With high-energy summer camps and unlimited recess at daycare, we parents can finally kick back and relax as the easy season rolls in.
For the next three months, our kids will be outside romping around and getting absolutely filthy, creating castles out of sticks, staying way too long at the park, and refusing to put on sunscreen. They’ll spend the long, warm days running around with friends, picnicking in trees, and bouncing from one fallen log to the next, creating adventure after adventure. Don’t get too jealous, parents—there are plenty of chances for us to have fun too!
If you’re searching for a low-key and nearby outdoor experience, the Harrisburg Beach Club on City Island is always a great time. They offer adult beverages for parents (yay!) and have non-alcoholic drinks for the kiddos, as well. You can play cornhole while the little ones roll around in one of the sandboxes scattered along the edge of the water. Heed my advice though and bring your own sandbox toys! There is also a park outside of the roped-off section of the facility, and the walk from The Beach Club to the parking area offers an amazing view of the Harrisburg skyline. Strollers may be necessary depending on your family’s age and preference. It is about a quarter-mile trek from the parking lot to the Beach Club.
For an overnight trip, Gifford-Pinchot State Park in northern York County offers campsites, RV hook-ups and cabins with a lake for boating, kayaking and swimming. There are multiple playgrounds and two beaches with lots of big, shady trees to picnic and cool off beneath. A nearby bait shop sells live worms for fishing, and canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals are available. Pro-tip: If you have a four-legged friend in your family, make sure to reserve a pet-friendly campsite!
Consider starting a summer Greenbelt relay team with your family. The Capital Area Greenbelt is a 20-mile loop around Harrisburg. There are 12 weeks of summer break for most schools, and, if your family pledges to walk the entire Greenbelt over the summer, that’s only 1.6 miles per week! Print out a map of the Greenbelt, pick a starting point, then mark your progress with your family. Choose a fun reward to enjoy together when you finish for motivation. You may discover areas of our beautiful community that you never knew existed.
While the kids are living their best lives this summer, there are loads of ways for parents to have fun, too. Central PA is surrounded by gorgeous natural areas and is honeycombed with parks, trails and hikes to enjoy. The summertime is meant for everyone, including parents, to soak up the sun, laugh with the good times, and enjoy the blue skies and white clouds while we have them.
For more information on the Harrisburg Beach Club, visit www.harrisburgbeachclub.com.
To learn more about Gifford-Pinchot State Park, visit www.dcnr.pa.gov.
For a map of the Capital Area Greenbelt, visit www.caga.org.
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
