![\"Family](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/larakrupicka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/4601179066_b95accf14f.jpg\")
<\/a>Often we spend our break at home, with lots of time lounging in pajamas and reading books. But occasionally we need to explore. I want to do both this year. And I\u2019ve found a few strategies that are helping me narrow down my options. Maybe they\u2019ll help you as you plan spring break adventures for your family. Here they are:<\/p>\nListen<\/strong> Hyperboles aside, my kids are telling me something. And I\u2019ve listened. Coincidentally a TCBY Groupon appeared in my inbox recently. I put two and two together and decided our spring break\u00a0 family adventures would include a trip to TCBY. But not our nearby TCBY (partly because of that Groupon \u2013 I\u2019m calling it kismet). We\u2019re going to head to an open-air mall featuring stores we don\u2019t usually visit. We\u2019ll call this adventure number one.<\/p>\n Reflect<\/strong> In response, I had them each research a city within easy driving distance of our home. We visited one last summer, where we enjoyed a few brief exploits. Now, I\u2019m not going to shy away from future outdoor expeditions, but I\u2019ve learned that, given my girls’ preference for cities, our family adventures need to include the occasional urban destination. One of those remaining cities = adventure number two.<\/p>\n Dare<\/strong> With a mindset fixed on adventure, whether we accomplish all three or not, I\u2019m confident my kids will enjoy their break. And they\u2019ll still get plenty of time for lounging in their pajamas. Did I mention (not complain) that spring break can’t get here soon enough?<\/p>\n Have you planned any family adventures for your spring break? If not, do any of these strategies prompt an idea for you? I\u2019d love to hear what you\u2019ll be doing and where you\u2019ll be going (another strategy: poll friends for ideas).<\/span> Photo credit: \u201cFamily Adventures in North Wales\u201d by ProAdventure on Flickr made available under CC license<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Outside it\u2019s a winter wonderland of frost-gilded trees and snow-blanketed yards. But while my kids are making plans for sledding after school, I\u2019m making plans for spring break. I\u2019m ready for some family adventures and I want to map an outline of them before that week arrives. Often we spend our break at home, with…<\/p>\n
\nMore than once recently as we\u2019ve driven by our local TCBY yogurt shop, my daughters have mentioned (complained) that they\u2019ve never eaten there. According to them, all<\/em> of their friends go there all<\/em> the time. They are the only ones who have missed out. Can I get the hint?<\/p>\n
\nLast year we did<\/em> travel over spring break to the Smokie Mountains. Between the balmy weather, the resplendent scenery, and the occasionally challenging hikes, it made the perfect family adventure for me. My kids? Not so much. They mentioned (complained) about the hikes being too hard, too steep, and too boring. Two of them wished they were in New York City instead.<\/p>\n
\nPart of the fun of spring vacation is breaking out of the school year rut. Which means daring to try something new \u2013 a new shop (TCBY), a new city (Indianapolis?), but something else too. My children and I all need to challenge ourselves to face fears or shake free of insecurities. We need to risk something where the cost of failure isn\u2019t too high. Spring break is the perfect setting for that. So maybe we\u2019ll dare to try out a new craft (watercolor painting?) or a new sport (paintball?) or cooking a new food (Indian). Our adventure number three.<\/p>\n
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