On my way back from dropping the munchkin off at school, I passed the neighborhood gas station. My eyes just about popped clear out of my skull when I saw that the price of the “cheap” 
gasoline was at $4.17 per gallon. I also know that it’s going to keep rising, which makes for a whole lot less driving this summer. It looks like we’ll be doing a whole mess of “hoofin’ it” over the next few months.
Luckily, with the weather quickly becoming absolutely gorgeous, there is still plenty to do within walking or biking distance. Not only will staying close to home save us the hard-earned cash we’d be pouring into our gas tank, it’s also healthy for the family and familiarizes our children with the neighborhood.
Within a one-mile radius, we have stores, parks, a river, restaurants, an ice cream shop, a school and, of course, our own backyard. Within biking distance, we have even more parks, a library, swimming pool and churches which offer free family events. It’s funny how many resources for entertainment you have in your own neighborhood without realizing it until gas prices drive you to walking.
Getting out and exploring your neighborhood can save you a bundle and still be fun and exciting. Even in rural areas, like the farm I grew up on, without shops and other “in-town” entertainment options close by, there are still lots of things you can do, essentially in your own backyard. Nature walks, picnicking, outdoor hide-and-seek, having scavenger hunts, playing in the sprinkler, collecting wildflowers, camping, roasting marshmallows, and playing ball are all fun family activities that cost next to nothing and require absolutely no travel costs whatsoever.
The import thing about spending time with family isn’t how far you drive or a spectacular destination. It’s about being together and enjoying each others’ company. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is priceless.
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