FAMILY

SUMMER FUN Family Fun in the Sun:

Summer Recreation and Activities for the Whole Family

By Kimberly Blaker

It's the season your kids have been waiting for, so how will you maximize the long lazy days of summer with your family? Celebrate the carefree season to its fullest with these outdoor activities and adventures your whole family will enjoy. Give handicaps to each family member based on their most recent scores for a game, so it's fair to everyone.

Up, up and away – Make the most of the breeze and fly a kite.

BACK TO NATURE

Trailblazing – Head to a local, state, or national park and make a day of nature hiking. Before you go, make a list of things for your family to find and identify. Carry a backpack with binoculars, sunscreen, visors or sunglasses, and plenty of water and snacks.

Ride ‘em, cowboy – You don’t have to be a horse owner to enjoy the pleasure of riding one of these majestic beings. Visit your nearby horse rental stables and catch the sunset on horseback. For a stable near you, visit http://www. horserentals.com/index.html.

Z is for zoo – Check out animals at one of the many zoos that have created natural, spacious settings. Check the schedule for animal presentations, and don't miss the petting zoo.

The strawberry patch – Head to the strawberry patch for a day of fruitfilled fun.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

Wet your whistle….and more

– Cool off at a water park. Before you go, ask about age and height requirements and what activities are available for the younger set.

A trip downstream – Look for canoe rentals on a clear river. Carry belongings such as your wallet, keys, and snacks in a waterproof bag that floats. Give kids plenty of opportunities to paddle and steer. Green thumbs – Make summer gardening a family affair. If you're getting a late start, look for starter plants that have already sprouted. Work together to get the garden ready and plant it. Then give each person his or her own responsibility for keeping it up. Swiss family, who? – Younger kids will thrill at building a treehouse or fort. Older kids will look forward to a covered hangout, such as a gazebo, for visiting with friends.

OUT AND ABOUT

Dancin’ in the street

– Summer abounds with fairs and festivals. Enjoy live music, new foods, magic acts, kid game zones, arts and crafts and more.

Batter up – Family fun centers offer a variety of recreation. Get ready to practice your batting swing, speed around the racetrack, bump another boat, or have some wacky golfing fun.

Recycled treasures – Spend the day rummaging for treasures. This is an excellent way for kids to get the most out of their limited earnings, teach them the importance of recycling and how to get the best value for their money.

Summer sights – Places and things to see during the summer are abundant, from checking out the big city with its tall skyscrapers, old architecture, and murals and art displays.

Performing arts in the

park – Unwind listening to a summer concert in the park or taking in a movie under the stars.

Backyard water blast – Fill water balloons and play a game of catch. Or hook up the sprinklers for a refreshing game of tag. Fill up the squirt guns and super soakers, and then take a break in a wading pool.

Putt around the lake – You don't have to live on a lake or own a boat. Contact nearby marinas, lakeside stores, and resorts to find out where you can rent a pontoon or motorboat for a cruise.

YOUR OWN BACKYARD

Under the stars – Camp out in your backyard. Build a bonfire (if it's permitted in your area), roast marshmallows and gaze at the stars. Big wheels and small – Paved trails are popping up everywhere: in parks, along riverbanks, and through many towns.

Coasters, cars, and Ferris wheels – A trip to a theme park can be the highlight of the season.

Park play – Take your kids for a picnic and an afternoon at the park. Scout your area for an updated park with a large, enclosed playground. Bring along a playmate for your child, and they’ll be content for some time. Kimberly Blaker is a freelance writer. She also owns an online bookshop, Sage Rare & Collectible Books, specializing in out-of-print, scarce, signed, and first editions; fine bindings; ephemera and more at sagerarebooks.com

Discover Your SUMMER OF MORE at Gaylord Opryland Resort

All images courtesy of Gaylord Opryland Resort

Have you made plans yet for an unforgettable vacation? At Gaylord Opryland, the possibilities are endless! We believe summer is a time for fun and adventure and, most of all, spending time together. This summer the whole family can join a whimsical pirate crew, conquer thrilling new waterslides, explore a truly unique resort and experience the best of Nashville, Tennessee – all without ever leaving the resort. Read on to discover what excitement awaits you this summer.

