Summer is a great time for family activities—not just with your immediate family, but with your parents, grandparents, extended relatives, and family friends. Senior relatives tend to get lonely and will take pleasure in participating in even the most routine of days with their loved ones.

After observing my own parents last summer and talking with friends and family who noticed a similar level of interest from their elder relatives, I thought everyone would benefit from some ideas on fun, free summer activities for the entire family.

Be sure to check out:

• Local Borders bookstores. Most offer readings by visiting authors, story time readings for children, and other free literary community events. Visit the Borders website for Events listings.

• Free outdoor concerts and plays at community parks. Many towns and cities around the country host these summertime events annually, and my family has found them to be the perfect time for picnics. Check out our article on Fun Things for City Kids for more city-specific info.

• Community libraries. A great place to find concerts, book readings and signings, classes, and many other summertime activities for both kids and adults, public library offerings are almost always free. Not to mention educational!

• Local museums. Many lesser-known or small museums are free every day, or have a "suggested contribution" or "pay what you can" policy, while most of the major museums offer at least one night per week of free admission. Almost all museums, regardless of size, offer additional family or senior citizen discounts.

• Local garden centers. Most will sponsor outdoor events, like private garden tours or nature walks, during the peak growing seasons. Check local listings.

• Community and private colleges. Local campuses may host a variety of community activities worth looking into; art exhibits, live sporting events, or free classes are all invigorating. Check with local colleges and universities or online classifieds and community newspapers.

• Volunteer opportunities. Local non-profits, shelters, and faith-based organizations are in need of help more often than not, offering opportunities to do good while interacting with the community. Check out the Idealist website to find local charities.

• Online fun and games for rainy days. For websites that are easy to use and offer great pastimes for young and old, check out Pogo for games and How Stuff Works for educational diversions that feel like play.

• Usher vacancies at local theatres. Most theatres, especially smaller ones, hire volunteers to help patrons to their seats, hand out fliers, and generally help out on the night of the show…resulting in free admission!

Have a great summer and enjoy it with your mom, dad, older relatives, and friends—they'll thank you for it, and your kids will learn a lot about the importance of quality family time.

Cheers,

Sheila