Let’s talk about field trips for a minute here.
I love field trips! I loved them as a kid and I think I love them even more now, as a homeschooling mom.
But, lately, I’m in a bit of a slump. I’m calling it my homeschool hibernation. Aside from that one time I felt the need to flee super-lazy trip up north, we’ve done very little in the field trip department this winter.
Unless, of course, you count those lazy field trips. And, in that case, we’ve done plenty!
Lazy Field Trips That Don’t Cost a Dime
Sometimes you just don’t feel like schlepping into the city to go to the science museum or taking the kids to the latest exhibit at the art gallery a few hours away.
Sometimes, you feel lazier.
Or cheaper.
Or maybe a bit of both.
Sometimes, you want to take lazy field trips, field trips in your own backyard.
Today, I’m sharing my favorite lazy field trips and then I’d love to hear yours!
1. Local Farms
My go-to lazy field trip is heading to a local farm. We are fortunate to live in a farming community and so we have several to choose from. I love that my children are able to know the animals and farmers who provide our food. I see value in this lazy field trip!
Sometimes, we even get to feed the animals!
And, besides, the farm has swings.
2. Conservation Land
I love to take my children hiking! We try to hike at least a couple of times each week. Nature is extremely important to our family. I want my kids to be familiar with the animals and plants that reside in their own backyard. I consider local hikes one of the easiest and most fun lazy field trips.
3. Local Art Show
Sometimes, rather than schlepping to the city, we enjoy local art shows. Our favorite nature center has one every year, our library has rotating art exhibits, and we are lucky to have a fantastic art center in our town with regular exhibits. This totally counts as a field trip, folks!
A photo posted by MyLittlePoppies (@my_little_poppies) on
4. Pet Store
I don’t know about your kids, but my kids are obsessed with the pet store. A good friend of mine refers to the pet store as “the poor man’s zoo” and she has a point. My kids are endlessly entertained at the pet store, and they never fail to learn heaps! The best part? It doesn’t cost me a dime… unless you count the dog food I buy while there!
This is technically the pharmacy, another one of my lazy field trips. Yes, there are parrots at my pharmacy!
5. Library
Last but certainly not least: the library! I profess my library love all the time here and I must do it again. Three cheers for the library. I’d be lost without ours!
And the best part of this trip? The library day stillness that envelopes the children as soon as you leave with a bag full of books!
Now, it’s your turn. Tell me: What is your favorite lazy field trip? Share here!
The pet store and library–two fallback field trips we take when we need to GET.OUT. Love the highlight on lazy 🙂
Thanks, Heather! We all need a lazy field trip once in a while 🙂
The greenhouse at the local plant nursery, our local nature center and forest preserve, the big playground one town over, Bass Pro Shop to look at the fish, ethnic food at a local restaurant, ethnic grocery stores, free local history museum…gimme some more coffee and I’ll think of a few more places we go!?
Love it, Angelique!! Lots of wonderful choices!
Your blog has been quite helpful to me. Thank you for your openness and brain cells!
Thank you so much, Tammy! <3
I like to go to the farmer’s market (even if we end up buying fruits or vegetables) and free community events (Earth Day) or cultural festivals (Midsummer Fest). Our zoo is free, too! I’m hoping to visit a fire station or take a free factory tour.
Oh, I love farmer’s markets! I can’t wait for our season to begin!
The local airport! It may be small but it has public toilets and sells coffee. What more do you need?
OH! I forgot the airport! We have a small one, too. And it has a diner so you can watch planes with breakfast!
I love these ideas! We live in the city, but we’ll do nature walks or dig up worms at the park. Cabellas is a lot of fun on cold days; they have a lot of stuffed animals, like a museum, and a giant fish tank. Plus, the fudge shoppe in the store is fun too! 😉 Sometimes the children’s museums have homeschool days for cheap, and the local aviary has dollar days through the winter. A nearby university has a free museum of natural history, with live animal shows. I love the library and farmers markets too.
I love all of your ideas, Beth! Free museums are amazing 🙂