Stay-Cation

As much as I would like to try and convince my husband that we need a vacation this year... my begging and pleading worked last year... but then I changed my mind and we opted to use the vacation money to buy a playset. Jeff then injured his shoulder and was unable to actually build the playset- but hopefully we can make plans for that to happen soon. Now we are approaching the summer of 2010. I'm starting to think about things we can do as a family- especially during the one week of the year that daycare(s) are closed for us and I've already asked off work. Family vacations aren't something I was able to enjoy as a child and they are something that I think can be really valuable to our family. Being realistic with money and such this year, I think it might be a good idea to stay local. Maybe limit our drives to 2-4 hours away. I do have a cool opportunity coming up at the end of April. I've been invited to attend the Indiana Tourism media Marketplace at the State Fairgrounds. This will be a gathering of various Indiana Tourism spots around the state. I am very excited about it. But you know I get an itch... and I like to start planning. And I know I will change my plan 20 times and then some. But it's still fun to imagine the things we might possibly do this summer. Here are some things I know I would like to do this summer: Visit Conner Prairie. This one will be multiple visits. It is very close to my house and we got a family membership this year. I love that my kids can run and explore and learn about Indiana's history at the same time. There is also a great indoor playspace that is great on rainy days. Visit a State Park. Closest to home is Fort Harrison. It would be a great place to go for a picnic and a hike. There is also an learning center where you can learn about the wildlife and plant life in the area. Farther away are other great choices- like Brown County and Indiana Dunes and Turkey Run. Those are trips that would be best with an overnight trip. I would love to get away for a night or 2 in a cabin somewhere. Maybe someday we will be brave enough to even try some tent camping! Go to Fort Wayne. It's a short drive to Fort Wayne from Fishers. And I hear great things about the Children's Zoo and Science Center there. Check out the Indiana Historical Society. I have a friend who works there and I've been hearing awesome things about all the ways the exhibits there are getting revamped to be more appealing to kids of ALL ages. From what I'm told, Zach is probably too young for it but Teagan is right at a great age to enjoy the new "Indiana Experience." What I'm hearing the most about is the You Are There experience- go check out the link. I've heard a lot from my friend about all the work that has gone into finding these historic photos, recreating them in a hand on way, developing the characters and making this a very real experience of a sliver of Indiana history. Things that I am checking into and considering... Southern Indiana. Holiday World- It's an amusement park and the theme is holidays. It's a family owned park. It's a very clean park. And they offer free fountain drinks and sunscreen all day long! There's also a water park. But it still might be more fun in a couple of years. Or lots of fun now and then again in a year or two! There is a giant year round Christmas store, a Christmas museum. Also close by is Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home and a living history farm. Fair Oaks Farm or Trader's Point Creamery. Both are working dairy farms and have a lot of cool opportunities for kids. Trader's Point is closer to home but I hear better reviews of the experience at Fair Oaks. Of course, I am very eager for Farmer's Market season to get started, too!! Get to know other neighborhoods in Indianapolis. Doing the Fun Run on Friday in Broad Ripple brought to my attention just how much I don't know about that area! There are lots of great shops and restaurants there. Plus, the Monon Trail is there and that offers some great walking and biking opportunities. Mass Ave is another area where I'd love to spend another afternoon. Back in July, I went down a few times for specific events and found some places I'd love to go back and visit again. See "Cats" at the Wagon Wheel Theatre in Warsaw, IN. It would be an overnight trip without kids... either by myself or with my husband. It would be in June. We'll see on that one... Well, I guess I could just go on and on... and we will see just how much time we end up having on our weekends. If you are from Indiana, what are your favorite places to visit? What about in the area where you live? If you were planning a fun weekend in your area, what would you do?