The Good Life - Quick Fun Getaways

BET's suggestion for quick | inexpensive summer getaways.

County Summer Fairs - Please don’t think Hee Haw! County fairs are a lot of fun, they’re inexpensive and they usually stay open until 10 p.m. or so. That means you can go after work. Funnel cakes, fun rides, face painting, souvenirs, clowns, you name it. It’s like going to the amusement park smack in the middle of the week. Pack the kids up and take advantage of them.

1 / 7

County Summer Fairs - Please don’t think Hee Haw! County fairs are a lot of fun, they’re inexpensive and they usually stay open until 10 p.m. or so. That means you can go after work. Funnel cakes, fun rides, face painting, souvenirs, clowns, you name it. It’s like going to the amusement park smack in the middle of the week. Pack the kids up and take advantage of them.

Nearby Amusement Parks - With soaring airfare costs and gas, you can save money and time by taking a day trip to a fun amusement park close by.  Not quite Disney, but there’s usually one of the Six Flag variety or, for some cities, bigger ones like Hershey Park or one of the Paramount parks with exciting rides and attractions within a two-hour radius of your city.

2 / 7

Nearby Amusement Parks - With soaring airfare costs and gas, you can save money and time by taking a day trip to a fun amusement park close by. Not quite Disney, but there’s usually one of the Six Flag variety or, for some cities, bigger ones like Hershey Park or one of the Paramount parks with exciting rides and attractions within a two-hour radius of your city.

National and Regional Parks - Check a map that includes national attractions, you will definitely find a Regional or National park close to where you live. Some of them have overnight camping areas or picnic grounds. Others have basketball courts, fishing ponds, barbecue pits, pavilions, kayaking, canoeing, etc.  Plan an outing that includes lunch and at least one fun physical activity. For the adventurous, plan an overnight camping trip.

3 / 7

National and Regional Parks - Check a map that includes national attractions, you will definitely find a Regional or National park close to where you live. Some of them have overnight camping areas or picnic grounds. Others have basketball courts, fishing ponds, barbecue pits, pavilions, kayaking, canoeing, etc. Plan an outing that includes lunch and at least one fun physical activity. For the adventurous, plan an overnight camping trip.

Botanical Gardens - Check your local city guide, you might be surprised what you find nearby. There’s usually a nice botanical garden or arboretum nestled in the suburbs or park district of your city or the surrounding suburb. Plan a picnic with the family, pick up an outdoor game and some maps of the trails and escape into the arms of nature for a couple of hours. The kids will love it.

4 / 7

Botanical Gardens - Check your local city guide, you might be surprised what you find nearby. There’s usually a nice botanical garden or arboretum nestled in the suburbs or park district of your city or the surrounding suburb. Plan a picnic with the family, pick up an outdoor game and some maps of the trails and escape into the arms of nature for a couple of hours. The kids will love it.

Summer Concert Series - Check your local tourist board or city guide. Most cities offer a free concert series. There are usually a variety of artists that range from Heavy Metal to World music. But even if your music tastes are not as eclectic as the offerings, there’s typically one act on the lineup that you or your kids will be checking for. Plan a family outing around that performance and take the whole family.

5 / 7

Summer Concert Series - Check your local tourist board or city guide. Most cities offer a free concert series. There are usually a variety of artists that range from Heavy Metal to World music. But even if your music tastes are not as eclectic as the offerings, there’s typically one act on the lineup that you or your kids will be checking for. Plan a family outing around that performance and take the whole family.

ADVERTISEMENT
Next Town Over - Pick the closest city or town to your’s. Then, find out what the main attractions in that city are, choose one and take a quick drive to it. The change of scenery alone will rejuvenate your family. If the activities there take more than one day to peruse, book a comfortable hotel in a suburb (not downtown) to save your family some money. Most hotel chains are renovating and upgrading their suburban properties giving them a sleeker, hipper look that your kids will love.

6 / 7

Next Town Over - Pick the closest city or town to your’s. Then, find out what the main attractions in that city are, choose one and take a quick drive to it. The change of scenery alone will rejuvenate your family. If the activities there take more than one day to peruse, book a comfortable hotel in a suburb (not downtown) to save your family some money. Most hotel chains are renovating and upgrading their suburban properties giving them a sleeker, hipper look that your kids will love.

Free Museums - At least once a week, most museums have a free day. Leave work early, pack up the kids and take them on a cultural adventure to a local museum of your choice. Before the trip, print out information about the exhibit you choose from the internet to give your kids some background about what they’re about to see. End the evening with a nice dinner at an inexpensive themed restaurant. Encourage them to talk about what they saw.

7 / 7

Free Museums - At least once a week, most museums have a free day. Leave work early, pack up the kids and take them on a cultural adventure to a local museum of your choice. Before the trip, print out information about the exhibit you choose from the internet to give your kids some background about what they’re about to see. End the evening with a nice dinner at an inexpensive themed restaurant. Encourage them to talk about what they saw.