Summer Fun

25 Ideas for a Staycation with Kids

Even though the days are longer, they seem to fly by when you’re at home. Projects and housekeeping can eat away at your valuable free time. Don’t let your summer vacation get away from you! Here are some ideas for a fun staycation with kids.

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25 Ideas for a Staycation with Kids

1. Put the kids in charge of the schedule. Let your kids help choose the activities and write them on a printable calendar page.
2. Get outdoors as much as you can! Picnics, parks, and bike rides are great for cheap outdoor fun. So lather on that sunscreen, grab a hat, and get outside!
3. Have a water balloon toss competition. See how far apart you can get as you toss a water balloon back and forth.
4. Have a bonfire, complete with marshmallow roasts and campfire songs!
5. Be a tourist in your own city. Try a Google search for “Best of…” or “Things to do in…”, and you will come across some places to visit that you didn’t even know existed.
6. Take a ride on the public transportation. Most major cities have some sort of commuter train, trolley, or bus system that can also be used to see the sights of the city.
7. Go for a hike. Using the alltrails.com website or mobile app (iOS), you can find nearby hikes rated by difficulty level.
8. Do a water play day. Turn on the sprinklers, set up a slip & slide, fill water balloons, squirtguns, a kiddie pool- use whatever you have available to cool off on those hot summer days. Invite some friends over for even more fun!
9. Make homemade playdough. I love this list of 34 ideas of things to make and do with playdough.
10. Take up a hobby. Learn how about woodworking, wilderness survival skills, cooking, photography/videography… Wikipedia has a great list of indoor and outdoor hobbies to choose from.
11. Have a dress-up day. Just for fun, get everyone all dressed up in “nice” outfits, even if it’s just for a trip to the local train museum or library.
12. Go on a neighborhood nature walk. Study local plants and animals, or make stone rock piles (cairn).
13. Play miniature golf. Make it interesting by holding a contest for the fewest hits, most hits, and the craziest hole in one.
14. Host a barbecue. On most days it’s too hot to cook indoors, so take advantage of the warm weather and fire up that grill!
15. Keep a photo diary of all your summer fun by snapping photos of all the places you visit. Even trips to the neighborhood park are worthy of sharing with family and friends on Facebook. Use an app like Flipagram (iOS) to turn your staycation photos into a video.
16. Go bowling. Make it interesting by using some funny bowling ideas: Bowl like a T-Rex or bowl with socks on your hands. Find more ideas here and here.
17. Go paddleboarding or kayaking.
18. Go fishing.
19. Have a family movie night. Do it up right with popped popcorn, dimmed lights, or maybe even let the kiddos make movie tickets and set up a concession stand!
20. Invite friends over for a game night. Make it a potluck and have everyone vote on their favorite dish, with a prize for the winner.
21. Go for a drive. Hop in the car, crank up the tunes, and check out the local sights. For even more fun, head out late in the afternoon and watch the sunset from somewhere new.
22. Another way to have fun at home is to start and finish a puzzle. Put on some of your favorite music, grab some cold drinks and enjoy your time at home.
23. Go geochaching. It’s like local treasure hunting using GPS. It’s super fun, free, and there are treasures (geocaches) worldwide.
24. Do a craft project. Choose a DIY that you’ve been thinking about or check your local craft and hobby store for a kid-friendly project. These 101 Kids Activities have some promising ideas too!
25. Go apple picking or berry picking. Use the fruits of your labor (pun intended) in pancakes, smoothies, or make homemade popsicles!

If you are lucky enough to get time off of work this holiday season, you will want to make the best of it. Hopefully these suggestions will give you some fresh ideas for a fun, affordable staycation with kids.

