But I digress and we should really be talking about cheap summer activities and the one that I would love to mention are Splash Pads.

Okay, for some of you, splash pads might not be that cheap.  I know a lot of amusement parks have them and they can be a fair amount to get into but over the last few years, I have noticed a push for free splash pads. 

Some of these little gems are practically hidden from the general public and it takes a local who really knows the area to actually find them.  When you do, though; it is well worth the effort and you can easily spend an hour, several hours or even a whole day there.  And the added bonus is: if they are local, your kids can invite a few friends and be set for the day.

If you go to a splash pad, there are a few things that you should bring with you. I know you’ll remember your towel and you’ll remember your sunscreen but something just as important are pool shoes or any type of sandals that your children can wear. 

I find that many times the slip free surface on the ground can become…well..slippery.  I know it’s not supposed to but it does and who knows how many accidents (of the potty kind) have occurred on that surface.

Also make sure that you bring a blanket to sit on and hats for shade.  One existing trend of splash pads is the lack of shade. I’m not sure why the designers do this but I think it has something to do with the water. If people get hot, they’ll go under the spray, right?  Wrong!

Although I am not shy about wading in fully clothed, I have been at splash pads featuring cool and content kids only to see their parents slowly baking in the hot sun.  Some have just stopped by on their way home from work or maybe its a treat before they head off for work.  Regardless of the reason, the parents stay out of the water and overheat.  So the moral of the story, bring a shade umbrella and a couple hats.

Lastly, make it a fun day.  Bring a picnic, a camera and stop for ice cream on the way home.  Your kids won’t notice that you didn’t go to the newest and greatest theme park and all they will remember is all the fun they had with you over the summer.  And, of course, you will remember all the money that you saved, which is now going into school clothes and school supplies.

Sirena Van Schaik

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My family and I just spent this last weekend at the Royal Botanical Gardens. It was a beautiful day with the sun shining, a few cumulus clouds here and there and a slight breeze that cut down on the heat of the day. The flowers just added to the enjoyment and with the long pathways, wide open spaces and hidden forest gardens, my boys were able to enjoy it as well.

This isn’t to say that they were thrilled when I suggested the trip. “Ewww, flowers. That’s for girls,” they groaned and I saw two chins jutting out in defiance when I said, “Tough, we’re going to do something that I want to do for a change.”

When they got there, both were amazed. First, they were able to see a little informative clip on a tree that was found that can be traced back to the age of the dinosaurs. This tree is only found in one remote area in Australia, which is such a closely guarded secret that everyone who goes to the valley is blindfolded to protect it. Second, there was so much to see, so many places to run, and the rock garden provide so many paths to scramble up that it quickly became a favorite garden.

I was able to enjoy a more feminine outing, trust me, those are few and far between, while we hiked, yep couldn’t avoid that, and I gathered ideas for my own garden.

We packed a picnic lunch and ate it in a garden terrace filled with tons of greenery. That is one thing that I always stress for keeping costs down, don’t buy your food at the tourist spot. Pack a lunch or pick up a meal when you leave. The price of food can often drive up the cost of any trip when you buy it at the location.

At one point, my three year old shouted, “Look mamma, (my children call me mamma, despite the fact that I never use the word) this garden has a hibiscus.” To my surprise, he was right and we laughed at how well he could point out many of the plants around us.

When it comes to the overall expense of a trip, gardens rarely cost the exorbitant fees that other tourist attractions charge. For a day trip, with access to 4 gardens and a free shuttle between each one, we spent a total of 25 dollars for 4 people. So if you are looking for a nice way to spend a family outing, I would strongly suggest visiting a garden center.

You might be surprised at how many memories you can gain from the trip and as my husband, who used to make a yearly trip to the Royal Botanical Gardens as a kid, said, “This brings back some great memories.”

Sirena Van Schaik

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It was a quiet place that was occasionally interrupted by the shouts and flurry of reeling in the “big one.” Of course, the big one was never that big but in my mind, as I held up a fish bigger than my two hands were wide, I had a sense of pride that I had set records in the size of fish that I caught.

Now a days, I’m not as big about fishing as when I was younger. I seemed to have grown squeamish over the years and shudder at the practice of inserting a hook through a worm. My kids, on the other hand, rejoice when we plan a fishing trip and it is a great way to spend the day without having to worry about too much money.

Okay, before I go into anything, yes fishing can cost a lot of money but if you do it properly than it should cost too much. You will of course need a rod, reel and the other equipment for fishing but you don’t need to go top of the line for these things. A cheap kids fishing rod is perfect for a whole season or two of fishing. My kids have a fishing rod that cost 14.99 and it has lasted several years already. Adult rods can also be inexpensive so if you are looking for a rod simply for the enjoyment of taking your kids out, then by all means, go with a cheap rod.

