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Family Fun Destinations in Maine

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The East Coast State of Maine is a beautiful place to visit and is also a great area to travel to with children. Below is a list of some of the best things to do while in Maine for families, or anyone!

Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is a lovely place to visit anytime of the year, however it is arguably the most beautiful in the fall when visitors can see the miles and miles of trees and changing leaves. The park is nearly 50,000 acres and has everything from beaches to granite peaks, as well as a wide variety of wildlife.

Boothbay Harbor

Boothbay Harbor is the perfect town to visit with the family. It is full of adorable roadside vendors that sell everything from seafood to french fries. Boothbay also offers a wide variety of family-friendly water sports and is home to the Maine State Aquarium.

Mid-Coast

The mid-coast of Maine is another great area to visit and travel to with a family. It is home to several small towns and has a wide variety of fun activities. Visitors can see the huge ships sailing along the East Coast, and enjoy some quiet and relaxing tourism on this less-crowded section of the coast.

Mount Desert Island

Mt. Desert Island is a lovely place to take the whole family. Located between Bar Harbor and Tremont, it is the largest of the islands that surround Maine. Families can find everything from hiking to swimming on this Island that has a population of just ten thousand people.

Camden, Maine

The small town of Camden is a must-see for any families looking to get a small taste of England without the hours of travel. Camden is a small and quaint British-style town that is full of historical homes, lighthouses, and even sunset harbor cruises.

Kennebunkport, Maine

Kennebunkport has an interesting name and an even more interesting set of activities. The upper class town is best known for being President Bush’s summer getaway. It has amazing views and even better lobster.

Clearly, Maine has an abundance of fun things for families to do. From a sunset coastal cruise to a roadside lobster stand, visitors to Maine surely won’t be disappointed.

This article was originally published on KurtHansbury.info

Family Bonding: How to make the most of your time

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family bondingThe author Gretchen Rubin says this about kids: “The days are long but the years are short”. This is never truer than in the case of quality family time. In today’s busy world of deadlines and extracurricular activities and technology, it’s very easy to get lost in the shuffle and forget what’s is truly important in life. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to comingle our modern world with memories that will last forever.

Contrary to popular belief, your kids will be less interested in how much money you spend on them than how much time you spend with them. There are many things to do together as a family that doesn’t cost money. If the weather is permitting, combine bonding with exercise and go on a nature walk or a bike ride. It might also be fun to explore your neighborhood. Many cities participate in local events like First Friday, which brings a sense of community and shows off a city’s artisanal flair.

Another option is to stay at home. Cooking meals together as a family will not only save money in the long run, it will also provide a more nutritious meal for everyone. In addition, the process of cooking itself has been used across the world for thousands of years as a natural way of bringing people together. Social actions are always centered around food, no matter which culture you come from.

As well as preparation, eating together as a family is also extremely important. There are countless studies that prove frequent meals eaten together encourages a stronger self of security and stability for children as they grow up, with some adolescents choosing to not seek out risky behavior.

In addition to quality, there is also the constant debate over quality. There are only so many hours in a given day and sleeping and eating should take just as much precedent as studying. While there are countless choices in the worlds of athletic and musical departments, in addition to a litany of others, it’s important to not overwhelm kids with too many additional requirements. It defeats the purpose of giving them a better life if they’re too tired to enjoy it. If everyone is too busy throughout the week, take advantage of weekends to do something relaxing with your kids, even if it’s just for an hour. Even a chore wheel is a form of family time, and it teaches kids how to be responsible adults.

In addition, screen time is no longer being stigmatized as an arch enemy. Family screen time via a movie night can actually be a wonderful way to spend time together.

Outdoor Activities for Families

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outrdoor activities for familiesNow that the nicer weather is finally upon us, it is the perfect time to choose from all the wonderful options available when taking the family outside on a bonding trip. Depending on where you live, there are countless ways to spend some quality time together in the great outdoors, and the best news is, they don’t even need to cost a lot of money.

Scavenger hunts are a great DIY way to spend time together. Leave notes or riddles for your kids to find that will ultimately lead them to a grand prize, or design a treasure map that lets them find interesting things. At Easter time, take advantage of the weather and hold your egg hunt outdoors.

Sometimes giving is the best way to receive. It feels great to donate time through volunteer work or to deliver goods to those less fortunate than ourselves. Local animal shelters are a great way to combine a volunteer mission by meeting some new furry friends. Holidays are always a good time to volunteer to help out at shelters of all kinds.

In most cities, there are unlimited charity walks and races throughout the year. Taking the family along on a 5K,  10K, or half marathon can be a very rewarding experience, not to mention a great way to make some new friends.

There are also local sports teams to visit. If your town or city sponsors a baseball or softball team, that’s another great way to bond as a family. Attending a sporting event as spectators can be a very relaxing, enjoyable experience. Backyard camping is a great way to have an overnight adventure without straying too far from the comforts of home.

For people who don’t mind spending extra money, there are countless choices in the ticketing department. Amusement parks and water parks are a fun treat to reserve for special occasions to keep them feeling special. We now live in a world with activity centers suck as outdoor trampoline parks. If your city is lucky enough to have one, then take advantage of it.

If horses are your thing, find a local stable who offers trail rides or lessons. If you’re really lucky, you can ride on a beach. For people who live near an ocean, it is worth it to go on a whale watching tour.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as it’s together.