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What are you doing for exercise during shelter in place? Definitely my biggest challenge of sheltering in place as a solo parent is getting enough exercise. The kids are plenty active. But me? I tend to find myself sitting on my tush ? … a lot! Our rooms are small, so I usually prefer exercising outdoors-jogging, hiking, walking by the beach. Stuff like that. But I can’t really get an adult-sized workout outdoors with kids. Oh sunshine how I need you ?? Now that trails and county parks are opening back up, I’m making a list of places we can hike as a family. Also, I asked other moms for what workouts they recommend that can be done in a small living room. Some of their ideas were: On YouTube •PopSugar Fitness (free) •Orangetheory Fitness (free) •Trainer Kaitlin •Chloe Ting On Amazon Prime •Maggie Binkley (she’s adorable and fun) •Lumowell workouts, such as the 500-calorie Total Body HIIT workout. These are kinda weird because the trainer is a computer-generated avatar, but it has VERY clear and helpful tips on correct body position while you’re doing the moves.
A post shared by Nikki | Simply Sweet Days (@simply_sweet_days) on May 15, 2020 at 1:41pm PDT

Ideas to make your staycation at home more exciting. This big list of family activities will be fun for couples with kids or without, during summer or on Spring Break. These tips offer plenty of cheap things to do, as well as some creative ways to spend you weekend free time.

Day Trip to Palm Springs with Kids

This post is sponsored by Palm Springs but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Last weekend we were feeling adventurous so we hopped in the car and drove out to visit beautiful the beautiful desert oasis, Palm Springs. For us it is only 90 miles away, which is closer than L.A. and there was no traffic. Hooray for that! We had so much fun on our one day getaway that I just had to share with you our day trip to Palm Springs with kids.

First Stop on the Right

As you pull in to Palm Springs, the very first building you will see is the tourist center. I highly recommend you stop in! The folks here have maps and all the info you need to make the most of your trip. They will probably suggest you take the aerial tram up the mountain. The views are breathtaking and, if you go during the winter, there is often snow up there! Since we’ve already been up the tram for a spring break jaunt a few years back, we headed for downtown Palm Springs. But I can’t stress enough how awesome the tram experience is, and if you’re new to Palm Springs you absolutely must add this to your to-do list!

Checking Out Downtown Palm Springs

Once you’re downtown, it’s a good idea to drive down the main strip and get an idea of what you want to see and do. Or better yet, park in one of the free parking lots, get out, and walk! That’s what we did, because we wanted to get the full downtown experience. Downtown Palm Springs boasts a wide range of unique shops, breweries, and restaurants. There are over 100 dining options including sweet shoppes, ice cream, and gelato. The hard part isn’t finding a nice place to eat, it’s getting everyone to agree one of the many delicious restaurants!

Great restaurants AND a local brewery!

We stopped for lunch at Blue Coyote Grill, which serves traditional Mexican dishes, but they also have mac ‘n cheese on their kids menu. That’s a win-win for us! The staff were very friendly and treated the twins as if they were little princesses. We dined on the patio because Palm Springs weather is pretty mild mid-day in the winter.

Other Must-See Points of Interest

The backdrop of Palm Springs is the majestic San Bernadino mountains. A stunning contrast of desert palms against the tall, dark mountains gives Palm Springs a tropical feel to it. We all pulled over at one point just to look at the breathtaking scenery. My photos don’t do it justice, so you’ll have to go see for yourself!

As you drive around Palm Springs, also pay special attention to the architecture. This building designs are unlike most busy cities. Even the KFC has a distinct structure, almost resembling a scene from the Jetsons! The homes in some neighborhoods are also pretty interesting if you have the chance to drive through.

Gotta love that front door decor!

Be sure and stop by the Moorten Botanical Gardens. The cacti and other flora are incredible. The kids had so many questions about the plants in the “cactarium” We met some doves and a large African tortoise named Tank!

Inside the world’s only “Cactarium”

If you come from March through October you can also take advantage of the Wet ‘n’ Wild Palm Springs waterpark. The many slippery rides and attractions will provide fun for the whole family.

With all the unique family experiences Palm Springs has to offer, it just makes sense to head out there on a day trip with the kids! No matter the time of year, you are sure to find great dining experiences and opportunities to make family memories.

Refreshing Summer Smoothie Recipe

One of our favorite things to do during the summer is make yummy frozen pops and blended treats from fresh fruit. This refreshing summer smoothie hits the spot on hot summer afternoons. It’s not just a summer drink, though. Most of the ingredients can be found in the frozen fruit section of your grocery store, so you can enjoy this summer smoothie year-round! The ingredients give it a taste that is very similar to a Jamba Juice Peach Perfection, one of my absolute favorites. This refreshing summer smoothie hits the spot on hot summer afternoons. You can make it from fresh or frozen fruit and enjoy this drink year-round!

