Southwestern Ontario boasts some beautiful summer weather and a few really great attractions to go with it! East Park, Storybook Gardens, Grand Bend Speedway, and the Lake Huron shoreline – just to name a few.
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However, there are many other family-friendly activities close to home that don’t cost near as much (or anything at all!) as a water park or car race!
Here is a list of what my family enjoys doing when the weather warms up!
Museums (Indoor / Outdoor)
My daughter loves the Huron County Museum! So much so, we purchase an annual membership so we can visit often (which cost less than $70 for out family). This landmark (and family favourite) will frequently offer special events around holidays and yearly celebrations. This is a perfect family outing to have fun, enjoy each other’s company, and learn about our area’s history.
Fairs
We are soon coming into the season of summer festivals, fun fairs, and outdoor expo type events. The next town has a country fair in June with farm animals, horse-back riding, and activities for the kids. There are Arts & Craft Shows, Celtic Festivals, Outdoor Music Festival, and Farmers & Flea Markets. A few of these events are free (or you only have to pay for parking), but others are a small admission fee or charitable donation. So worth it to support local communities and enjoy what our great area has to offer.
Nature Walk
We are fortunate to have several trails and conservation areas within an hour (or just down the road) from our house. Morrison Dam, Hullet Nature Preserve, Menesetung Bridge in Goderich, Bannockburn, just to name a few. All of these locations offer beautiful groomed nature trails that range from 1 – 10+ kilometers.
Picnic
Our daughter loves eating out! We’ve compromised with her on a few occasions to have a picnic in the park or playground instead of dining in a restaurant. We pack all of her favourites, along with a couple of treats, and head out to a local park or conservation area or we just drive around a town or village we’ve never visited and check out someplace new.
Movies
When the weather is less than desirable, but we don’t want to be stuck in the house, we’ll check out the local movie listings to see what catches our fancy! This activity can certainly add up in price, especially when you add IMAX or 3D to the menu, not to mention all the snacks and goodies that are needed to watch the feature in comfort. We don’t go to the movie theater often, so when we do go – we do it right to the nines!
Bowling
Another rainy day activity that the whole family can enjoy! We are lucky enough to have a bowling alley less than 10 minutes away! Just a few bucks a game and a licensed venue – the whole family is happy!
Mini Golf
An inexpensive outing that everyone can enjoy! It doesn’t take a long time to complete a round of mini put-put, so you can visit an area beach or park – especially on a sunny summer day!
These are a few of our go-to summer outing ideas, but there are many more great activities – too many to list!
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