I hope you’ve all been enjoying the summer and soaking up all the sun. We certainly have been trying to make the most of it with plenty of summer activities with kids, even though the weather has given us quite a few rainy days lately.

Honestly, this summer has been memorable, busy and worth it.

It hasn’t been perfect. We have had quite a few rainy days lately, although overall it has still been a pretty sunny and hot summer. There have also been plenty of busy days, more driving than I probably expected and the rising cost of gas definitely hasn’t helped.

Still, when I look back at the past few weeks, I feel like we have made some really lovely memories.

And a big part of that has been having Fridays off.

IMAGE SUGGESTION: Use a personal summer photo of you and your daughter enjoying an outing.

Image alt text: Summer activities with kids and making memories with my daughter

Why I Took Fridays Off for Summer Activities With Kids

I started my new job in June, and from July I have Fridays off. Having a three-day weekend has been a lovely change.

At first, I thought about everything I could potentially get done on that extra day. However, I decided to take my daughter out of daycare on Fridays instead.

Why?

Because she starts school in September.

I want to spend as much time with her as I can before she starts this next big chapter. I know there will come a time when she doesn’t necessarily want to spend every Friday hanging out with Mum. So, for now, I am going to enjoy it.

Having Fridays off has also meant that I feel well rested when Monday comes around. I have less time to do my own things, but that extra day at the weekend has made a big difference.

There is something quite lovely about having a three-day weekend.

It gives us time to go somewhere without rushing. It gives me time to recover from the working week. Most importantly, it gives us extra mother-and-daughter time.

Our Summer Activities With Kids So Far

Since having Fridays off, we have managed to get out and explore quite a bit.

Some days have involved bigger day trips, while others have been much simpler. Interestingly, my daughter seems to enjoy the simpler outings just as much, if not more.

So far, our summer activities with kids have included:

That sounds like a lot when I write it all down!

IMAGE SUGGESTION: Add a collage of several summer outings.

Image alt text: Summer activities with kids in Ontario including beaches, parks and family outings

Summer Activities With Kids at Granby Zoo

We went to Granby Zoo last year, so it was nice to return this summer.

There is something about visiting a zoo with a young child that makes it feel completely different each time. They notice different things as they get older, and sometimes they surprise you by remembering something from a previous visit.

My daughter will occasionally mention things from last year’s trip, so I wouldn’t be surprised if little pieces of this year’s visit come up again in the future.

One of the things I love about Granby Zoo is the whole experience. You have the animals, the park itself and the water park, which makes it much more than simply walking around looking at animals.

My daughter loves the zoo, and that makes the trip even more enjoyable for me.

OUTBOUND LINK: Add a link to the official Granby Zoo website on the words Granby Zoo.

IMAGE SUGGESTION: Add one of your own photos from Granby Zoo.

Image alt text: Summer activities with kids at Granby Zoo

A Simple Summer Day at Kendrick’s Park in Lyndhurst

Out of all the places we have visited so far, Kendrick’s Park in Lyndhurst has been my daughter’s favourite.

And honestly, I can understand why.

One of the things I loved was that she could walk right out into the water. We also went earlier in the day, so it felt like we practically had the place to ourselves.

Sometimes those are the outings that work best with a young child.

There was no huge crowd. We didn’t have to rush around. She could enjoy the water and simply have fun.

It reminded me that you don’t always need to plan something big to have a great summer day.

IMAGE SUGGESTION: Add a photo of the park or your daughter enjoying the water, without showing her face if you prefer.

Image alt text: Simple summer activities with kids at Kendrick’s Park in Lyndhurst

Beach Summer Activities With Kids at St. Lawrence Park

We have also managed to fit in some beach time.

St. Lawrence Park is one of those places I like because of its location and closeness to us. It makes having a beach day feel fairly easy rather than like a major event.

It is nice to have somewhere nearby when you want to get outside without turning the day into a major road trip.

Beach days are also one of my favourite types of summer activities with kids because they don’t need to be complicated. Bring some towels, swimwear and a few snacks, and you are usually good to go.

IMAGE SUGGESTION: Add a personal beach photo.

