Great Weekend Activities

 

 

Okay, so another weekend is coming up, and you don’t have any weekend activities planned. You’re going to be stuck in the house again, doing chores, reading, or watching movies or TV shows. Get out of that rut! Plan ahead for a fun weekend activity that you can enjoy with your family, friends, or significant other.

 

A weekend activity can be as extravagant as a stay in a ritzy hotel, or as inexpensive as a visit to a nearby farm. Weekend activities also run the gamut from something as relaxing as a visit to a day spa to something as thrilling as adventure trips. All you need is a little imagination and creativity!

 

Local weekend activities

 

If you’re on a tight budget or prefer to stay in town, your area might have a lot more to offer than you realize. Have you checked out all the museums, art galleries, and historical sites? I’ve lived in the same area for half a century, and I still haven’t seen everything around here. Contact your local chamber of commerce, historical society, and tourist board to learn more.

 

You could also create your own “tours.” Just about every town has some old houses and buildings. Find some interesting ones and research their history. Take pictures of them and study the architecture.

 

Find some hole-in-the-wall shops and flea markets in or near your town. If you’re into antiques, you might find some real treasures in such places. This is a weekend activity that might prove very rewarding!

 

 

Outdoor activities

 

Outdoor activities are great ways to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, and no matter what your physical condition is, you can find something you can do. Pack a lunch and go for a bike ride. Stop along the way somewhere and enjoy a picnic. Go swimming at a lake or public pool. Even in the winter, swimming is completely possible. Many hotels that have heated pools allow non-guests to use their pools for a small fee.

 

Find a nearby state or local park with a lake or stream and go fishing. Many parks have fishing piers and docks that are handicap-accessible, so this could be a relaxing weekend activity for someone in a wheelchair.

 

Plan a star-gazing outing. Take a sleeping bag, some snacks, and a thermos of coffee or  hot cocoa to an area outside town, away from the city lights. Keep up with the annual meteor showers for a really spectacular show!

 

Do you enjoy horseback riding? If so, find a stable or riding academy in your area. This is a wonderful family weekend activity that kids will love. Even if you have no experience riding, most stables have super gentle mounts that are perfect for beginners. While you’re at it, you might want to take a riding lesson or two!

 

Weekend trips

 

If you have the funds, why not take weekend trips? Find somewhere fairly close by so that you won’t spend most of your time on the road. Go to a big city for a shopping adventure, to a resort area, or to a state or national park. Think outside the box, too. Maybe there’s a quaint little town an hour or two away that has some interesting history, shops, entertainment, or restaurants.

 

Many state parks have cabins for rent, and the rates are usually very reasonable. Most of the parks also have lots of opportunities for outdoor activities, like hiking, nature trails, bike paths, fishing, nature programs, canoeing, and/or boating.

 

Weekend trips don’t have to take up the entire weekend. If the trip is to a nearby venue, you can arrive on Saturday around noon and leave for home on Sunday afternoon. This would give you enough time to do some exploring, some shopping, and to have a couple of good meals at different restaurants. Weekend trips can be inexpensive if you shop online for prices and if you go during the off-season.

 

Adventure trips

 

If you seek something a little more exciting, consider adventure trips. Adventure trips might include things like hiking, mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, ziplining, or rock climbing. If you have kids along, maybe a canoe trip down a nearby river or stream would be in order. You could hire a guide service or go it on your own.

 

Wanna be a cowboy for a weekend? Adventure trips to working ranches are great fun! You can learn to rope and ride, or even go on a real cattle drive. Such adventure trips will provide you with the opportunity to do real ranch work, like mending fences, branding calves, and rounding up strays.

 

Camping is another example of adventure trips. Chances are that there’s a campground near you, and camping equipment is relatively inexpensive. Buy or borrow a tent, and choose a campground with a fire pit and a picnic table. Cook hot dogs and marshmallows over the open fire, and spend quality time with the ones you love.