If you ask an expat what they look forward to when they go back “home” you’ll get a slew of answers: sushi, malls, familiar faces, hiking trails, Target. However, if you ask an expat mom, most times you’ll get this answer: easy, cheap things to do with kids. See, depending on your given day, everything abroad is a struggle or an adventure, but easy? Nope. Easy is off the table indefinitely because not only are you trying to be a rational mom-adult for miniature people who act like drunken raccoons but you’re doing it while navigating a different culture that has different values and speaks a different language and looks at you like you’re a crazy bag lady that eats her socks. So when I come back to the States for the summer, I look forward to ease, to finding fun and cheap stuff I could do with my kids without struggle or adventure (maybe some adventure) and maybe some air-conditioning because I’m not ashamed to admit that while I want my kids to explore and be one with nature, air-conditioning is the greatest invention after electricity (ask anyone who is familiar with island living). So, here’s a fun list of easy, air-conditioned places to take your kids this summer – and all under $5.
Summer Movie Express @Regal Cinemas
“What’s the catch? There’s gotta be a catch…” I asked Husband when we were pulling into the Regal Cinemas’ parking lot last Tuesday morning. After all, what do you get for $1 these days? Even the $1 store doesn’t have much for $1 anymore. To my utter amazement, there was no catch. Every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 am, participating Regal Cinemas offer two movies for $1. You don’t have to be a kid or under a certain age. You do not even have to buy popcorn or a soda. We bought 4 tickets for $4. It was that easy. We did splurge and buy some popcorn and drinks but will probably BYOP next time to make this one of the coolest and cheapest summer deals around. Check your local cinema to see if they are a participating theater and to check what movie week they are on (week 6 for our theater is offering Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and Penguins of Madagascar). #summermovieexpress #yesplease!
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble is up there with Starbucks and Key West as one of my favorite places on Earth. What is there not to love about the miles of shelves lined with fresh, crisp pages of interesting people, new worlds and life-changing adventures (not to mention that my local B&N also has a Starbucks!)? So, when I tell my kids that I’m taking them to B&N, I really mean that they’re taking me.
Check out their store and event locator for upcoming events like Throwback Thursday, the 1980’s where they’ll explore books, music, and more to relive moments from the iconic decade or Fangirl Friday where they’ll be introduced to the Women of Marvel. For the Dungeons and Dragons Quick Encounters event, “customers will choose from pre-generated adventures and take part in short fantasy battles.” How awesome does that sound?
If you want to get a little more involved, consider joining your kids in the B&N Summer Reading Program. Kids read any eight books this summer and record them in the B&N’s Imagination’s Destination Journal. Then they bring in the completed journal and choose a FREE book from the B&N selection list found on the reading journal.
Even with my iced caramel macchiato – extra caramel from the Barnes & Noble Starbucks, I’m spending under $5.
Free Bowl
One of my most vivid summer memories as a kid was having a garage sale with my sister and the other girls in our “club” and using those proceeds to go on a club bowling trip. Unfortunately, Kids Bowl Free was not available then but it is now and it is as simple as the name would sound. After registering with them, and finding the nearest participating bowling center to you, on a weekly basis you can log in to get your free bowling coupons (or they’ll send them to you via a weekly email notification). The two bowling lanes I checked in my area were for kids 15 and under which means that adults have to pay or can chaperone since the Family Pass is not required. Shoes are required so bring your own if you’ve got ’em or rent them since even with shoe rentals, you aren’t paying more than $5.00.
Free Skate
Kids Skate Free is the same exact idea. Register and find the nearest participating center and your kids can skate for free this summer. Amazing, right?!