The Texas summer is heating up and the family might be itching to get out of the house. And while the heat may seem endless, that doesn’t mean your days need to be boring. That’s why we’ve created this summer bucket list which combines classic childhood games, newer trends and visits to local not-so-average hangouts. Liven up your summer with these fun, boredom-busting, hands-on activities. Try a few with the kids or do some with just the grown-ups. See how many you can get done!
Pet a Llama or Alpaca #1
Find a furry new friend at Figment Ranch. These no-drama llamas and alpacas are gentle but curious creatures that entertain visitors of all ages. Alpaca’s fluffy coats make them ideal for petting while llamas sensitive nature can relax even the most anxious visitor. Take a tour of this peaceful property
and meet animal friends such as pot-bellied pigs, turkeys, emus and a dog-sized tortoise.
FigmentRanch.com
Make a DIY Masterpiece #2
Let your inner creativity shine with an AR Workshop project. The boutique DIY craft studio offers hands-on classes for creating painted wooden signs, custom wall hangings and home decor. Learn to knit, design a doormat or pick up a to-go DIY kit to keep the kids entertained at home. ARWorkshop.com/Cypress
Backyard Camping #3
Grab your tent and get those ghost stories ready. Hosting a backyard campout is an easy way to keep the family entertained and enjoy the outdoors. Pack sandwiches, sleeping bags, pillows, flashlights and bug spray as if you are truly headed into nature. Make it feel like an authentic campout! Create a rule to stay outside and keep the cellphones in the house. Plan a scavenger hunt, tell ghost stories, roll out a blanket and stare at the stars.
Plant a Mini Herb Garden #4
Grab some pots and get growing. Find small containers with pre-drilled holes at the bottom for drainage. Opt for a glass container such as a mason jar if you’d like to watch your plant’s root expand. Choose herbs that won’t get too bushy such as basil, parsley or chives. Use fresh potting soil and lightly mix in fertilizer to give your plants an extra boost. A sunny kitchen window is often the best location for growing herbs. Once the plants have matured they’ll be within easy reach when you’re cooking up a fresh meal.
Hike the Woods #5
Step out into nature at the Kleb Woods Nature Preserve. Hike one of their trails or learn about the property’s unique past. The preserve was formerly the homestead of Elmer Kleb, the great-grandson of German immigrants who settled this section of Harris County in the 1840s. Elmer inherited the property from his father who was a farmer. Rather than farm the land, however, Elmer chose to live on the property without utilities, planting trees and caring for wildlife instead. He never paid taxes, however, and soon found himself embroiled in legal battles to keep the property. Eventually, the county purchased part of his property and created the preserve that exists today. Pct3.com/Parks/Kleb-Woods-Nature-Preserve-Center
Made-from-Scratch Slime #6
Use school glue, baking soda, food coloring and contact solution to make your own slimy creation. Empty a 4 oz. bottle of school glue and a ½ tablespoon of baking soda into a bowl and mix. Add food coloring until you get the color you like. Make your slime sparkly by adding glitter. Add 1 tablespoon of contact solution and mix until everything becomes more solid. Take the slime out of the bowl and knead everything with your hands. Add ¼ tablespoon of contact solution to make the slime less sticky.
Freeze Homemade Popsicles #7
Chill out with this simple homemade popsicle recipe. Add one pound of fresh strawberries (hulled and chopped), 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and ½ cup of sugar into a food processor. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Pour into a popsicle mold and freeze overnight or until solid.
Harvest Local Peaches #8
Experience fresh fruit at a whole new level. Taste ripe, locally-grown peaches you pick yourself at Harvest Season Farm. The farm, also known as Matt Family Orchard, offers buckets, wagons, shears and pruners for harvesters to pluck their own produce straight from the tree. July is peach season, but the farm also offers nearly year-round harvesting for fresh fruits. Picking hours vary depending on the season and crop. HarvestSeasonFarm.com
Watch a Drive-thru Movie #9
Take a cruise out to Hockley, park your car and watch a family-friendly film on a giant outdoor screen. The Showboat Drive-in Theater on Farm to Market 2920 is a place to watch the sunset, munch popcorn and enjoy feature films from times gone by. Movies change weekly, so be sure to check the company’s website for the latest show schedule. TheShowboatDrivein.com
Recycle Old Crayons #10
Use a candy mold or muffin tin to reshape your kids’ old Crayons into colorful fun shapes like stars, letters or arrows. Remove all the paper from broken Crayons and toss the broken pieces into a mold or tin. If using a silicone mold, be sure to set it atop a cookie tray for stability. Melt the Crayons in a preheated oven at 275 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Remove and wait at least 20 minutes for your new creations to completely cool. You can also let the Texas heat do the melting job for you. Set a metal tin filled with the broken Crayons outside on a day hotter than 90 degrees. Check regularly until all the pieces melt together.
Water Balloon Games #11
Beat the summer heat with water balloon games. Use rapid-filling, self-sealing balloons such Bunch O Balloons to fill your balloons much easier. Hold a water balloon relay where kids sit on a balloon and pop it before running to a finish line. Play water balloon volleyball by setting up a net or barrier. Divide into two teams and give each team a towel to use to toss the balloon back and forth until a team drops the balloon. Play water balloon hot potato where the last person holding the balloon when the music ends must smash it over their head.