You can peel the plums and peaches before chopping them, but you really don’t have to. There may be flakes of fruit peel in the smoothie, but that shouldn’t take away from the flavor.

If you do want the peels off of the fruits, you can add them to a pot of boiling water for not longer than 30 seconds. Remove the peaches and plums from the hot water and place them in a dish of cold water. Then use a paring knife to peel away the skin. It should be ready to come right off!

Refreshing Summer Smoothie Ingredients

2 small plums, chopped
1 medium white peach, chopped
1 cup frozen mango chunks
1-1/2 cup orange juice
Pineapple wedge for garnish (optional)

** A note about peeling the fruit: You can keep the fruit peels on or take them off. As I was chopping the plums, the skin was easily pulling away from the flesh. I removed the plum skin before adding them to the blender, but I left the peach skins on. You will see flakes of peach skin in the smoothie, but no worries, you won’t taste them. Leaving the skin on the plums and peaches increases the fiber content, adding to the nutritional benefits of this low-calorie smoothie!

Add fruits and juice to blender. Pulse on high for 2-3 minutes until ingredients completely smooth. Serve chilled.

Makes 2 8-oz servings.

Pin it for later! This refreshing summer smoothie hits the spot on hot summer afternoons. You can also make it from frozen fruit and enjoy this drink year-round!

Make a Busy Bin for a Road Trip with Kids

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RoadTripOil #CollectiveBias

When I was little, my parents would take us on long road trips to visit family along the west coast. We’d pile in our big old suburban and trek all the way from San Diego to Seattle, stopping to see aunts and uncles along the way. Back then we didn’t have tablets or portable DVDs to keep us entertained on long stretches in the car. So we brought “busy bins” filled with things to occupy us on the drive. In a few weeks I’ll be traveling to Las Vegas by car, and I was thinking that this is the perfect time to make my own version of a busy bin for our road trip with kids! Check out the video at the bottom of this post to see it in action.

We Always Prep Our Car for a Road Trip with Kids

When you’re traveling with kids, there is so much advanced planning to take care of. We always make sure our car is ready for the road by getting it checked by a professional. Our big family minivan has seen better days, but thankfully the Pennzoil® High Mileage oil change was on rollback at our local Walmart! Visit the Walmart Rollback page to find locations and services in your area.

Our oil change at the Walmart Automotive Care Center included Pennzoil® High Mileage Vehicle® motor oil which is specifically designed for new or late model vehicles with over 75,000 miles. I love that it helps clean out sludge that lesser oils leave behind. The experts at the Automotive Care Center also inspect all over the car. We had tires, battery, blinkers and headlights tested and checked, giving me peace of mind before heading out on our trip.

What Goes in My Busy Bin

I’m not anti-electronic devices, as you may already know from our post about the tablets we got for the twins. Still, I want my preschoolers to be doing active play and using their imaginations as much as possible. I was trying to come up with things for them to do in the car that didn’t involve screens. Enter the “Busy Bin”:

First, you need a plastic bucket or wash tub. Our twins are sharing theirs so I drew a line down the middle so they each have their own side (because, siblings).

Stock it with snacks that your kids can open on their own. We put in fruit gummies, popcorn, a juice drink, and some fruit pouches.

Throw in plenty of stickers that your children can use to decorate the bucket.

For a special treat, add a new toy! Our girls love blind bags so I put in 2 of those, plus some little dolls. They couldn’t wait to start playing with these toys, so I knew the girls would be busy playing instead of asking for a tablet.

Take Care of All Your Road Trip Prep in One Place

This busy mom doesn’t have time to make multiple stops. After dropping my car off for an oil change at Walmart’s Automotive Care Center, I was able to get everything I needed for making a busy bucket while at the store! I found a treat for each girl in the toys section, plenty of sticker options in the crafts & party supplies section, and snacks in the food section.

