Our family loves Summer and during the Summer I have a rule – I don’t like to say no. Especially if the ask involves climbing a tree, splashing at a ‘spray-ground’, digging in mud, creating messy art or finding treasures in a creek. We spend our Summer weekends and nights with as little of an agenda as possible. This allows for spontaneous adventure as we see fit!
To prepare for spontaneous adventure- I stock my car with all the essentials (in fairly little space) that we might need – should adventure arise. It makes to say ‘Yes’ easier…and allows us to be equipped both for the adventure & for where we need to head next without a trip home & without a regret about stopping.
I have to also mention – that while I like my littles to look cute – I anticipate that anything I put them in will get dirty…and I accept that fate.
To make Summer a choose your own “YES” adventure for your family – I recommend the following supplies in your car:
- Sun Tan Lotion
- Bug Spray
- Hat(s)
- Swim Suits
- Towels
- Change of Clothes – for them & you
- Old Tennis Shoes (affectionately known as ‘creek’ shoes in our house) or Water Shoes
- Baby Wipes
- Hand Sanitizer
- Wet-Bag or array of plastic grocery bags
- Zip-Lock Bags (perfect for keeping food or cell phones dry)
- First Aid Kit
- Bottled Water
- Butterfly Net – Mainly used in creeks
- Picnic Blanket
- Swim Diapers (if applicable)
- Bucket
- Bubbles
- Frisbee
- Kite
- Soccer Ball
- Baby Carrier or Sling (if applicable)
So where does Adventure & Saying YES take us? Here are some of our favorite spots in the Dayton area:
- Activity Center Park Spray Ground
- Nature Play-Scape at Grant Park
- Glen Helen Nature Preserve with a stop at HaHa Pizza & Young’s Dairy
- The fountain at The Greene to play in the water & listen to music
- Bellbrook Canoe Rental (the 2-hour trip)
- Playground at Patricia Allyn Park
- Hike at Charleston Falls
- Explore Learning Tree Farm
- Fly a kite at Carillon Park & Ride the Carousel