There will be no school for students in Lynchburg City Schools and many other school systems on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on January 21. There is also a planning day scheduled on Jan. 14 for Lynchburg City Schools.
If you're off from work for the holiday or planning to take time off for other no school days, here are some ways to enjoy family time when school's out. Many family memories are made from the simple joys of daily life.
Go out for lunch at your family's favorite restaurant. Pizza Hut buffet is served only during the week so that would be a special treat. Vote on a restaurant or let the youngest child choose.
Take a hike on the Appalachian Trail or other area hiking trail. The Appalachian Trail, known as the AT, stretches out for 2,184 miles from Georgia to Maine. Whether you live in Lynchburg or anywhere on the East Coast, the AT is within driving range.
Host a winter snowflake party. You can find plenty of ideas at Pinterest for table decorations and foods to serve. Use a blue and white theme and let the kids help. Let each child invite a friend and your party is complete.
Take a photography walk through your neighborhood or a local park. Buy each child a disposable camera or take turns, using a camera or iPhone. Have a contest to see which photos are the favorites. Pick a winter theme or look for unusual shots.
Let the kids help make something special for dinner. With extra time off, you can spend time together in the kitchen. Teach your older kids how to chop vegetables and let the younger kids help mix things up. Cooking is a life skill that your kids will use forever.
Attend a local event. There are many special events planned for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in Lynchburg and the surrounding area including a Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at 6 p.m. on Jan. 21 at Lynchburg College. This free event will be held in Snidow Chapel and Hebb Music Center.
Sort through spring clothes. Spring is just around the corner and the warm days will be here before you know it. Take an hour out of your day to go through the kids' packed-away clothes. Donate those that don't fit to Goodwill or another organization.
Start a family exercise program. Whether you do exercises in the family room or start running or biking together, you'll get in shape while enjoying time together.
Visit a national or state park. The national park system includes nearly 400 locations throughout the country. There are 35 Virginia State Parks all through the state. The closest parks to Lynchburg include High Bridge Trail State Park near Farmville, Smith Mountain Lake State Park near Moneta, Holliday Lake State Park near Appomattox and James River State Park near Gladstone.
Enjoy a movie day. Let each child choose their favorite movie from your collection or check out movies at your local library or Red Box location. You can also download movies from Netflix. Put the names of each movie in a hat to decide which order they will play. Pop popcorn and snuggle up together while you watch.
When school's out, it's great to spend family time together. Make plans now so that your family can enjoy a day together, making family memories.
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