Embark on an epic adventure with fantastical friends!

The pirates have moored their ship, the princess has arrived in her carriage, and they’re all ready to spend the summer with you at Gaylord Opryland. What kind of fun do they have in store? The kind that leads to new adventures, pushing the bounds of imagination, testing your puzzle-solving skills and more! In this unique series of activities, you will: • Visit the Pirates & Princess Academy, a live and interactive show where you will meet these whimsical characters and even join their ranks by taking a special, secret oath! • Set off on a journey with your new friends as you find adventure on the high seas in a treasure-seeking voyage along the indoor Delta

Atrium River or climb into a magical, horse-drawn carriage. • Put your problem-solving skills to the test in your mission to get out of the Captain’s Hidden Treasure Escape Room or hunt down all the princess’s missing jewels in a resort-wide scavenger hunt. • Bust out your best moves at the Buccaneer Bash Pool Party where the whole family can dance, play games, and have a swashbuckling good time. • Let your inner artist take center stage at a pirate and princessthemed art studio or during a delicious cookie decorating activity!

Slide into summer fun at SoundWaves!

Summer is much more fun when spent in the sun – and there’s no better place to do that than SoundWaves. This upscale indoor and outdoor aquatic experience covers four acres across three levels and unites the thrills of a water park with immersive music to create the ultimate, modern oasis the whole family will love.

• Play together all day long! Slide down the Rapid Remix™ in a mega raft with up to five people, jump on Nashville’s only double

FlowRider® with your best friend to see who can hang ten the longest, or race with three other people down the Rock’N Racer – don’t worry, the leaderboard will keep track of who won. • Take on any (or all!) of the six waterslides, including the ultrathrilling Bass Drop, a high-speed, six-story free fall. • Wind through the lazy river to relax or experience the currents in the rapid river, complete with waterfalls and sprinklers.

• Grab a bite to eat with the whole family at Decibels or slip off while the kids are in the pool to grab a drink at Status Cymbal Adult

Pool & Bar. • Upgrade your day at SoundWaves with an indoor or outdoor poolside cabana, the perfect home base for the family during breaks from the water.

Discover a one-of-a-kind resort

Beyond seasonal events and activities and SoundWaves, Gaylord Opryland offers an unparalleled resort experience so you can curate the perfect summer vacation for your family. No matter how young or old your family, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

• Stop by the award-winning Relâche Spa for an invigorating, deeptissue massage, a brightening facial, or a mani-pedi to keep your nails in tip-top shape. The little ones can join in too with the Royal

Kids Spa Treatments like pedicures or hair up-dos worthy of a tiara. • Discover new culinary options during your stay. Order the famous barbeque from the world’s only Jack Daniel’s restaurant, try searedto-perfection beef at Old Hickory Steakhouse, concoct your own creation at Stax’s burger bar, or try one of more than a dozen other dining experiences. • Stroll through nine acres of stunning garden atriums enclosed in glass. Find seasonal décor, a fountain and light show choreographed to a beautiful musical score, and even a quarter-mile-long river, perfect for boat rides. • Get out and explore Music City! Stop into Wildhorse Saloon for some world-famous fried pickles and hours of line dancing. Take a General Jackson Showboat lunch or dinner cruise down the beautiful, meandering Cumberland River for spectacular skyline views, delicious Southern food, and a live show from top talent. Or visit the Grand Ole Opry, right next door to the resort, to see country music stars perform at the show that made country music famous.

ART, PIANO & VIOLIN CAMPS SAMFORD UNIVERSITY ACADEMY OF THE ARTS

No matter what your family is looking for, be it joining in pirate adventures, making a splash, trying all the new foods, or exploring a new city, you can do it all at Gaylord Opryland Resort. After all, summer is a time of adventure and excitement, but most importantly, bonding and growing together. Make the most of your summer of more and book your trip today at www.gaylordopryland.com.

SUMMER CAMPS & CLASSES

SEASON 2022

JUNE 6-AUGUST 6 HALF-DAY CAMPS FOR 4K-12TH GRADE WEEKLY CLASSES FOR 12 MONTHS TO ADULT

REGISTRATION OPENS MAY 16 CLASSES BEGIN SEPT 6

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