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Summer Bucket List

Akron Area Kid-Friendly Water Attractions

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There are so many events going on, literally every day. It’s hard to keep them all in order! But I have your solution! I’m keeping all of the Akron Area Kid-Friendly Water Attractions here in one place. Be sure to save this post in your bookmarks and come back, as I’ll keep updating throughout Summer 2022, as needed!

Water Works Family Aquatic Center

Located in Cuyahoga Falls, Water Works is so much fun for families of all ages. It offers a lazy river, several types of water slides, adult-only/deep end swims, and so much more!

Concessions available on-site.

Open to the public** 5/31/2022 to 8/12/2022, 11am – 8pm Monday thru Friday; 11am – 6pm Sundays*.

Cost

The rates are different based on days, age, and residency. Refer to the table below for a full cost breakdown.

WATER WORKS AQUATIC CENTER RATES

Location: Water Works Family Aquatic Center. 2025 Munroe Falls Ave, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221

MACA Pool

Maca Pool complex consists of a 250,000-gallon water park that includes a 6 lane lap pool, enclosed flume slide, speed slide, and zero depth entry area.

Open to the public 5/28/2022 to 8/14/2022, 11am – 7pm Monday thru Thursday; 11am – 8pm Friday thru Sunday*.

Cost

Akron Summer Kids Events

Location: MACA Pool. 183 Maca Drive, Tallmadge, OH 44278

Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Splash Pad

The downtown Cuyahoga Falls splash pad is newly remodeled. With ample street parking (meter) and free parking in the red, blue, and yellow decks.

Akron Area Kid-Friendly Water Attractions

Open to the public daily from now until 9/5/2022, 11am – 9pm.*

Cost

Free! No cost.

Location: Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Splash Pad. Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221

Hudson Splash Pad

The Hudson splash pad is located in Veterans Way Park and features 12 in-ground sprays.

Open to the public. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10am – 8pm*.

Cost

Free! No cost.

Location: Hudson Splash Pad. 55 Veterans Way, Hudson, Ohio, 44236

Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium

The Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium features four pools and nearly 400,00 gallons of water! It has a zero depth area for small children, sprinkling features, a small kids slide, and big water slides.

They’re open for family swim during the weekend only (for now).

Cost

Daily rates differ for city residents versus non-residents. There are discounts for children and seniors. Age 2 and under are free.

Location: The Natatorium 2345 4th St, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221

Edgewood Park SprayGround

Edgewood Park is an expansive, 10-acre park on the west side of Barberton. The spray ground is perfect for little kids. The spray grounds will be open throughout the Summer months.

Akron Area Kid-Friendly Water Attractions

Cost

Free! No cost.

Location: Edgewood Park, 1170 Liberty Ave, Barberton, OH 44203

Wadsworth Grizzly Outdoor Pool

The Wadsworth Grizzly Outdoor Pool is part of the Akron Area YMCA. You do not have to be a member of the YMCA to go to the Wadsworth Grizzly Outdoor Pool. It features a leisure pool and a deep pool. The leisure pool has zero depth entry and spray features for little kids.

Akron Area Kid-Friendly Water Attractions

Open to the public 5/30/2022 to 9/6/2022, 12pm – 6pm (until 7pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays).

Cost

Infants under 2 are free. Youth (ages 2-17) and seniors (65+) daily rates is $6. Adult daily rate is $8. Everyone can enter after 5pm for just $5.

Location. Wadsworth Grizzly Pool. 624 School Dr, Wadsworth, OH 44281.

Cuyahoga Falls Wading Pools

There are currently 6 little-kid friendly wading pools throughout Cuyahoga Falls, but for the 2022 season, only the following locations will be open: Oak Park, Linden Park, Valley Vista Park, and Lions Park. The wading pools at Indian Mountain Park and Quirk Cultural Center will be unavailable for the 2022 Summer season, while they undergo construction to be turned into themed splash pads for each neighborhood.

The pools are ADA accessible and are somewhere between 1-2 feet in depth. There is a lifeguard on duty when open.

Wading Pools in Cuyahoga Falls

Open to the public from 5/31/2022 to 8/12/2022, hours coming soon!

