Summer Activities Archives - Crosswinds - NEWLY BUILT HOMES IN KYLE, TX

As great as air conditioning is, there’s just something classic about grabbing a few blankets, some tasty food, and cold drinks and heading out to a grassy spot for a picnic.

The term “picnic” dates back to 17th century France, but in the early part of the 20th century, picnics started to catch on in popularity.

Here are some helpful tips to help you plan the perfect summer picnic.

Don’t Forget the Cooler

With Texas temps firmly planted in the 90s during the summer, keeping cool and staying hydrated is a must. You’ll want to bring a sizable cooler to hold both your drinks and any cheeses, dips, deli meats, or other foods that need to be kept cool.

While some premium coolers can keep foods cold for an entire day, others may only keep them cool for a few hours. It doesn’t hurt to toss a few ice packs in there to help make sure everything stays cool and fresh.

Get Comfy

A sizable blanket is a must for a good picnic. It keeps you and your food off the grass, gives you an extra barrier against bugs, and, well, it’s just going to make your overall picnic experience that much more comfy.

If you prefer not to sit on the ground, then be sure to bring along a few folding chairs. It also isn’t a bad idea to throw an umbrella in the car if you know you’ll be picnicking somewhere that doesn’t have a lot of trees to provide shade.

Pack Your Basket Right

It’s easy to get carried away with packing all the delicious dips, sandwiches, salads, and other picnic foods and forget the other picnic essentials – utensils. The last thing you want is to get your blanket spread out in that perfect spot and open up your basket to find that you forgot to pack plates and utensils to eat with.

A few other essentials to consider packing:

Napkins
Condiment packets
A trash bag
A small cutting board and knife
Bug spray
Sunscreen
A bottle opener

Picnic Fun for the Kids

The food is the highlight of every picnic, but you might as well enjoy the great outdoors to their fullest, right? Consider bringing along a frisbee or ball to toss, and if you have kiddos in tow with you, it doesn’t hurt to bring along bubbles, a kite, or a paddle ball set.

This can provide a nice break to burn off some calories before heading home – or going back for seconds!

Bring the Right Foods

Some foods just aren’t ideal for a picnic. Foods like chocolate and fried chicken aren’t great because they can quickly get incredibly messy. Instead, opt for foods that travel well and can be easily packed up and taken home if you don’t finish them.

A few classic picnic foods include:

Pasta salad
Fruit salad
Sandwiches
Empanadas
Oatmeal cookies
Chicken salad
Cheddar cheese straws

Now that you know the dos and don’ts of picnic planning, all that’s left to do is find that perfect spot, and there are a number of parks near Kyle that are ideal for an afternoon picnic.

If you’d like to learn more about all Kyle has to offer and find the perfect home here, contact the Crosswinds team today.

Between summer camps, sports, and trips to the pool, there are plenty of fun activities for kids and teens during the summer months. But what about those children who are pre-K and under and may not be big enough to tag along with their older siblings?

Thankfully, there’s still plenty of fun to be had this summer! Check out these local happenings at the Kyle Public Library that are geared toward the littlest members of the family.

Sensory Storytime – Mondays at 10 AM. This program is recommended for children between the ages of 2 and 5. Incorporating active sensory play and music, the program is open to all toddlers and is great for children who may have special sensory challenges or developmental delays.

Lil Yogis – Tuesdays 10:30 AM. Part yoga, part storytime (okay, mostly storytime), Lil Yogis is a half-hour dedicated to reading, along with some active play through yoga poses to go along with the featured book.

Pajama Storytime – Tuesdays at 7 PM. Head back to the Library after Lil Yogis for more reading, but don’t forget to wear your pajamas. Aimed at children 6 and below, this half-hour of fun will include stories and songs. It’s the perfect way to wind down after a fun summer day before heading off to bed.

Preschool storytime – Wednesdays 10:30 AM. This reading session is all about preschoolers. Designed for children ages 2 to 5, parents are invited to bring their children to the library for a storytime session that is aimed at helping to foster a love of reading and active learning through songs, finger plays, and other activities.

Baby lap-sit – Thursdays at 10 AM. It’s never too early to introduce your children to reading, and this event is all about babies. Geared towards children 0 to 18 months old, parents (or grandparents) will be invited to sit with their children for an hour of nursery rhymes, songs, reading, and maybe even a little bit of active play tossed in for good measure.

Toddler Time – Thursdays at 11 AM. If you have an older toddler in tow, hang around after Baby lap-sit because this program keeps the reading train chugging along in the next hour. Recommended for children 18-26 months old, children will be presented with both new and classic stories that encourage reading and language skills through songs, felt boards, and other activities.

¡Los Cuentos! Bilingual storytime – Fridays 10:30 AM. Designed for young children ages 0 to 5 years of age, this program will present stories in both English and Spanish. There will also be songs, finger plays, and other activities to go along with the stories and help stimulate children’s early language skills.

These are just a few of the many events happening each week at the Kyle Public Library. The local library has something for everyone, with a range of free events, classes, and resources.

If you’d like to learn more about Kyle and what makes this Texas community such a wonderful place to live, reach out to the Crosswinds team to find out more and discover your Hill Country dream home.

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