Summer fun with the kids, exercise KIND snacks and #KINDMilesMatter #ad

I partnered with Life of Dad and KIND for this promotion. All thoughts are my own. Summertime and the exercise is easy, I might write a song that starts out something like that. Seriously though, summer is a fun time to get outside and exercise with the kids. The only difference with the children is that you don’t call it exercise, per se, it’s just called seeing a new town, going to the nature center or learning to ride a bike/swim.  It’s all about #KINDMilesMatter, jamming as much healthy fun as you can into the summer vacation. Here’s a sampling of what we did to burn some calories and how you can dig some KIND Snacks for something so tasty you won’t want to share it with the kids, but you should.

We went to Dahlonega, GA. Dahlonega took every expectation we had of a sleepy mountain town, blew right past it and kept coming back for more fun. It’s located about an hour north of Atlanta, has a central round a-about in the town center and lots of great, local businesses downtown.

We did some crafts, saw the antique malls, walked through the narrow, older streets and made sure to sit down under shady trees from time to time. Dahlonega is so cool it even attracted a Stormtrooper. If you’re coming to Georgia and are looking for a cool place to stay in the mountains this is one place that will not disappoint.

Back at home the kids are learning how to swim. We go to the pool every day for at least 90 minutes. The other week Jake was finally comfortable putting his head underwater. He put it underwater a couple times and then started swimming! It started with play, making it fun, not pressuring him and letting him succeed at his own pace.

That moment your child first puts his head underwater~and never looks back. #KINDMilesMatter #ad When he is not racing mom and dad everywhere he’s doing this or something physically active.

A photo posted by Trey Burley (@treyburley) on Jul 6, 2015 at 6:37pm PDT

At the ready we’ve always had some KIND snacks. We had these for the first time in January and just like Dahlonega, were blown away. They’re more than a granola bar, it’s nuts, fruits, grains or protein in a package that makes you savor each bite. During adult swim, AKA, the bane of childhood pool visits, we snacked on KIND Peanut Butter Berry and the kids loved them. Plus, they’re small and filling enough that one package does the trick.

If you’re going away from the house for your outdoor fun pack pack more snacks than you think you’ll need.  Do not forget the swimmy diaper, pool pants, some wipes, suntan lotion and hats.  We always pack the water bottles with 70% ice so that it will melt and leave the cold water behind.  In the back of our car we always keep a bag with all of that stuff. That way if we’re running errand and want to head to the pool or for a hike we can simply go ahead a do that.

Another thing he’s learning to do this summer is ride a bike. He’s still in the training wheels stage and the fact that we moved to a cul-de-sac is now paying off. It’s his own circular Indy 500 where he can do lap, upon lap and still be close to home.

KIND has been digging things close to home and beyond since 2004. All their snacks are gluten free, non GMO and T.A.S.T.Y. They’ve got six different snack lines, each one with its own personality and distinct taste. We especially love the Strong & Kind bars, they’ve got 10g of protein and come in five flavors that go well with the trail, cheeses or the front yard.

It’s summer! How are you keeping the kids active and moving? Quality time takes all shapes and locations. One such time, albeit indoors and on the computer is the #KINDMilesMatter twitter party with Life of Dad. It’s Tuesday, July 14 at 8PM ET with prizes, some health tips and lots of other kind tips.  Plus a couple puns….I’m sure.