Cost

Free! No cost.

Location: Lions Park, 641 Silver Lake Ave, Cuyahoga Falls, 44221. Oak Park, 2250 12th St, Cuyahoga Falls, OH. Valley VIsta Park, 2790 Valley Rd, Cuyahoga Falls, OH. Linden Park, 241 Roanoke Ave, Cuyahoga Falls, OH.

Reservoir Park Pool

The Reservoir Park Pool is one out two outdoor pools in the city of Akron, this one in Goodyear Heights. It has seen a revitalization in recent years.

Reservoir Pool

Open to the public from 6/7/2022 to 8/21/2022 from 2pm – 7pm Monday through Friday, and 2pm – 5pm on Saturdays.

Cost

The pool is free, but you need to fill paperwork for an open swim membership.

Location: Reservoir Park, 1735 Hillside Terrace, Akron, OH 44305.

Joy Park Community Center Splash Pad

The 1,600 square foot spray pad is located next to the community center off of Fuller Street.

Open to the public throughout the Summer season, 7 days a week, from 11am to 7pm.

Cost

Free! No cost.

Location: Joy Park Community Center, 825 Fuller St, Akron, OH 44306.

There are SO many amazing resources here within our reach in Akron. My kids and I can’t wait to check all of these out during Summer 2022.

*weather permitting
**valid government issued photo ID required for entry.

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Summertime Rainbow Garden Veggie Pizza

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This was our first year trying to grow our own vegetables in our backyard garden. We have quite a bit of space, but decided to start small with just two raised garden beds. I went a bit crazy with seeds, thinking very few would take. But I was really wrong and now we have an abundance of veggies! What’s a mom to do with all the veggies?! Make the perfect Summertime Rainbow Garden Veggie Pizza, of course!

rainbow veggie pizza

This is one of those recipes that the kids can be really involved in. In fact, my kids have been super involved in the whole gardening process! They helped me plant the seeds and starters and they help me water every day. You should have seen the reactions they all gave to our first teeny veggie!

I figured that this would be our summer “lesson” in unschooling. And thus far, it has worked! My oldest (almost 8), has had so many questions about how and why plants grow. I do my best to communicate the science behind it, but truthfully, YouTube has been much better at it!

rainbow garden veggie pizza

Rainbow Garden Veggie Pizza

This pizza is as easy as it gets. Instead of traditional pizza dough, I opted for something easier — and perhaps even tastier — pita bread! Another great alternatives to traditional pizza crust would be naan.

As far as veggies are concerned, we used most of the items we could find in our garden. Yellow and red bell peppers, cucumbers, cauliflower, carrots, broccoli, and tomatoes! As far as veggies are concerned, the possibilities are endless!

rainbow garden veggie pizza

The pita bread (or naan) is just the perfect size for kids. They can put on whichever veggies they want, and leave off what they don’t! My middle daughter, for one, wanted her rainbow veggie pizza to consist of nothing but cucumbers and broccoli! No arguments from me, that’s for sure.

RAINBOW GARDEN VEGGIE PIZZA

Getting the kids involved in the process just increases the odds of them actually eating it. So my advice to you would be this: clean and cut the veggies and place them in separate containers. Ahead of time, mix the cream cheese mixture together. Set out the pita or naan on individual plates. And let them go for it! The worst thing that could happen is that they eat even more veggies!

Rainbow Veggie Pizza

Rainbow Veggie Pizza

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sliced cucumbers
  • 1/2 cup cauliflower
  • 1/2 cup broccoli
  • 1/4 cup sliced rainbow carrots
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
  • 1/2 cup of red / yellow bell peppers (cut into chunks)
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 4 ounces of cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 4 pieces of pita bread (or naan)

Instructions

    1. Wash and cut vegetables
    2. Using a 9x13 pan, add pita bread to cover the bottom of the pan.
    3. In a bowl, mix softened cream cheese, lemon juice, Greek yogurt, and
      salt and pepper together well.
    4. Spread mixture onto pita bread
    5. Evenly spread vegetables and cheese atop pita
    6. Enjoy!
© Rachel

