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Our Summer Break started at 11 am this past Monday. Well, the public school kids’ break started then anyway. My homeschooled son still had a few things to finish up and he finally completed them on Tuesday. {I’m a mean teacher…}
With 4 kids ages 4 – 10 and summer visitors on the way, I’d like a quick list of low cost activities we can do this summer. I’ve been kicking around the idea of a Summer Bucket List for a while, and finally made one, thanks to inspiration from another Iowa blogger, Val over at Corns, Beans, Pigs and Kids. Here’s a list of 13 things I’d like to do this summer with my kids and our friends.
Low Cost Summer Family Bucket List – Central / Eastern Iowa
Swimming at Coralville Lake – $1 per person over 12 years old or $4 for a carload
Visit the American Gothic House Visitor Center, take a picture, and eat pie from the Pitchfork Pie Stand – cost of pie {Who knew? There’s a Gothic Fest the weekend good friends of ours will be here – June 14-16 ! Hope they want to check this out…}
Watch the stars come out – free
Have a water gun / balloon fight at home
Go to the drive-in movie theater in Blue Grass, {$7 per adult, $3 per kid for a double feature on discount pricing days Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.}
Pick berries at a Pick Your Own farm – cost of berries
Read lots of books for various summer reading programs and take part in summer reading programs – free
Michelle Marine is the author of How to Raise Chickens for Meat, a long-time green-living enthusiast, and rural Iowa mom of four. She empowers families to grow and eat seasonal, local foods; to reduce their ecological footprint; and to come together through impactful travel.
I love your Eastern Iowa Family Summer Bucket List! I think going to the Drive-in theater and going to the American Gothic house are my favorites. I have so many memories of going to the drive-in growing up and would love to create similar memories for my kids. And I have never been to the American Gothic house but I have it on my Travel Iowa list. You’ll have to share all about your experience!
I’m not in Iowa, so most of this doesn’t apply to me, but our summers are always filled with stargazing, water balloons, and books! We also play lots of board games. Thanks for the reminder to visit the drive-in. You are so right – not budget friendly, but a great memory maker! I’m heading over to check out Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids now. 🙂
I love your Eastern Iowa Family Summer Bucket List! I think going to the Drive-in theater and going to the American Gothic house are my favorites. I have so many memories of going to the drive-in growing up and would love to create similar memories for my kids. And I have never been to the American Gothic house but I have it on my Travel Iowa list. You’ll have to share all about your experience!
I’m not in Iowa, so most of this doesn’t apply to me, but our summers are always filled with stargazing, water balloons, and books! We also play lots of board games. Thanks for the reminder to visit the drive-in. You are so right – not budget friendly, but a great memory maker! I’m heading over to check out Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids now. 🙂
I’m glad the post was useful for you too! Hopefully you can come out to Eastern Iowa one of these days and do some of these fun things, too! 🙂