I let the experts make my life easier so I can get my oil changed while I shop! I’m saving time AND money when I get my oil change on Rollback. What road trip must-have would you shop for at Walmart while you wait?

Join the Summer Celebration with Chef Anthony Lamas at Macy’s

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of Macy’s; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

From Belmont Park to the Safari Park, there is so much to see and do in San Diego, especially during the summer. One of the hidden gems that foodies are sure to enjoy are Macy’s Culinary Council events. On July 29th, Macy’s has invited Chef Anthony Lamas to give us a peek into the hows and whys of his famed Latin-style cooking.

Meet Acclaimed Chef Anthony Lamas

Chef Anthony Lamas’s restaurant, Seviche, has been thriving in Louisville, Kentucky for over a decade. As a Central California native, Lamas’s own cultural background inspires the restaurant’s Nuevo Latino cuisine with its spice of culture and flavor. Seviche brings the freshest ingredients into every dish in a style that belongs only to Chef Anthony Lamas.

Lamas’s talent has earned him fame as “Best Chef” by both local and national publications. In 2011 he won the title of “Extreme Chef” on Food Network. He is also recognized as a leader in sustainable seafood practices, earning himself a Seafood Ambassador Award.

Chef Anthony Lamas will be sharing his cooking secrets with us at the Macy’s in Mission Valley, San Diego. He will create some of his favorite award-winning dishes and give us tips on his technique. Come to this celebration at 12pm ready to enjoy plenty of delicious food and drinks! The event is totally free, RSVP here to ensure your spot.

Via thermador.com

Celebrate Summer with a Special Macy’s Offer

After the demonstration, you may find that you’re ready to hit the kitchen and hone in on your own culinary skills. With your Evite registration, you will receive a $10 Macy’s gift card at the event. Attendees who spend $35 in the Home department will also receive a special Macy’s gift and a copy of Chef Anthony Lamas’s book, Southern Heat, which he will sign for you.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what Chef Anthony Lamas has in store for us. IT’s going to be such a treat to see him in action. Don’t forget to sign up via the evite registration, and I’ll see you there!

Visiting Torrey Pines State Park with Kids

We’re trying to do a family staycation this week but our budget is pretty tight since I’m not working right now. We wanted to do something fun but not too expensive so we planned a day outing with some friends to visit Torrey Pines State Park in San Diego.

Exploring Torrey Pines State Park with Kids

We packed a lunch and brought our own water and snacks, since there isn’t any place to buy food there anyway. Parking costed $15 at the time. The kids in our group ranged from ages 7 to 2, and they had a lot of fun exploring the park. You can catch an overview of our adventure in this video.

The Hike

There are several trails that weave through the park. We chose a short ¾ mile hike down to the beach. You pass a big reddish craggly rock, which is perfect for kids to scramble around on. There is a primitive bench to take a break on at 2 different spots along the trail overlooking the gorgeous coastline. On the trip to the beach, it’s all downhill and there is a nice breeze. But beware, the trip back is uphill and the wind is behind you so you don’t really feel it. It’s a lot hotter on the way back! The girls got a little cranky near the end but they were able to complete the hike. Johnny had to be carried about halfway through the return trip.

The Beach

As long as it’s not high tide you can walk pretty far down the stretch of grey-black sand. It’s a State Park, so you aren’t supposed to take shells or rocks home with you. A large boulder sticks out into the surf and the waves splash against it on the ocean side. The rock is home to crabs, anemones, and shellfish. There is a lot for kids to see here.

The Visitor Center

Torrey Pines docents shared artifacts with us, and let the kids touch and pick them up. Torrey Pines State Park is a unique place because the Torrey Pines trees are almost extinct. They can only be found at this park and on one of the Channel Islands just off the coast of Southern California. They are a fascinating-looking species, don’t you think?

Torrey Pine Tree found in San Diego California

Via Photos By Clark on Flickr

I was raised in San Diego, so this park has been a place I visited often as a child. If you plan to visit San Diego, you have got to make time to see this park (after you take the kids to LegoLand, of course 😉 . The gentle San Diego weather makes it cool but not hot almost all year long. Expect fog in the mornings and late afternoons, and hot sunshine midday during the summer.

Let me know if you have been or plan to go to San Diego!

