March Break Ideas on a Budget

March 4 2010 by Bryson Forbes

march-calendar-wr.jpgI woke up this morning to an official Olympic hangover. Symptoms included a raspy voice from chanting "Crosby, Crosby..." for hours (his mother's maiden is Forbes, btw..) and, for us on the east side of country, fatigue from lack of sleep. I also can still hear Brian Williams' voice if I try hard enough. Anyway, the hangover will soon pass and only thing left will be the enormous surge of patriotism and pride. Well done, Canada!

Aside from the hangover, the most troubling part of my morning was the realization that it is March. February was a blur and we're now scrambling to coordinate schedules for March Break, which for us starts at 3 p.m. next Friday the 12th and concludes on Monday the 22nd when life will go back to "normal".

We did our big family vacation in January and in turn don't want to break the bank for another expensive week away. Instead we're looking at some short day trips, fun activities and a quick one-night road trip if our schedules can click.

If you're also figuring out what to do that's easy and inexpensive, here are some fun ideas that won't take lots of dough:

  • Public skating or swimming - Check local sites for places in your area. For example, in my hometown, Oakville, extra skate times have been added to accommodate the increased number of participants.
  • Hit up the library - A great way to spend a couple of hours, your local library is free and is actually more fun than it may sound. Our kids love it and it's always so nice and quiet!
  • Theme day at home - A couple we know turns March Break into a "home camp," complete with a new theme every day. Although we don't have that kind of ambition, a one-day affair sounds like fun. My son loves Super Mario, so organizing a day or activities with that theme in mind will be a blast.
  • Cook with the kids - I actually enjoy baking and my kids love to help, too. My culinary resume is not that expansive but trying something new is always worthwhile. Make a mess and have fun with it. Besides, you also get the benefit of devouring your masterpiece. Here are some great kid-approved recipes to follow.
  • Explore local trails - The weather is always tough to predict, but it's likely that at least a couple of days will be mild and sunny. March Break is a perfect time to get out and hike some nearby trails.
  • Quick overnight escape - A one-night road trip doesn't need to break the bank and in some cases, you can find a nice place to stay that also has an indoor pool, which lets you kill two birds with one stone. Check out www.bestwestern.com for some great getaway ideas and rate quotes for your adventure.
There's always lots fun and inexpensive things to do, and you can save some money if you get creative and adventurous. Let me know what other suggestions you have for some fun that won't break the bank.

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