Now the summer holidays are coming the boys have started to chatter and get excited about plans to see friends and family. It’s not just about nipping out for the day either, we’re talking about making a weekend (or week days!) of it here and there, visiting family, camping with friends and seeking out places that we perhaps haven’t been before. It’s all about the adventure this summer holidays and I am determined to make sure they enjoy themselves if it kills me.
So, from a mini staycation in party houses to camping in woodland areas with pals, here are my ideas for summer holiday adventures:
- Stay at a theme park or holiday park!
I love doing this, and yes, it’s probably the most costly of the bunch, so a one off for the holidays but who cares?! I am desperately hoping to take the boys to LEGOLAND Windsor at some point in the summer – especially now Toby is over the golden 90cm and can go on most of the rides. I’ve done similar at Drayton Manor and I found that staying over night in one of the themed rooms was SO much more fun than when we went down and travelled back. It just meant that the fun kept going on and on. The other aspect is that the kids aren’t as knackered driving home and then wired when you get in!
- Camping with friends!
National trust is one of my faves for this and I recently reviewed our time at Embers Camping which is the ultimate for people who like the idea of camping with the kids but haven’t tried it themselves before and want to get the camping vibe with the amenities. You can do it in your garden too, but it’s so lovely to invite friends over, chill out with smores and camp out in the woods (obviously make sure you have permission – despite what the movies suggest, pitching in the middle of nowhere is not kosher.)
- Hire a holiday house and make a weekend of it
When my friend Kate got married in a place (in the middle of nowhere, literally) called Danby, she found big houses to rent for us and her guests, in ours the first night was hired for the female side of the bridal party and then on the second night as a family with my in laws. I loved hiring houses with friends and family, we did the same in Wiltshire – all the amenities and the kids can play in the garden like it’s their home. Perfecto.
- Make a weekend visit to friend’s homes (and have them over at yours!)
Sleepoverrrrr! I have invited a few friends to come and stay with us for a day or two over the summer and vice versa, it means we can sit up late in the comfort of our own homes and have pizza and watch movies, then head off to bed and show off our local area. I love it, I don’t think you ever lose that sleepover vibe when you’re older and you have good friends.
- Go fancy, grab a ferry cruise
I haven’t spoken much about our experience on the ferry when we went to Efteling last month, but oh my goodness, it was wonderful! I am now itching to take a ferry cruise with Adam and the children, and I’m hoping that we will be able to do that over the summer! Alternatively, grab a ferry and take a trip over to Rotterdam, explore the city for the day and return… it’s genuinely not as costly as you think!
What adventures are your planning?
H x