Planning a trip to San Diego California with kids? One of my favorite things to do in America's Finest City is explore Torrey Pines State Park. It's got easy hiking trails and beautiful beaches, and is practically free since yuo only have to pay for parking!

Teaching your Kids to Live Naturally

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FreeOfSulfates #CollectiveBias

Last week I went as a counselor to my school’s 6th grade camp. We had a blast by the beach while learning about San Diego’s environment and habitat. Campers explored the jetty looking for sea life, and a few boys even dared each other to LICK a sea anemone! The bummer was that I had to leave my cell phone and laptop at home (gasp!), which really made me think about how digitally-dependent my family has become. During those days at camp I got to be like a kid again and live naturally.

After several days out in the fresh air and sunshine, I’ve decided to make some changes at home. It’s important to me that my children appreciate living close to nature. Along with this, they need to learn a respect for the environment and their bodies. we help our kids to live naturally by growing our own veggies and flowers

3 ways to teach kids to live naturally

Start a Family Garden

How cool is this idea for growing squash in a planter box?

One of the best ways to encourage kids to eat veggies is by working as a family to grow them. We started a little garden on our back patio a few weeks back.

Unfortunately, the plants got gobbled up by birds. I’ve learned a thing or two about protecting your garden from winged intruders now, so look out for a garden post soon once I get round 2 growing again!

Shop products with better-for-you ingredients

When I was at Walmart last week I came across this great sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner in the hair care section. AVEENO PURE RENEWAL® Shampoo and Conditioner contains naturally derived cleansers and a sulfate free formula that gently cleans your hair and scalp. I like knowing what I’m putting in and on my body, and that I’m taking steps toward a healthy lifestyle. Using this digital coupon, you can get AVEENO PURE RENEWAL® Shampoo and Conditioner for $1 off (excluding travel sizes).

Show your kids how much fun outdoor play can be

Every once in awhile it’s great to go outside and just have fun as a family. Anywhere you can find some open space, there is bound to be something you can do with your kids.

Some ideas for outdoor fun are:

Have a water fight
Go bird watching
Draw with sidewalk chalk
Blow bubbles
Jump rope
Visit a nature preserve
Hunt for bugs
Play catch
Go on a hike
Visit a “U-Pick” farm
Make a bird feeder
Collect leaves
Make s’mores

Basically, kids of all ages will get a kick out of playing outdoor games, just because they love hanging out with their parents!

The drawback to when you live naturally by playing outdoors is how dirty kids get when they’re busy enjoying nature. NEW sulfate free all® fresh clean ESSENTIALS® delivers a powerful clean without harshness. All sulfate free gives your laundry a powerful clean without all the harshness My new detergent has a sulfate-free formula that lifts even the toughest stains by infusing effective, proven, essential ingredients into the fabric. I got my deep-cleaning all® fresh clean ESSENTIALS® at Walmart, way up on the top shelf. Don’t forget the coupon for $.50 off one (1) all® product (while supplies last).

We’re enjoying making decisions to benefit our family’s health. Doing more gardening, playing outdoors, and switching to sulfate-free products like all® fresh clean ESSENTIALS® and AVEENO PURE RENEWAL® Shampoo and Conditioner are how I create a better-for-us lifestyle for me and my family. some of my favorite sulfate-free products: All Fresh Clean Essentials and Aveeno Pure Renewal! Whenever possible, I substitute a milder/more natural ingredient for the one we were using. I love these products because they are better for our skin. I want to protect my kids from irritation and dryness, so I wash their laundry with all® fresh clean ESSENTIALS®. My AVEENO PURE RENEWAL® Shampoo and Conditioner is better for my hair and helps with skin irritation.

Are you ready to join me in a better-for-you lifestyle and make the switch to sulfate-free products like all® fresh clean ESSENTIALS® and AVEENO PURE RENEWAL® Shampoo and Conditioner?

Grab and Go Summer Fun Bag

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SummerSkinReady #ChooseSkinHealth #CollectiveBias

A lot of our summer, we’re going out as a family on carefully planned trips and events. But some days, we totally change up our plans and go out for some super summer fun unexpectedly. That’s why I always keep a “grab and go summer fun” bag packed just in case we *need* to do something crazy and adventurous at the last minute. Besides, what is summer for if you’re not running off on spontaneous day trips?

