You may not be thinking about Spring Break yet, but your children probably are! Even though it may still be a little chilly outside, now is the perfect time to start planning for the fun-filled week. Family Spring Break doesn’t have to be limited by budgets or lack of ideas, because the whole point is being together and spending time hanging out. Here are a few ideas to keep the family entertained.
Beach Getaway
The most popular Spring Break destination is the beach! Alabama doesn’t have a shortage of beaches; there’s Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Dauphin Island, and Fort Morgan all in our state. If you’re willing to travel into another state, Pensacola Beach in Florida isn’t too far from Mobile, Alabama. You can create an itinerary of seafood tasting, sand castle building, and souvenir shopping. Some of the resorts on these beaches offer family friendly activities, so you don’t have to plan anything!
Last year, we took a group of girls to the beach. A lot of us have been to the beach plenty of times, but for many of these girls, that was the first time they had ever been and the first time they had ever seen the ocean. It really showed us how special trips like these can be. If you get a chance to hit up the beaches nearby, you should make a trip!
Educational Trip
If you’d like to have a Spring Break that expands your child’s knowledge, an educational trip may be the best option. Fill the week with museum trips. Find out what your children are most interested in and find a museum that explores it. Most museums are huge and take a few days to fully explore. Take the first part of the week to explore the museum. Then, visit the library as a family to learn more about what your child found most interesting.
City Escape
Maybe your family can’t take a trip across the country for Spring Break. No big deal! There are gems hiding in your city waiting to be explored. Visit any museums or parks in your area to get out of the house. Go to your family’s favorite restaurant, or try a new one. Research your city’s history and visit the monuments or statues. If your city has an outdoor shopping outlet, your family can shop, eat, and enjoy the sunny day and fresh air.
Concerts are also great for special events. One of our houses recently traveled to Tupelo, Mississippi to Winter Jam, which is a large Christian concert, and it was an exhilarating experience to travel “to the city” and check out musical groups they otherwise wouldn’t ever be able to see.
Staycation
Nothing’s wrong with a little staycation! If it isn’t in your family budget to take a trip for Spring Break, the week can still be fun. Have a family movie marathon. Create a fort in the living room or your children’s bedroom and binge watch family movies. Staycations create the perfect opportunity to be creative. Search the Internet for fun craft projects to do during the day. If your children are interested in science, there are kid-safe science experiments that can be done with household items. Spring Break can be fun whether you’re on the beach or in a living room fort.
At our home, we try to give our children a chance to have fun throughout the entire year, even if they don’t leave for vacation. We have three ponds on campus because our kids love to fish. We also have a disc golf course and plenty of places to play pickup games of basketball, softball, or volleyball. And we have some great bluffs on the property that are fun to hike and explore.
You can do a lot with your children just around the place where you live. All it takes is a little creativity and a thirst for fun and adventure!
Alabama Free Will Baptist Children’s Home
The Free Will Baptist Children’s Home has been taking care of Alabama children in crisis since 1947. We believe that each child deserves to have fun and be carefree. Spring Break is a time for family fun and enjoyment, and we try to offer our children the same environment. If you’d like to learn more about our home or how you can support us, contact us today.