After that, all you really need are hooks, weights, bobbers and some bait. You can get the first three things in kits for under 20 dollars and the last one can cost as little as 2.50. When I fish with my kids, we get very small fish, that do not require a net.

Lastly, a fishing liscence for the adult taking the kids on the fishing trip and for any children over 12 and you are all set.

When you first start up with this cheap summer activity, you often wonder if it is cheap after all. There are a number of items that you need but they can be reused several times. For instance, now when I take my kids out fishing, it costs us about $20 to $30 per trip. This includes gas, a picnic lunch, some worms and a quick stop at a local ice cream shop at the end of the day.

With the rising cost of everything, this is a very cheap day for four and we have a lot of fun. Since I despise fish, we toss everything we catch back and the only thing that we capture are photographs. I am sure the fish are relieved as I gently release them back into the water and I know I am overjoyed that I don’t have to scale and gut a bunch of fish.

So if you are looking for a cheap activity that is a lot of fun, try a day going fishing and don’t forget to pack some sunscreen, bug repellent and a nice picnic.

If you want some great tips on fishing and fly fishing in particular, visit Fly Fishing Dish.

Sirena Van Schaik

*The photos are of me on some river in British Columbia when I was about 5.*

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I personally know this because I just priced out a one weekend, 2 day trip to Niagara Falls. Before I even count meals and gas, I’m looking at close to $400 for the hotel room, tickets to Marineland, the Butterfly Conservatory and a journey under the falls. Sure I don’t really need to do all of this but even without the tickets to various amusement parks, there will still be a large amount of money being drained from my bank account.

With that kind of money going into a trip, and a whole bunch of summer left after those 2 days, I have come to realize two things.

1. I should probably wait until the off season (probably in the fall) before I visit Niagara Falls and
2. I need to find a few more things to do that won’t take such a large chunk out of my wallet.

I’m pretty sure that I am not alone in this and over the next few weeks, I will make a few suggestions on some nice family trips for low costs. This week, I would like to look at hiking.

Hiking is a big pastime for my family and I. We enjoy setting out on the trail, the soft sounds of nature smothering out any sounds of the modern world. The countless animals that we see and the good conversation that we enjoy as we walk. The hikes are pretty short right now, considering the age of my kids but I have been hiking with them since they were both 6 months old. First in a backpack and then on their own.

Hiking is fairly inexpensive and it can take a full day with lots of stops and time to look at the world around you. Most children love a good stroll down a hiking path and the older they become, the more advanced your hiking can also become. This last weekend, my family and I hiked a total of 3 km on an easy wilderness trail at a provincial park. The grade of hills was low and by the end, even my youngest, who is three, was not even winded. We wrapped it up with a quick swim in the lake before heading home.

If you are going hiking as a family it is important to be prepared. Bring a backpack and fill it with the following items.

• First Aid Kit: this is always important to have since you never know what will happen on the trail. Even small scrapes can become infected if they are not properly cared for at the time of injury.
• Water: Bring along lots of water to make it through the day. I like to freeze a few bottles overnight and also have some refrigerated. This way, the frozen bottles will be thawed by the afternoon and there will be a full day of nice cool water available.
• Lunch: Pack a light lunch. You don’t want to have anything too heavy for several reasons. One of these is the weight of your backpack and the second is that you want a light meal with a few light snacks during the hike. Too large a meal and you will begin to have stomach problems.
• Sunscreen: An important must for hiking since there will be spaces along the trail where you have little or no shade.
• Bug Spray: Another definite must. Make sure you have bug spray for both adults and children and that you have enough to reapply.
• Cell phone: Depending on where you are going hiking, it is good to have a cell phone (if you can get a signal) or a radio of some kind. If something happens, you can call for help. Keep it turned off while you are hiking and only bring it out if it is absolutely necessary.
• Compass: I know this may seem a little extreme but I personally have been lost on a fairly straightforward trail system. You take a wrong path, miss a marker and suddenly you have no idea where you are, add to that coming nightfall and things can get very serious.
• Watch: Keep track of time and make sure you give yourself enough sunlight to get back to your vehicle.

These are the basics of what you should pack and you will need more depending on how hard the trail or how remote it is. Just remember that this can be a great outing for the whole family and can involve a nice picnic in some remote meadow. You will be surprised how great the exercise feels and just being able to spend time with those you like all for about the cost of a packed lunch and a few dollars for gas.

So if you are looking for a fun day activity, why not search out some nice hiking trails near you, I know I will be.

Sirena Van Schaik

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