Grab and Go Summer Fun Bag Must-Haves:

Sunscreen

One thing I always have with me is sunscreen. I prefer to use the waterproof stuff for beach trips. But if we’re not planning to get soaked, it can make my skin feel greasy and gooey. A friend recently recommended this Neutrogena® Sheer Zinc™ SPF 50 Lotion sunscreen and I am absolutely in love. I got mine at Target, where you can also get a 2oz. size of face lotion that is a perfect fit for your purse. When you choose sunscreen, make sure it’s got that UVA/UVB sun protection, also called broad spectrum. This Neutrogena Sheer Zinc has just that, plus it’s gentle on sensitive skin. They call it “sheer zinc” because it’s made with naturally-sourced zinc oxide. That sounds good for you skin, doesn’t it?

Snacks

I swear, my kids are bottomless pits. I’m baffled at how skinny they are when they’re constantly asking for snacks. My bag is stocked with kid-friendly snacks like crackers, granola bars, and those fruit pouch squeezie thingies.

Towels

We rarely have unplanned beach trips, but we have had plenty of outings that resulted in soaking wet kiddos.
We took a last-minute road trip last summer that had us at Lake Tahoe at one point. One stop was at grandpa’s place, in the wide open countryside of Modoc county. When you’re hanging out creekside in the middle of nowhere, it’s nice to have a towel handy.

Water

Hydration is important, especially on those hot summer days. We usually leave the house with a water bottle or two, but it’s always a good idea to have one stashed in the grab and go summer fun bag for when those run out. And speaking of water, did you know that Neutrogena Sheer Zinc is also sweat and water resistant for 80 minutes? That’s almost how much time I have in between the demands for more snacks coming from my 3 littles!

Book or Magazine

Wishful thinking, I know, But there’s always the off chance that the kids will be grossly entertained by something that doesn’t require mom’s help every second. Last summer I was into home and garden type magazines. This year I’m reading a book on how to start using my “big girl panties” and stop being such a weenie. True story. 😉

Diapers

This one may not apply to all moms, but we are still in the diaper phase, although hopefully not for much longer! I tuck a few extra diapers in my summer fun bag in case for whatever reason our adventures outlast the diapers I’ve already got in the car, my purse, in the stroller basket… 😉

Tips for Prepping your Grab and Go Summer Fun Bag

The great thing about having a ready-to-go bag for spontaneous day trips is that doing a little advanced planning actually saves you time and money. You’ll have more time to spend having fun family adventures when you have all your stuff packed and ready to go. Plus, vending machines and tourist spots can charge ridiculous prices for snacks and drinks. There is a special deal that works either in store and online, where you get a $5 Target GiftCard when you buy $15 of sun care – so I did! 😉

This meant the kids’ snacks I got were practically free. This only worked because I got a special deal for buying the Neutrogena Sheer Zinc™, which is fine with me because I was going to buy it anyway! I actually wear it on top of my makeup and I seriously can’t tell it’s even there.

I use sunscreen all year long because it’s always sunny in Southern California and I like the SPF 50 to combat the strong Cali sinshine. Where you’re living, would Neutrogena Sheer Zinc SPF 30 or SPF 50 be your SPF of choice?

40+ Books to Read With Your Child This Summer

Reading seasonal books as a family are a great way to deepen your child’s vocabulary and reading comprehension. I like to keep a stock of books categorized by season. As the weather changes, so do the stories on the shelves! These titles are organized by an average level, but children of all ages would enjoy many of these books.

Parents are encouraged to spend some time reading to their children, so that the child learns the way that an ‘expert’ reader would present a story. So feel free to dig in to reading with your children this summer, and get lost in one of these delightful books!

Some links may be affiliate.

40+ Books to Read With Your Child This Summer

Ages 1-3:
123 Beach
I See Summer
Where is Baby’s Beach Ball? A Lift-the-Flap Book
On the Beach (Usborne Lift-the-Flap Book)
Sunny Day: A Point-and-Match Book
On My Beach (felt finger puppet board books)
Let it Shine
Mouse’s First Summer
Splash!
Discovery Kids Splash in the Ocean
Baby Loves Summer
Let’s Have a Picnic!

