to animals of all sorts, letting kids see more exotic animals and learn all about them.
Most zoos are outdoors, though, so in the heat, maybe you'll prefer a more indoor animal attraction: aquariums. Check out what options you have near you—and remember, kids often get in cheaper.
Visit Museums: Explore local museums and educational centers
Animals not for you? That's fine - you can do plenty of other educational activities, like museums.
Maybe it's a history museum or an art museum. Regardless, museums come in all shapes and sizes, and there's bound to be one that's right for you and your family.
Library Events: Participate in summer reading programs and activities at the local library
School may be out in the summer, but that doesn't mean your kids should slack on reading.
Local libraries often have summer reading programs, which are perfect for helping children foster a love of books. Go check them out!
Go to a Fair or Festival: Enjoy rides, games, food, and entertainment at a local fair or festival
Summer fairs are iconic in many parts of the world and are, in many ways, smaller amusement parks with a local rural flair.
Enjoy the food, games, contests, and more.
Festivals, too, often are held in the summer. These tend to be more niche, sometimes dedicated to specific themes like comics, music, food, etc. Plenty of festivals are being held throughout the summer, so find the ones that are right for you.
Family Road Trip: Plan a road trip to explore new places and visit landmarks.
Maybe you don't want to stay so close to home. Maybe you want to go out and explore new places. So pack up your family in the car and go on a road trip.
The world is filled with many fun and fascinating new places to discover and amazing landmarks. Pull out a map - or Google Maps - and have fun!
Explore a New City: Take day trips to nearby cities to explore new attractions and activities
Road trips don't have to be limited to rural roadside attractions. Instead, go to the nearby cities and see everything that bustling urban life offers.
Cities often have a wide range of events at any given time, and the summer is no exception. Find out which attractions and activities the towns you're interested in have and head on over.
Volunteer Together: Spend time volunteering at local charities or community events.
Volunteering isn't just a fun family activity - it's a good way to help your community.
Charities and community centers often have events during the summer, whether food or blood drives. See how you can help out local charities and your community this summer.
Stargazing: Learn about constellations and enjoy a night of stargazing
Exploring isn't just limited to the great outdoors or nearby cities - and the sky is very much not the limit here.
Get a telescope out and go stargazing on a nice summer night. There are literally countless stars to spot throughout the night sky. If you have a remote enough area to do this, you may even catch some of the more vibrant starry formations usually hidden by light pollution.
Learn about constellations together as you and your kids try to connect the dots among the stars literally. And if you time it right, you may even catch a summer meteor shower.