Cousin Fun

Each summer we take our grandkids on a getaway for a few days. We've stayed close to home and we have ventured further afield. We do not spend money on theme parks and find lots of fun activities in the area we are staying. The best part of a getaway with cousins is the relationships built while out on this adventure. If you like to camp you can pitch tents in your back yard or go to a camp ground. I do not like to camp so we use points from our time-share to go to different fun locations each year. Google the area and check out what is available. Find some locals and quiz them to find fun activities. Ask friends on Facebook who may live in the area or have visited. Pinterest also has great ideas. A few suggestion as you plan, potty trained kids only, no parents allowed and if their grandpa can't go make it a Grandma Getaway and invite some of your grandchildren's other grandmothers to join you. I have had great fun doing the getaway as a Grandma Getaway.

Near or far some fun activities can be found wherever you go. Here are a few of the things we have done on our Getaways:

• Make kites and go and fly them
• Play on the beach
• Explore a lighthouse
• Take nature walks
• Visited miniature horses
• Rode on surrey bicycles made for 6
• Explored caverns
• Hiked through the giant Redwoods
• Visited California Missions
• Explored Old Town San Diego
• Toured the Mormon Battalion and panned for gold
• Explored an old west town and bowled in a wooden old bowling alley
• Swimming
• Hiking
• Played Tennis and racquetball
• Done crafts
• Watched movies. When in San Diego and visiting a lighthouse we watched Pete's Dragon. When in Angels Camp CA, an old gold mining community we watched the Apple Dumpling Gang and when at the beach we watched The Boatniks. You get the idea?
• Watch low cost or free productions. We are going to the Manti Temple Pagent this year
• Play games with them from your youth and tell stories so they get to know you better
• Visit landmarks, parks and museums
• Ride a train
• Have a candlelight dinner

The options are endless. Just take time to plan and make it great fun. It gets harder as the kids get older and there is a large disparity in age. Remember to come up with fun activities for the older kids so they don't get bored or frustrated with the young ones.