Ages 4-5:
At the Beach
First Time at the Pool
Leo Can Swim
Good Night Beach
Biscuit’s First Beach Day
Twenty Yawns
Llama Llama Sand and Sun
Puppy Pool Party!
Summer Days and Nights

Ages 6-7:
Biscuit Goes Camping
Froggy Learns to Swim
Duck and Goose Go to the Beach
Wolf Camp
Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach
Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems
Explorers of the Wild
The Moon Jumpers
Toy Boat
The Summer Visitors
Camp Rex

Ages 8-9:
The Relatives Came
Fireflies
Danitra Brown Leaves Town (this one may be out of print, which makes it likely you can get it used/cheaper!)
The Raft
Heat Wave at Mud Flat (another possible out-of-print book)
A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee
Are We There Yet?
Come On, Rain!
Time of Wonder
The Lost Lake

If I’ve left out one of your favorite summer books, let me know and I’ll add it to the list!

This post is part of our summer series. Click this link for more Super Summer Fun ideas!

15 Sweet S’Mores Recipes You’ll Want to Try

Do you love warm, gooey marshmallows roasted over a hot summer bonfire? Then you’re in luck because today I’m bringing you 15 sweet s’mores recipes you’ll want to try. And the best part is that you can make them at home! These incredible little treats pack all the flavor of campfire s’mores, without having to wait for your next camping trip.

15 Sweet S’mores Recipes

S’more Cupcakes from Dani at The AdventureBite. You had me at “cupcakes”.
5 Minute Pudding S’mores from Krissy at Self Proclaimed Foodie. Little Shot-glass sized desserts are my weakness 😉
S’mores in a Jar from Olivia at Olivia’s Cuisine. Because don’t you need another reason to use mason jars? They make for such a handy little dish!
S’mores to Go from Kelly at The Moon and Me. S’mores to go… My kind of dessert! Ready for the zoo, kids? Grab your bag of s’mores! Or use them for an indoor s’mores party like Kelly did.
S’mores Dip with Raspberries from Christie at Raising Whasians. I love any time I can dunk something into dessert, although it’s harder to maintain portion control (or is that a bonus?).
S’mores Magic Bars from Lisa at Wine and Glue. These can be gooey, but I think that makes them more scrumptious!
Salted Caramel S’mores from Laura at Little House Big Alaska. Salted caramel and chocolate meets s’more. I’m in heaven!
S’mores Whoopie Pies from Rachael at Eazy Peazy Mealz. Tasty and super easy to make!
S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake from Sally at Sally’s Baking Addiction. This could be dangerous…
No-Bake S’mores Cheesecake from Michelle at The Gracious Wife. It’s hot outside, the more I can “no-bake”, the better! Am I right?
Caramel S’mores Fudge from Jocelyn at Inside BruCrew Life. This looks amazing.
Frozen S’mores | Pudding and Marshmallow Sandwiches from Autumn at It’s Always Autumn. The perfect treat for a hot afternoon!
S’mores Muddy Buddies from Natalie at Life Made Simple. A tasty treat, perfect for a family movie night!
10-Minute S’mores Nachos from Reesa at Momma Lew. Nachos count as dinner, right? 😉
Toasted S’mores Brownie Cupcakes from Amy at House of Nash Eats.

That’s about all the s’mores I can handle for one post. After spending hours rounding up the best s’mores recipes I found myself dying to have one, or all of them!

We aren’t going to be able to take a camping trip this summer. The little guys just require so much extra help and attention. For example, Daddy took them to the park yesterday and they went straight for the cacti. *cue disapproving wife comment* So instead of taking my daring trio out into the wilderness, I’m hoping to bring the camping to me with a few nights of s’mores desserts.

Did any of these s’mores recipes speak to you? Or do you have a favorite variation of your own?

Do you love warm, gooey marshmallows and chocolate? Then you'll love these 15 sweet s’mores recipes. And the best part is you can make them at home!

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