Summer Vacation!

With summer quickly approaching, I have had so many parents ask me what I was going to do with my children this summer.  My answer: "EVERYTHING!" I miss my kids so much while they are at school that I don't know where to begin with summer.  While my kids to take a week or two for a summer camp of interest, we spend the rest of the time learning, exploring, and having fun.  I always seem to find my inner child during the summer months!

Most of the activities listed below are FREE, run off donations, or cost a minimal amount of money.  Check with the websites or call the locations to find out what the cost is, if any.
I have tried to include links to these activities and locations to better assist you!

Keep in mind that my girls are 4 and 7 years old, so these pertain to them!

• The New Children's Museum: Did you know that admission is free the second Sunday of each month? It is a fun, hands on learning experience for kids of all ages! Check their calendar for dates/ times.
• San Diego County Libraries: There are summer reading programs available, story times, computers with kid appropriate games for use, science experiments, take home crafts, etc... My older daughter enjoys reading to the therapy dogs that can be found at many locations.  
• La Mesa & Campo Railway Museums: Kids can explore the inner workings of the trains, and learn the history of the railways.
• Mission Trails Regional Park: There are hiking trails, a beautiful welcome center, and activities that can be registered for.
• Cabrillo National Monument & Tide pools: The view of San Diego from atop Cabrillo National Monument is breathtaking.  There are tide pools (depending on the tide) where people can have a hands on experience with sea animals in their home habitat.
• Carlsbad Flower Fields: Tractor wagon rides, beautiful views, and year around family events.
• YMCA Gymastics Open Gym and Open Swim : Here you can find swimming pools (watersides as well!) where the kids can cool off, as well as gymnastics centers where the kids can have free play on the equipment.  *Our favorite is the Santee location because of the large gymnastics facility.
• Santee Lakes: Here you will find a "Spray ground" for the kids, as well as playgrounds scattered around the lakes, paddle boat rental, etc... TIP: If you don't want to pay to park inside, they do allow pedestrians to enter free of charge, and there is parking on the side streets.
• Viejas Interactive Fountain: Kids can beat the heat and play in the water.  They do need to have shoes on (water shoes work best), and there is ample seating around the fountain area.
• Hilton Head Park~ Rancho San Diego: Two large playgrounds, grass, tables, and an interactive water area.
• Shadow Hill Park~ Santee: This park is great because there are shaded tables and chairs, as well as the playground has shade coverings, which is great due to the hot summer sun! Great place to bring bikes and scooters, however, don't let your children venture too far, as it is on the side of a hill, and we personally have seen a rattlesnake on the tennis court. So be cautious!
• Air & Space Museum at Gillespie Field: Children (and adults!) are allowed to climb through old aircraft and can learn about early flights. 
• Creation & Earth History Museum: We were here recently and the human body exhibit was going on, and my daughters were in awe of the inner workings! From the veins to the brain, they were intrigued! 
• La Mesa Car Show: Takes place in the Village and runs Thursday nights from 5-8 pm during the summer months.  It's fun to show the kids the old cars (with no seat belts!), trunks in the front and engines in the back, and so forth!

This is only about HALF of my list! I will post the other half later this week so be on the look out for it!! 

Also, later this week, be on the look out for ways to make the most out of these activities.  We will be using K-W-L charts (What we KNOW, WANT to know, and LEARNED), bar graphs, Venn Diagrams (Compare and Contrast), Collages, Cameras, and so much more! I will show you how to apply them to some of these activities, and keep your child learning over the summer without them feeling like they are still in school!