Since the beginning of summer break, I’ve seen dozens of my friends complaining on Facebook about their kids’ boredom and asking about interesting ways to keep them busy this summer.
I’m not a mom, so I’m not going to use this blog post to list arts and crafts projects or fun backyard activities to do with your kids this summer. However, I am going to shed light on a few free and low costs outings that are guaranteed to keep your kids entertained for at least a few hours.
Outdoor concerts
Nearly every town in Colorado seems to have a free concerts series happening this summer. Some cities, such as Loveland, have two (Thursdays and Fridays). See my recent post for Visit Loveland for details.
It’s likely that your town, or the town next door, has a free concert series. Some take place in parks, others take place at the mall, while still others take place in downtown streets such as the seven week long Louisville Street Faire.
Local county fairs
And speaking of fairs and such, local county fairs are a great way to entertain the children for a day. Check out this amazing list of Colorado county fairs put together by Colorado State University.
These county fairs start towards the end of July and occur throughout August. Many are multiple day events that feature music, animals, horse shows and more. These fairs are an excellent opportunity to introduce city kids 4-H. You never know, they just might want to start a 4-H project of their own next summer.
Farm visits
And speaking of things like livestock, if your kid is anything like me, a trip to your local farm or ranch should be on the calendar this year.
More and more Colorado farms are opening their doors to visitors. Places like The Living Farm in Paonia offer tours that include sheep cuddles and Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch in Loveland offers trail rides. At Jumpin’ Good Goat Dairy in Buena Vista your family can take a tour and eat some cheese – and who doesn’t love cheese?
It will take a little investigating to find a farm or ranch near you, but it will be worth it.
History doesn’t have to be boring
I’m a bit of a history nerd and I love visiting historical sites around Colorado and some are great for kids. For instance, Centennial Village in Greeley is loads of fun and if you can arrange a visit during one of their events, like the Weld County Fair Western Heritage Days (admission $1), your kids will be treated to living history unfolding right before their eyes.
Other historical sites to keep on your radar are Bent’s Old Fort (La Junta), South Park City (Fairplay) and The Agricultural Heritage Center at the Lohr/McIntosh Farm (Longmont).