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How to Host a Social Distancing End of Summer Cookout

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Summer will be over before you know it, and what used to be a fun season of cookouts and fun summer hangouts has turned to waving to your neighbor from across the lawn. If you are looking for a fun way to celebrate the end of summer, you can still have a fun end of summer cookout, safely. Here are some tips to help host a social distancing end of summer cookout.

girl with american flag

Keep things clean and sanitized

If you are going to have a cookout where you will be sharing items and touching surfaces, you want to make sure that you are keeping things clean! The main reason for social distancing is to reduce the number of germs being passed around, so ensure that you are keeping your areas clean and sanitized often. Have sanitizing wipes readily accessible, and don’t forget to wash your hands often.

purple and blue wine

Seat in sections and grab food in rotations

If you are serving food, make sure that you spread out seating and implement food rotation areas. This should help prevent contact between others and still allow you to talk to one another without shouting! Try to avoid sitting too close to each other and take advantage of your full yard or block if you live on a less busy street. It may not be the best option for every situation, but you can still have a decent celebration this way!

man cooking on grill

Bring your own food and supplies

If you want to avoid cross-contamination, bring your own supplies. This includes food, drinks, and whatever else you will need. While it’s not as fun to have everyone bring their own supplies, this can keep people from getting sick from contacting another person’s stuff. Having everyone bring their own things could end up being the best option if you’re feeding a lot of people. Just make sure that you still keep your distance from each other, even if everyone brings their food and supplies.

flowers with pie

Get single-serve materials for serving, drinking, and more!

Single-serve options are not usually an excellent idea for the environment. In this case, they could be lifesaving! Encourage people to use canned sodas instead of a 2 liter and avoid contact hot spots. Encourage the use of disposable products and single-serve items that don’t require you to wash afterward.

Move to the front yard

Normally cookouts take place in the backyard huddled by the grill, but instead, bring your cookout to the front yard! Have all your neighbors sit in their yards and enjoy cookouts together! Each person can make their own dish, and you can still be near each other even if you can’t sit right next to them. You can also play fun games that don’t require you to be near each other or play contact games. 

While nothing can replace the fun of standing next to your neighbors and friends to celebrate the end of summer, hopefully, this will help ease the pain of not being able to hug your loved ones from afar!

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Five End of Summer Bucket List Items

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After the Fourth of July, it always feels like summer comes barreling to an end and before we know it, we are back in the grind. That is why I made a vow to make sure my family takes full advantage of the rest of the season by coming up with an end of the summer bucket list!

Visit a Farmer’s Market and Make Dinner as a Family

woman shopping at market

Farmer’s markets are so fun to visit! I love browsing the different stands, seeing all the unique goods, and teaching my kids about new food. I also love knowing that I am feeding my family fresh, locally grown food that helps support Ohio’s economy. To make a fun experience even better, we plan to take the food selected by the kids and cook dinner together as a family. My apple galette recipe will be a perfect dish to serve at this dinner!

Go to a Drive-In Movie

I can remember my parents taking me to drive-in movies each summer when I was younger. I thought it was just the coolest thing to watch a movie in our car. This summer is the perfect time to introduce my kids to the drive-in movie experience. We haven’t been to a movie in months, so this will be extra special! 

Get Some Ice Cream and Pay-It-Forward

Summer bucket list

One of my favorite things to do, summer or not, is getting ice-cream. For some reason, ice-cream just tastes better when someone else scoops it for you. Am I right?! But, do you know what is even better than ice-cream? Making someone else’s day! Next time we get ice cream, we will pay-it-forward and treat the next person in line with a sweet treat. I can guarantee my kids will enjoy the giving, more than the ice cream.  

Ambush Your Kids with a Surprise Water Fight

My kids love when we play with them! They’ll love it even more if we surprise them with something totally unexpected like a water fight. We’ll fill balloons and buckets of water beforehand and ambush them when they least expect it. It will be a blast! 

