What to Do this Summer in the Wiregrass
Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. Have you made plans yet? Last year I made a list of 20 Things to Do with Your Kids this Summer. It's full of free or almost-free activities to get you and the kids out of the house and active, as well as fun things you can do in the a/c and stuff to do on rainy days.
I'm looking forward to this summer. For the first time since Alexis was born, she'll be spending the summer at home. Of course I'll still be working, but thanks to help from grandparents, my husband's work schedule, and the fact that I've got a better handle on the magazine, we'll actually get to take full advantage of summer fun. We've already signed up for our local summer reading program, and I'm scheduling one or two activities a week. Today's post is for those of you living in the Wiregrass area. I'm sharing all the best things to do and see this summer to keep you entertained without spending a ton of money.
Places to Learn
Kolomoki Mounds State Park - Learn about the Woodland Indians of the southeastern U.S. There's also camping, putt-putt, canoe/kayak and paddle boat rentals, playgrounds and nature trails.
Landmark Park - Living history farm, complete with an old farmhouse, smokehouse, cane mill, syrup shed, and farm animals. One-room schoolhouse, drugstore and soda fountain, country store, and turn-of-the-century church. Nature trails, interpretive center and planetarium.
Todd Syrup Farm - Learn about the entire cane syrup making process from field to bottle.
U.S. Army Aviation Museum - Collection of more than 164 military aircraft, including one of the largest collections of military helicopters in the world.
Where to Swim, Splash, or Otherwise Get Wet
Water World - Open through August 8th. Admission: Adults $12, Kids (ages 3-12) $9
Westgate Indoor Pool - Open through August 11th. Admission $3
SPLASH! Pool/Spray Park - Located on Ft. Rucker. Open through September. Free admission.
Enterprise Splash Pad - Located in Johnny Henderson Park. Open through end of September. Free admission.
Ozark Splash Pad - Located in Steagall Park. Free admission.
Ozark Community Pool - Admission: $2 weekdays; $3 weekends
Ozark Splash Pad - Located in Steagall Park. Free admission.
Ozark Community Pool - Admission: $2 weekdays; $3 weekends
Get Outside
Dothan Area Botanical Gardens - Series of gardens, trails and kids playground. Free admission.
AdventureLand Theme Park - Mini golf, bumper boats, go karts, batting cages, and arcade.
Enterprise Mini Golf - Putt-putt course with water features, bridges, and two waterfalls.
Forever Wild Trails - Ten miles of trails with six linked loops, bike repair stations, changing room, and pump track.
Miracle Playground - Soft surface playground located in Westgate Park.
Miracle Playground - Soft surface playground located in Westgate Park.
Farmers Markets
Poplar Head - Saturdays, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in Dothan Civic Center parking lot.
Headland - Fridays on the downtown square from 3:00-7:00 p.m.
Enterprise - Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 7:00-11:00 a.m.
Indoor Activities
Trampoline Parks - Axtion Air Jump & Sport and Xtreme Air
Skating - Fun Zone and Fun Factory
Bowling - Dothan Lanes, Patricia Lanes, Boland Lanes, Rucker Lanes
What to Do
Animal Adventures - Fridays in June & July at Landmark Park. Learn about tortoises, reptiles, alligators, chickens, fish, birds of prey, and amphibians. All programs start at 10:00 a.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for kids. Members get in free. You have to register in advance.
Wacky Wednesdays - Wednesdays in June & July at Landmark Park. Learn about homing pigeons, insects and honeybees. Build fairy houses and learn about the weather. Create your own nature journal, listen to poetry, and go on a nature hike. All programs start at 10:00 a.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for kids. Members get in free. You have to register in advance.
Wacky Wednesdays - Wednesdays in June & July at Landmark Park. Learn about homing pigeons, insects and honeybees. Build fairy houses and learn about the weather. Create your own nature journal, listen to poetry, and go on a nature hike. All programs start at 10:00 a.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for kids. Members get in free. You have to register in advance.
Throwback Thursdays - Thursdays in June & July at Landmark Park. Have old-fashioned fun, learn about and try home-made dairy products, make traditional music, learn about Indian artifacts, spend a day on town square, and take the Wiregrass farmstead tour. All programs start at 10:00 a.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for kids. Members get in free. You have to register in advance.
Music by Moonlight - June 13 & 27 and July 11 at Landmark Park. Annual concert series on the gazebo lawn. Bring your own chairs or blankets and a picnic supper. Music starts at 7:30 nightly. Admission is free.
First Saturday Family Day - June 1 & July 6 at the Wiregrass Museum of Art. A free come-and-go art activity for kids of all ages. All supplies are provided. No pre-registration needed. Each first Saturday features a different project.
Screen on the Green - June 20 at WMA. Bring the family to watch 'James and the Giant Peach' in the museum garden. Food trucks will be on site and the museum provides free popcorn. Admission is free.
Thursday Night Movies - Thursdays in June and July at Kolomoki Mounds. Meet at picnic shelter 4. Games start at 7:30 p.m. EST. Movies start at dark. Admission is free but a $5 park pass required.
Popcorn and a Movie - June 8 & July 13 at the Ozark Dale County Public Library. Free kid-friendly movie with popcorn and a drink. Movies start at 12:45 p.m.
Toddler Tales - June 1 & July 6 at All About Art in Enterprise. Class is from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Designed to be a family experience with storytime and a related art project. $20 per child. Toddler-friendly refreshments served.
Cookes & Canvas - June 8 & July 13 at All About Art in Enterprise. For kids 17 and under. Designed for families but children 10 and older can participate independently. Class is from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Cost: $20 for 11x14 canvas or $30 for 16x20 canvas.
Story & Craft - Every Tuesday at downtown Dothan library at 10:15 a.m. and every Wednesday at the Westgate library at 10:30 a.m. Each session lasts about an hour.
Popcorn and a Movie - June 8 & July 13 at the Ozark Dale County Public Library. Free kid-friendly movie with popcorn and a drink. Movies start at 12:45 p.m.
Toddler Tales - June 1 & July 6 at All About Art in Enterprise. Class is from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Designed to be a family experience with storytime and a related art project. $20 per child. Toddler-friendly refreshments served.
Cookes & Canvas - June 8 & July 13 at All About Art in Enterprise. For kids 17 and under. Designed for families but children 10 and older can participate independently. Class is from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Cost: $20 for 11x14 canvas or $30 for 16x20 canvas.
Story & Craft - Every Tuesday at downtown Dothan library at 10:15 a.m. and every Wednesday at the Westgate library at 10:30 a.m. Each session lasts about an hour.
Fireworks Shows
Fireworks at the Fairgrounds - June 29 at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds. Free watermelon and peanut samples. Kids games, dunking booths, live music, and vendors. Hot dot eating contest (applications due June 20). Gates open at 5:00 p.m. Fireworks show at 9:00 p.m. Admission is free but they're asking for a $10 parking donation to benefit United Way.
July 4th Picnic in the Park - June 29 at Ashford Recreation Park, 5:00-9:30 p.m. Food vendors, kids' inflatables, music, games, and fireworks.
Freedom Fest - July 3 on Festival Fields at Fort Rucker. Kids' zone with inflatables and rides. Local and regional vendors and displays. Patriotic Concert and Fireworks. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. Admission is free but you must have a visitor's pass to get on post.
I'm excited about all of the activities we've got planned so far. I hope this post helps inspire your summer activities. As I find out about more fireworks shows, I'll update this post.
I'm excited about all of the activities we've got planned so far. I hope this post helps inspire your summer activities. As I find out about more fireworks shows, I'll update this post.
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