Image alt text: Summer activities with kids at St. Lawrence Park beach

Prescott Beach: A Great Summer Activity With Kids

Then there was Prescott Beach.

If I had to choose between the two for a day with a young child, I would probably choose Prescott.

There is the splash pad, the pool and the beach, plus a small cafe nearby. Having several things close together makes the day so much easier.

It is also nice when you don’t have to pack everything into the car and drive somewhere else just because your child has suddenly decided they are done with the beach!

For me, this is exactly what I want from summer activities with kids. There are different options, but you can still keep the day fairly simple.

IMAGE SUGGESTION: Add a photo showing the beach, splash pad or surrounding area.

Image alt text: Summer activities with kids at Prescott Beach

A Different Kind of Summer Activity With Kids at Jolly Bubble Barehaven

One of our more recent outings was a day trip to Jolly Bubble Barehaven in Nepean, near Ottawa.

I had heard about it and thought it would be something different for my daughter.

It definitely was.

The setup of the children’s play areas was so novel and unique. My daughter especially loved the ball pit and the supermarket setup.

This is probably the outing that stands out in my mind the most so far this summer.

It was just different.

I love finding places that give children the chance to play in a way that feels a little unexpected. You could tell that a lot of thought had gone into creating the different play areas.

Was the drive worth it?

Definitely.

It isn’t a bad drive from Brockville. You aren’t on the highway for the entire trip, and around an hour and a half is bearable for a day trip.

IMAGE SUGGESTION: Add a photo from the outing, if permitted by the venue.

Image alt text: Indoor summer activities with kids at Jolly Bubble Barehaven in Nepean

A Little Retail Therapy at Tanger Outlets Ottawa

Since we were already in the Ottawa area, we also made a stop at Tanger Outlets.

This was partly for my daughter and partly for me.

Let’s be honest, Mum needs some retail therapy sometimes too!

My daughter doesn’t mind going around shops, although she does eventually get fed up. I think that’s pretty normal when you’re shopping with a young child.

Still, it worked out well as part of our day.

I quite like the combination of doing something specifically for her and then fitting in something that I enjoy too. It makes the day feel more balanced.

OUTBOUND LINK: Add an official Tanger Outlets link to Tanger Outlets Ottawa.

IMAGE SUGGESTION: Add a personal shopping-day photo.

Image alt text: Summer activities with kids and shopping at Tanger Outlets Ottawa

Our Easy Summer Activity With Kids: Rotary Park

If I had to choose one of our easiest summer outings, it would probably be Rotary Park.

We have a splash pad there, and right next door is Chez Marty’s Cafe.

It really doesn’t get much more convenient than that.

We can arrive in the afternoon or early evening, let my daughter play in the splash pad and then walk over to Chez Marty’s for an ice cream.

Even if she is soaking wet from the splash pad, we can simply walk over.

I love outings like this because there isn’t much planning involved.

No long drive.

No huge amount of packing.

No trying to entertain her for hours.

Just a splash pad, an ice cream and some time together.

Sometimes that is all you need.

OUTBOUND LINK: Add an outbound link to Chez Marty’s Cafe on Chez Marty’s Cafe.

IMAGE SUGGESTION: Add a photo of the splash pad or ice cream.

Image alt text: Easy summer activities with kids at Rotary Park splash pad

Summer Activities With Kids at the Delta Fair

We also made it to the Delta Fair this summer.

My daughter’s favourite parts were probably watching the rides from afar and, of course, the food.

I found that quite funny because I think when you go to a fair, you imagine your child wanting to go on every ride.

Instead, she was perfectly happy watching everything happen around her.

Again, it reminded me that children don’t always need to participate in everything to enjoy themselves.

Sometimes watching is enough.

IMAGE SUGGESTION: Add a photo of the fair, rides or food.

Image alt text: Summer activities with kids at the Delta Fair

Our Aquatarium Membership Has Been Worth It

We have also spent some time at the Aquatarium.

We have actually had a membership since we moved into the area in 2024, and I remember thinking at the time that it would be a good investment.

It really has been.

One of my daughter’s favourite things to do is head upstairs to the fourth floor, which they have nicknamed Pirate Cove.

Having a membership somewhere like this is especially handy when you have a young child because you don’t feel like you have to make a whole day out of every visit.

