With things around us slowly opening up again and returning to some kind of normal, everyone’s comfort levels are different. Some people are ready to jump back in to their old favourite activities while others are more cautious. For anyone not venturing far from home this summer what can we do to make summer special and exciting for our families?
I’ve done a bit of research of some day trip ideas and activities we can do as a family close to home. Maybe it’ll give someone a new idea for this summer.
The PPJ — We have this awesome trail in all of our back yards. We can bike on it or walk, pack a picnic or have a scavenger hunt to make it extra special. We tend to cover the same portion of the PPJ regularly so it might be fun to drive to a new town and start your adventure on a portion of the path you aren’t used to.
Beaches — We have quite a few beautiful beaches (some which are hidden gems) in our beautiful area. We have the well known Norway Bay Beach, Sand Bay Beach, Leslie Park Beach (last year they were not allowing day visitors, I’m not sure what the policy is for this year), as well as the Bryson Beach, Cote Jaune in the back of Calumet Island, Fort William up in Chapeau and the new beach in Fort-Coulonge. I definitely could’ve missed a few that I’m not familiar with. If I’ve listed one you aren’t familiar with check it out. There is so much to see and visit right here, all of which are free (except Leslie Park.) Pack a picnic, some sand and water toys and you’ve got a full day of fun ahead for your family.
Outdoor Movie Night — Something you can do in your own backyard. Borrow or buy a projector and set it up with your computer. If you don’t have a screen you can project the movie onto the side of a house or garage. Pop some popcorn, set up blankets or chairs on the lawn and enjoy. If you aren’t wanting to try this or have already done this, consider the drive-in in Pembroke. We attended for the first time last year and it was a super fun night out. Check out the Skylight Drive-in on Facebook for more information on upcoming movies.
Chutes in Coulonge — One good thing that may have come due to COVID and staying close to home is the way many people have focused on discovering their own surroundings before leaving to discover areas that are further away. One of those hidden gems that we’ve always loved is the Chutes in Coulonge. We love the walking trail, the history that we discuss when we’re there, we especially love the obstacle course for the smaller kids and the water games. We are building up to someday doing the aerial zip lines. If you haven’t checked it out, pack a picnic and make a day of it, you won’t regret it.
Sports — There are so many great sports to take part in here in our area. Take a day to go together, hike, swim or bike. Finish it off with a patio dinner. We are lucky to have a choice or two of beautiful patios to sit on all through the Pontiac. Choose one your family hasn’t tried yet for a new experience.
Camping — Whether it be in your backyard, a family or friend’s yard or camping in a campground, there is no better summer experience (in my opinion.) I loved camping as a child and love it now as a parent as well. There are so many wonderful memories to be had.
Scavenger Hunts — Make up your own scavenger hunt to include questions from the entire Pontiac region and make a day trip out of seeing all the towns.
Art Tour — Check out the art museum in Portage du Fort. For all those artsy kids or even kids who just haven’t been exposed to much art might enjoy seeing some beautiful pieces of art by local artists. We enjoyed visiting it last fall. I’m not sure what their hours are like during the summer but that information can be found on-line.
There are tons of great ideas out there and we do have great areas to explore in our backyard. Hopefully this helps spark an idea if you’re looking for something close to home. I sincerely hope you enjoy a summer with less scheduling and more time together as a family.