Actually Rest and Relax

Summer is supposed to be the time of year when things slow down so we can relax and enjoy each other’s company. With so many responsibilities, it is sometimes hard to remember to enjoy this slower season and live in the moment. We are going to make a pointed effort to rest and relax intentionally during these long summer days. 

I hope the end of your summer is blast!

Tell me – what is on your end of summer bucket list?!

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The Perfect Summertime Grilled S’mores Recipe

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With Summer plans in limbo for everyone, we’re all scrambling to find fun things to keep our families busy. What better time to get creative with Summer recipes, am I right?

All three of my kids are in this really picky ‘grilled cheese’ phase. You know the kind of phase. It’s where literally all they will eat is plain old grilled cheese and nothing else.

GRILLED S'MORES SANDWICH

The funny thing about kids is that no matter how much they refuse real food, they will never ever turn down sweets. To tell you the truth, neither will I! I mean, we all love sweets, am I right?!

GRILLED S'MORES SANDWICH

The great thing about ‘Summer recipes’ is that it doesn’t have to be Summer to create them. As much as we would like to be around the campfire, life doesn’t always work out that way. In fact, on the best of days a good backyard campfire can quickly be ruined by a quick rainstorm or a fussy toddler. So, why not bring the backyard favorite indoors?

GRILLED S'MORES SANDWICH

For instance, a fun family favorite is S’mores. Everyone loves s’mores, right? Even I, someone who doesn’t really like chocolate, LOVES a good s’more. Truthfully, I prefer a non-traditional s’more with chocolate caramels instead of a chocolate bar. But a s’more is a s’more!

Tips for getting your s’more on indoors!

My first tip is this — don’t eat the chocolate (or the marshmallows!) before you start your s’mores! This is the most important and most difficult task!

My second tip is to use real butter. Margarine just doesn’t fry up and crisp the bread the way that real butter does! And I prefer salted butter — it just gives it a little salty-sweet flavor combo that is extra delicious!

Yield: 1

Grilled S'mores

GRILLED S'MORES SANDWICH

Have this decadent and RICH Summer recipe year-round!

Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 7 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 slices of white bread
  • 1/4 cup of mini marshmallows
  • 1/4 cup of chocolate (dark or milk)
  • tablespoon of butter

Instructions

    1. Butter one side of each piece of bread with real butter (works better than margarine).
    2. Place 1 slice of bread onto a frying pan
    3. Set the heat to low (electric level 1 or 2). The process is slow and steady!
    4. Place chocolate chips and marshmallows on top of the slice of bread and top with second piece of bread (butter side up).
    5. Cover with lid to frying pan until chocolate starts to melt.
    6. Flip over once chocolate is melted. Fry other side until it is toasted (lid off).

Notes

This is completely addictive. I am warning you! Also, feel free to try with peanut butter cups or your favorite chocolate (like peppermint patties or ROLOs!).

As you can see, this recipe is simple and easy. I wish I could say it was also healthy, but it most definitely is NOT!

So tell me — what is your favorite chocolate for s’mores — milk or dark?

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Summer Lovin’ // our summer in photos

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Oh, HI! I didn’t mean to take a 10-ish day break from writing, but I have THE BEST excuse…

… we’ve been doing ALL THINGS SUMMER!

Oh — and we got a puppy. Because obviously, I make the best decisions. Ha! Her name is Lady and she’s a 12-week old terrier mix we adopted from a local shelter. The kids adore her and I am desperately trying to break her of her nipping habit.

But in addition to the puppy, we’ve been keeping busy with all things fun. From going to the library, to hitting up the splash pad, and everything in between.

Don’t get me wrong — I’m not trying to keep my kids “busy” all Summer long. We have LOTS of downtime, too. We have quiet time at least once a day (whether it be in the form of naps or iPad or books).

But those spaces in between? That’s where the memories are made. They might not remember the details, but they’ll remember the fun. They’ll remember the fun of their first trip to Waterworks; they’ll remember the milkshakes and the popcorn; they’ll remember they caught goldfish (and named them Goldie + Jonathan).

And I’ll remember their smiles and contagious laughter. And it will be enough to get us through until the next Summer. ♥ ♥

What are you doing

 

to make the most

 

of your Summer?