Last month we spent a weekend at Blind Buck Valley Farmstead in Salem, NY. After a long winter of being cooped up in doors it was wonderful to escape our house and spend the weekend on a farm. I knew that I wanted us to step out of our element and really have some quality time as a family and with our friends who were joining us on our trip. When I proposed to my friend that we have a screen free weekend she gladly agreed and it was exactly the type of weekend our kids needed.
How to Have an Unplugged Family Vacation
Leave the devices at home
I know it’s obvious but without the presence of the Nintendo or the iPad there were a lot less requests to play with a device. The kids still asked to play on our phones but for the most part this kept the requests to a minimum.
Pick the right location
When I looked at Blind Buck Valley Farmstead on Airbnb I instantly knew that it was the right place to unplug. The property was meant for exploring. The rooms were filled with great places to play and explore. There were toys and board games and a large kitchen. It was the perfect place to play games, explore and be creative.
Bring a Friend
Sometimes my kids are just bored because they don’t have someone to play with. When they have each other they have a playmate to run and explore hills with and someone to play that board game that got for Christmas and someone who can bounce on a trampoline without feeling like there knees will never be the same again. Having a friend instantly gives them something to do.
Don’t Hover
All weekend we gave the kids the freedom to wander and explore on their own. This led to them having adventures and feeling a bit of freedom from the cautious eyes of adults. They weren’t thinking about what level they were on Zelda when they were having an adventure exploring with friends. The boys loved roaming the hills on their own and playing hide and seek throughout the house.
Be Flexible
Here’s a secret, we didn’t go completely screen free. Blind Buck Valley Farmstead had a great selection of DVDs, lots of great old movies and movies from the 90’s (I refuse to refer to the 90’s as old). The kids loved watching these movies and it was a great way to get them to settle down and unwind at night.
We loved our weekend away at Blind Buck Valley Farmstead it was great to connect with friends rather than our devices. We had so many laughs playing games, cooking in the kitchen and taking relaxing walks around the property. The kids loved exploring, playing hide and seek and playing all with all the games and toys at the farmstead.
We were invited to spend a weekend at Blind Buck Valley Farmstead, all thoughts and opinions are my own. To learn more about our unplugged family vacation at Blind Buck Valley Farmstead make sure to read our full review. You can also visit their website or find them on Instagram.
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