SeleneByMarialyn

This year, to keep track of our summer fun, I created a Summer Bucket List. My goal wasn’t to fill everyday with elaborate adventures but a quick list of ideas to pull from when we needed inspiration. Our bucket list is a mix of simple at-home activities, easy outings to beat the Virginia heat, and a few bigger adventures sprinkled in for good measure. 

I often catch myself wondering if I am doing enough with my kids, my days tend to blur together, and life can feel a little Groundhog Day-ish. This bucket list is a gentle reminder that I am making memories with my littles. Honestly, watching the list slowly fill with our photos has been one of my favorite parts.

Creating the Summer Bucket List couldn’t have been easier. I used a roll of brown kraft paper, wrote out our activity ideas, and tacked it to the wall where everyone could see it. As we complete each adventure, we add an Instax photo. By the end of the summer, we’ll have a wonderful family keepsake. The Summer Bucket List can easily be replicated for Christmas, Spring Break, really any holiday or trip. 

Monday we decided to knock off one of our bigger ticket items, the Virginia  Safari Park in Natural Bridge, Virginia. My original plan was to pair it with a visit to the Natural Bridge State Park but we were moving at a snail’s pace in the morning, some days are just meant to be slow.

Virginia Safari Park is such a fun family outing. As soon as you arrive, you can begin the three mile drive-through portion of the conservatory. A piece of unsolicited advice? Buy the animal feed, it truly elevates the experience. The animals stroll right up to your car, sometimes with a little more zest and enthusiasm than necessary, and will happily eat straight from the feed buckets. Some of the animals are a little over-zealous with the snacking, so hold-on tight to those feed buckets, we’re looking at you llamas and emus. 

Fair warning your car will get dirty. When I say the animals come right up to your car, I mean right up to your car. By the end of the drive, ours was covered in slobber, muddy nose prints, and stray animal feed. 

It was awesome! 

Between my mom and the kids, there was a steady stream of “oohs,”  “ahhs,” giggles, and delighted shrieks. Whether you’re four or seventy-four, you’re bound to have a good time.

The up-close animal encounters don’t end when the drive-through does. We truly lucked out on our visit—there were baby animals everywhere, and they completely stole the show. It was, without a doubt, the highlight of our trip. 

We took full advantage of every feeding opportunity and hand-fed the giraffes and colorful budgies. My family would have happily spent the entire afternoon in the budgie enclosure if I’d let them. They couldn’t get enough of those cheerful birds and I don’t blame them. 

If you’re an animal lover and planning a family outing, Virginia Safari Park is well worth the trip, it’s the perfect mix of adventure, education, and chaos.