When the Fourth of July comes around we are all raring to go. As far as holidays go this is one time that almost everyone takes a family vacation. Sometimes it is sitting at home and just relaxing, for others it is going to the lake or the ocean, and yet still others make a reunion out of it and celebrate with their whole family. No matter how you celebrate America’s Independence Day you can make it a fun time to remember. Here are five things you can do this Independence Day:
- Play at the river – In Texas where I am from tubing down the river is a fact of summer life. The giant inner tubes from long forgotten vehicles provide the buoyance to float peacefully down the scenic rivers. As a child you would splash and play, delighted to spend your day upon the water. Even lunch was floating along with you in coolers strapped to the inner tubes. Little rapids made the river exciting or you could go the smooth route and just soak up the sun. Overhanging trees made the heat less oppressive and the millions of tiny fish glittered alongside you as you floated down the river. As an adult you could bring more than lunch in your cooler. Many adults enjoyed a refreshing beverage or two as they floated down the peaceful river. Groups of friends could journey together for miles as they floated along talking. At the end of the ride there was always some way to get back to your car. The original water parks, the river provided a perfect place to hang out and relax for a day or a week. For more adventurous sorts there were stretches of the river that lend itself to white water rafting. There are also picturesque water falls to enjoy and in one spot I remember sliding down a waterfall like a slide, wearing the bottom of my jean shorts nearly through. Fishing, from fly fishing to just sticking your pole in the water are also great ways to enjoy the river. I remember loving to catch crawfish, minnows, and tadpoles with my net as a child. The ankle high water was just deep enough to get me wet and keep me cool as my parents lounged on the grassy shade of the river bank.
- Go camping – We had many camping trips as a family. When you are short on funds camping is a great way to have a vacation anyway. I remember one hot Fourth of July my family went to a local state park. It was only a couple of hours away but it made us feel like we were getting out of the house and away from the big city. As we put up our tent near the pond my brother could not wait to go fishing. He scurried down to the lake and I was at his heels as his lifeguard. When we approached the water what I thought was a log started to move and I realized our placid lakeside campground was also home to alligators. My mother nearly had a fit and refused to let us near the water until a park ranger told her that if we left the gators alone they would leave us alone. Apparently they were very used to being around people. Still, the fishing was kept to a minimum and swimming was a definite no-no. Instead we went on nature walks and looked at the wide variety of birds and other animals that roamed the surrounding woods. During the night we sat around the campfire and sang songs and just had fun. At the time I was obsessed with bats so we drove a few miles down the road where a bat colony lived and watched them emerge at dusk.
- Plan a reunion – I remember as a child going up to Arkansas for a family reunion. Now, none of us lived in that state but it was centrally located for all of us. The long drive from South Texas up to Little Rock was one I remember with much humor. All of us, my mother, my father, my brother, my grandmother and I packed into a minivan heavy laden with gifts and supplies. We traveled the far distance with much arguing and fighting over who had to sit in the sun drenched side of the car, what music would be played and how often to stop to eat. By the time we made it to the cabin in the woods my family had rented for the week we tumbled out, grateful to be able to be out of the car for a while. The cousins all rejoiced in being reunited and as the oldest child I was given watch over the group of us youngsters. We roamed and played in the cool woods as our parents reunited over a large picnic. As the night fell we would all gather around a bonfire and toast marshmallows. As the adults settled in for more talk the kids played a rousing game of hide and go seek made even more difficult by the darkness. Armed with only flashlights and determination we would scatter, sometimes hiding until the cool night made us shiver. One by one we would be found or abandon our hiding places to resuming a place by the warm fire. I can even remember setting my feet up on a stone warmed by the fire and the soles of my shoes melting slightly before I had enough sense to move away. From large families to smaller ones a family reunion may be just the ticket to get everyone back together to reminisce and have fun. Pick a location that has lots to do that your family will enjoy. We even had a girl’s night out excursion to nearby Little Rock to pick up some jewelry and other natural stones that were made locally. It was a fun time for us all and something we look back on with great fondness even now.
- Hit the beach – If you are not the type that loves to be lost in the woods than a beach vacation might be just your cup of tea. From camping on the beach to seaside resorts there is always something fun to do. I love to visit the gift shops with their oddball collections of sea related wares. Sea fishing is another adventure. Docks protrude way out into the waves and you can even rent a boat or pay to go out to fish. Sailing is another way to enjoy the beach. I remember one time my family rented a sailboat for a day. The captain took us out into the waves and we enjoyed being pushed along by the strong ocean breeze. My brother watched with fascination as dolphins swam alongside and we even caught a glimpse of a fisherman in a nearby boat pulling up a huge fish that was bigger than he was. On the beach itself you and the kids can build sandcastles and draw in the sand. The waves made for great wakeboarding and floating in the gentle sway of the shallows is a fun time for all. Sunbathing and just relaxing and listening to the waves makes you feel peaceful. I love to walk knee deep in the water and look for sea shells. It is great exercise and collecting shells helps to keep it interesting for little ones. When my family went to visit relatives in Florida we had two more activities to keep us busy. One was collecting bean clams, or coquina as the waves revealed them. These tiny usually purple clams were raked into the open with each new wave and buried themselves just as quickly into the wet sand. As kids we collected handfuls of them and laughed as they tickled our fingers trying to escape. The braver folks also attempted to hunt down the sand fleas. Also called sand crabs, these large (1-2 inch) flea looking crabs buried themselves in the sand and would pop up when you dug deep enough in the damp areas. Beyond just the seashore though you can also visit seaside eateries and amusement parks in many places. There are also well known beach historic locations like St. Augustine, Florida that offer cool things to see like the fountain of youth and impressive forts.
- Set a Neighborhood Fireworks Show – If going out on Independence Day is not in the cards then why not set up something closer to home. As a child I remember our neighborhood setting up a fireworks show. During the day the kids decorated their bikes in red, white and blue ribbons and we had a big parade down to the local park. At the park there was a large clearing and the adults set up a fireworks show. Nothing too big, just a few homes banding together to buy something that would impress the crowd and make it fun for the kids. The kids would stay far back in the safe zone and play together on the playground until it got dark enough to set off the fireworks. Then the display would go on for a while with each family contributing a little bit. That way we all got to enjoy the display without having to blow a lot of money. As the fireworks drew to a close the kids got to play with sparklers and ran around having a great time lighting up the night.
The Fourth of July is a great time to be with friends and family and enjoy the summer. Take this holiday as an opportunity to get out and do something fun. You can go as far or stay as close to home as you like. The point is to celebrate your freedom and enjoy your time together. Happy Fourth of July!
Author Bio
Sara is an active nanny as well as an active freelance writer. She is a frequent contributor of http://www.nannypro.com/. Learn more about her http://www.nannypro.com/blog/sara-dawkins/.
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