How did August arrive so quickly? Now that the end of summer is creeping up on us, there’s only one logical thing to do. Cram in all kinds of summery fun before back-to-school, of course!
Whatever outdoorsy fair-weather activity you’ve been putting off, it’s time to do it before you have to wait until next year. These are some fun must-do activities that should be on every family’s list.
1. Go for a family bike ride
photo: © berc/Fotolia.com
There is always some logistical reason that the whole family can’t go en masse for a ride. Usually someone (mom or dad) is lacking a bike, or the car isn’t equipped with a rack to carry three or four bikes to a trail. But don’t let that stop you. Two words: rental companies.
Many bike rental shops carry everything from bikes to helmets for all ages, so everyone in the family can go for a spin. And in much of the country these rental shops are open seasonally, so now is the time to go.
2. Visit an amusement park or fair
image: courtesy the Canadian National Exhibition
Cotton candy, corn dogs, park rides and carnival games are a rite of summer, so August is high-time to visit a local fair or amusement park. It pays to do a little online research before you go. At best you can score coupons or discover reduced-fare days, and at the very least you can find tips — such as the location of stroller-friendly entry gates or family washrooms — that will make your visit go more smoothly.
Don’t forget comfy footwear and sun-safety gear for the whole family, as amusement parks and summer fairs are usually vast and don’t offer lots of shade.
3. Roast hot dogs over an open fire
photo: ricketyus/Flickr CC
You might need to do some planning and firewood-acquiring for this one, but it’s well worth the effort to create a real open fire for the kids to roast hot dogs and make s’mores for the ultimate summer food memory. This is easy if you already own (or can borrow) a wood-burning fire bowl in your backyard.
It’s a little tougher if you’re an apartment-dweller. Even then, some urban parks allow you to book fire pits for the purpose of making a campfire. Check with your municipality or fire department for open-fire regulations in your area.
4. Pick your own fruit at an orchard
photo: Heather Sunderland/Flickr CC
By and large, the last weeks of summer are pretty reliable across Canada for picking ripe tree fruit. Have your kids seen what peaches, pears, and apples look like while still on the branch?
If they’ve only seen pictures of fruit orchards, or if they just want a tasty refresher course in fruit-picking, drive to a pick-your-own farm to fill up your own barrel of fresh tree fruit.
>>>Pick-Your-Own Farms To Visit in August
5. Eat at a food festival
photo: Canadian Tourism Commission
Whether it’s a low-key rib fest run by Rotary International or a busy food festival on a city street, Canadians love to come together and nosh straight off the grill.
Don’t let the a fear of crowds deter you; the secret is to get to the festival early on opening day before the hordes descend, when the food is super fresh, the food vendors greet you with big smiles, and there’s still lots of room to push around your stroller.
>>>Best Toronto Food Festivals for Families
6. Be beach bums
photo: Daniel Taub/Ontario Tourism
Haven’t hit the beach even one time this summer? Oh, come on! Pile up the sand toys and beach umbrella, plus a picnic basket full of snacks and sandwiches, and head to your nearest ocean or lakeside beach.
Bring beach balls, badminton sets, towels or picnic blankets, and have a blast. You don’t have to wait for sunny weather either, it’s just as fun to kick around a ball and make sandcastles on an overcast day and it’s usually less crowded too.
7. Take a boat or ferry ride
photo: Canadian Tourism Commission
There’s just something so quintessentially summery about getting on a boat of almost any kind. Canoes are part of our Canadian cultural heritage, but most kids enjoy the novelty of climbing aboard water taxis, ferries, or practically any other slow or fast vessel if you can’t manage canoeing.
Be sure to boat responsibly, and when boarding an unfamiliar boat, don’t be afraid to inquire about and insist on personal flotation devices for all the minors in your care (and for yourself, too!).
Helen Racanelli is a Help! We’ve Got Kids contributing writer. You can follow Helen on Twitter @helenrac.