We can go, explore for a while and leave when she has had enough.

There is something to be said for having somewhere familiar to visit during the summer.

OUTBOUND LINK: Add a link to the official Aquatarium website on Aquatarium.

IMAGE SUGGESTION: Add one of your personal Aquatarium photos.

Image alt text: Summer activities with kids at the Aquatarium

A Simple Shopping Day in Kingston

We also had a day out in Kingston for some shopping.

There wasn’t anything particularly complicated about this trip. It was simply a day out.

And I think that is another theme I am noticing this summer.

Not every Friday has to be some huge adventure.

Sometimes it is just about getting out of the house, going somewhere different and spending time together.

That is something I want to remember as I continue looking for summer activities with kids. The activity itself doesn’t always have to be exciting. Sometimes the time together is the important part.

IMAGE SUGGESTION: Add a photo from your Kingston day.

Image alt text: Summer activities with kids during a Kingston shopping day

Balancing Summer Activities With Kids and the Cost

Looking at everything we have done, I think we have actually had a pretty good balance.

We have had bigger outings like Granby Zoo and our trip to Nepean. We have also had beach days, the splash pad and visits to places that are closer to home.

I haven’t wanted every Friday to become an expensive day out.

With the cost of everything going up, especially gas, I have definitely spent more than I expected this summer.

That has made me more aware of trying to balance the paid activities with things that are free or inexpensive.

However, I also don’t want to spend the whole summer worrying about what something costs.

This is our time together.

And while I want to be sensible, I also want to enjoy it.

For me, the best summer activities with kids are not necessarily the most expensive ones. Sometimes they are the ones that involve a beach, a splash pad, an ice cream or simply an afternoon together.

Having Fridays Off Has Been a Lovely Idea

I honestly think having Fridays off has been one of the best things about my summer.

It is a novel idea to have a three-day weekend every week.

I get an extra day with my daughter, but I also get an extra day to rest before going back to work on Monday.

That has made me feel well rested rather than feeling like I am constantly trying to catch up.

Of course, I have less time to do my own things. However, at this stage of my life, I am okay with that.

My daughter is only going to be this age once.

Soon, September will arrive.

She will start school, I will go back to a five-day working week and our Fridays together will become something we remember.

Our Last Summer Before School

I think this is probably the part of the summer that makes me the most emotional.

I am incredibly proud of my daughter.

She is growing into such a little person, and watching her become more independent has been amazing.

At the same time, I know that starting school is going to change our routine completely.

I will miss the extra time with her.

I will miss being able to decide that Friday is a beach day.

I will miss these little mother-and-daughter adventures.

Most of all, I will miss having this extra time together before the school routine takes over.

That is why I am trying to make the most of this summer.

Not because every Friday has to be exciting.

Not because we have to visit somewhere new every week.

But because I want to enjoy this stage while I can.

And perhaps that is the biggest lesson these summer activities with kids have given me so far. The memories don’t have to be elaborate.

They just have to be ours.

What Is Still on Our Summer Activity List?

We aren’t finished yet.

There are still a few weeks of summer left, and I already have another beach day in mind.

I would love to take my daughter to Charleston Lake before the summer is over.

Hopefully, the weather cooperates!

After all the rain we have had lately, I think we deserve a few more sunny beach days.

For now, though, I am pretty happy with how this summer is going.

It has been busy.

It has been memorable.

It has cost more than I expected.

It has involved plenty of driving.

It has also included rainy days, hot days, tired days and lots of little adventures.

But most importantly, it has given me extra time with my daughter.

And when September comes around, I think I will look back at this summer and feel very grateful that I chose to spend those Fridays with her.

Because one day she won’t want to spend every Friday with Mum.

So for now, I am going to enjoy every minute of it.

If you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it, you may enjoy one of these other posts: 

Our Rotary Park Brockville Summer Routine: A Single Mum’s Guide to Easy Outings

Summer Memories on a Budget: Creating Meaningful Moments as a Single Mum

Summer Activities That Tire Out My Toddler Before Bed

I share more real-life moments from single motherhood, Ontario adventures, everyday style, food finds, and behind-the-scenes blogging over on Instagram. 

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