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Family Leisure

Studies suggest that leisure is the single most important factor in developing healthy and cohesive relationships between spouses and between parents and their children (Zabriskie & McCormick, 2001). Family leisure is related to positive family outcomes and family functioning and leisure in general is related to mental, physical, social, and emotional health and well-being. Similarly, participating in shared leisure interests and activities as a family helps to strengthen family relationships, enhances family cohesion and adaptability, and facilitates exchanges between family members, all of which help to strengthen familial bonds and increase satisfaction (Zabriskie & McCormick, 2001). Our goal is to share resources related to family leisure throughout the Central Coast in order to promote positive family well-being. 

Core and Balance leisure

Agate et al. (2009) used the core and balance model to describe family leisure functioning in their study examining the relationship between family leisure satisfaction and satisfaction with family life. The core family leisure model contains “common, everyday, low-cost, relatively accessible, often home-based activities that many families do frequently," (Zabriskie & McCormick, 2003, p. 168). The Balance family leisure model consists of more atypical activities that are often not home-based and provide an element of novelty.  Core family leisure involvement is often correlated with feelings of closeness, personal relatedness, and family identity while balance family leisure involvement helps families to be challenged, develop, and adapt to family life and its challenges. Most items listed here are examples of balance family leisure. 

* = Core Leisure Activity * = Balance Leisure Activity

  • Oceano Dunes - Camp for $10/night right on the sand! Bring your boogie boards or cardboard and slide down the huge dunes with the family after waking up to the sounds of the ocean. Reminder: bring a car that can handle driving on sand!

Camping spots​

  • Oceano Dunes - Camp for $10/night right on the sand! Bring your boogie boards or cardboard and slide down the huge dunes with the family after waking up to the sounds of the ocean. Reminder: bring a car that can handle driving on the sand! *

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  • Lopez Lake - Camp for $10/night. Located 20 minutes away from Arroyo Grande, the family can enjoy all the activities Lopez Lake has to offer. From camping, fishing, boating, picnicking, hiking and equestrian trails, mountain biking, zip-lining, birdwatching and so much more. *

  • Find a time and location for a Farmers Market in SLO County and Santa Maria that works for your family!

  • Check out Family Meal Time to find recipes you can make as a family. Make collecting ingredients fun for the family by collecting the ingredients at a local market!

Food Experiences

  • Find a time and location for a Farmers Market in SLO County and Santa Maria that works for your family! *

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  • Check out Family Meal Time to find recipes you can make as a family. Make collecting ingredients fun for the family by collecting the ingredients at a local market! **

  • Geocaching - Real world, outdoor treasure hunt using GPS devices like your smartphone!

  • Sunset Drive-In, San Luis Obispo  &  Hi-Way Drive-In,  Santa Maria - make a bed out of the back of your car or bring your own camping chairs to enjoy a movie on the big screen! Tip: bring your own snacks for a budget-friendly experience.

  • Visit Boomers in Santa Maria, an amusement center that includes arcade games, go-karts, bumper boats, and mini-golf. 

Try something new!

  • Geocaching - Real-world, outdoor treasure hunt using GPS devices like your smartphone! *

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  • Visit Boomers in Santa Maria, an amusement center that includes arcade games, go-karts, bumper boats, and mini-golf. *

  • Check out a playlist below for fun, relaxing, or just plain enjoyable family and child-friendly music.

  • Spice up your board-game game with this list of family games that people are loving right now.

  • Visit a bowling alley on the Central Coast for some entertaining family fun.

       -  Santa Maria - Rancho Bowl 

       -  Pismo Beach - Pismo Bowl 

  • Take the children to enjoy some fun and exercise as they hop around the large trampolines at Rockin' Jump.

Keep it indoors

  • Check out a playlist below for fun, relaxing, or just plain enjoyable family and child-friendly music. *

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  • Spice up your board-game night with this list of family games that people are loving right now. *

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  • Visit a bowling alley on the Central Coast for some entertaining family fun. *      

       -  Santa Maria - Rancho Bowl      

       -  Pismo Beach - Pismo Bowl  

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  • Take the children to enjoy some fun and exercise as they hop around the large trampolines at Rockin' Jump. *

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