Already fearing the two most dreaded words in any kid’s vocabulary?  “I’m bored!” Then read on. Here are 17 Summertime Activities for Kids (pretty sure the adults will have some fun as well) to the rescue.

1. Coal Country Miniature Golf There’s nothing miniature about the amount of fun the family will have during a visit to Coal Country! Each of the 18 holes depicts a piece of mine equipment. Once the game is over, take a tour of the mine museum or better yet, try your hand (and back) at shoveling a ton of coal. Golf not your thing? The batting cages is a perfect play to improve a swing of a different kind. Of course everyone will work up an appetite, so luckily there is a snack bar on the premises.

2. Splash pad at Palatine Park is an automated and free splash park for children and features umbrellaed picnic tables and a lovely riverside escape from the heat on a warm summer’s day. Time it right and you’ll catch a free evening concert or movie.

3. Marion County Vietnam Memorial offers visitors a tangible glimpse of the war and is dedicated to the local soldiers who fought and died in Vietnam. The Memorial provides a large engraved plaque listing names and the day the soldier was killed. Kids of all ages will be fascinated by the Huey Helicopter that actually flew in the war. Be sure to check out the Purple Heart Memorial while you’re there.

4. Valley Worlds of Fun offers 24 lanes of bowling, a laser tag arcade, and a climbing wall for indoor fun. Perfect for those rainy or 100 degree days.  Outside, visitors can ride the carnival rides, play in the soft play area, drive the bumper boats, or play mini golf. This is a kid favorite for parties.

5. Bicycling at Prickett’s Fork is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get some fresh air! Don’t have a bike? The Fort has bike rentals at an affordable price! Go left at the trailhead, and ride through the 1,200-foot Meredith Tunnel. The wildlife on trails is one of the things that make it very special. It is a great place to go bird watching, or maybe watch a few squirrels playing in the leaves.

6. Valley Falls State Park is popular with kayakers, canoers, and anglers who enjoy catching walleye, musky, crappie, perch, bullhead catfish, carp, northern pike in the lake’s coves. Kids love climbing on the rocks or racing along the marked trails. Pack a picnic and be lulled by the sound of rushing water then let the kids spend some time at the playground.

7. Fairmont Bowling Center Inc has 24 lanes of open bowling with shoe rental and automatic scoring. The center offers a lounge area, cosmic bowling and private event and party hosting.

8. Mary Lou Retton Park, features 25 acres of sports facilities including 5 baseball fields, a football field, outdoor basketball court, playground and swing sets as well as full bathroom facilities.

9. Tygart Valley Cinema is a great place to catch the latest blockbuster. Ever notice how kids movies have just enough humor to keep the adults entertained? And no matter the resolve, it is almost impossible to pass up a tub of popcorn! Plus they stock all your favorite movie candy.

10. Pricketts Fort State Park allows visitors to be transported by to the 18th Century. Costumed interpreters demonstrate frontier life from cooking, sewing, farming, blacksmithing and more. Great place to visit the next time the kids complain about how hard they have it!

11. Dairy Creme Corner boasts “the biggest cones in town!” Their portion sizes are huge but the prices cheap! Try one of their signature items like the Avalanche or if you’re in the mood for something lighter, try the snow biz, similar to shaved ice with a special twist on it. This is a summer must!

12. The Wave Pool, located at East Marion Park, is one of two pools of its kind in the tri-state area that offers the comfort of cool water, water slides and the chance to “ride the waves”. Outside of the pool, there is a mini golf course, large playground, tennis court, and horseshoe pit. This is a kid favorite and great for parties and family gatherings. There is also a pool at 12th Street in Fairmont and the Mannington Pool at Hough Park.

13. Seth Burton Disc Golf Course and Orange Crush are two challenging disc golf courses placed in a vibrant park setting of Morris Park. The course features dual permanent baskets and dual concrete tees. In addition to the disc golf course, the park also has a basketball court and tennis court available. Plus it’s a great place to gather leaves for that biology project. Coming soon is the Nature and Birding Center.

14. Guyses Run Fishing Park  is great for fishermen of all ages. The land around the pond is relatively flat, making  it is easier to access for those little ones. The pond is stocked with bass, bluegill, sunfish, catfish and hybrid bluegill. Adults do not need a fishing license.

15. Looking to get a little more creative over the summer? Marion County offers some great hands-on entertainment. Be sure to check out Mountain Creative, Our Studio WV, DaVinci & Desserts, West Fork Pottery or Natavibes for workshop times and offerings.

16. When it’s time to get the little ones settled down for the day, Main Street Yoga has the perfect approach. They offer kids yoga workshops.

17. Does your child have four paws? FIDO’s Backyard is an off-leash area dedicated to the dogs and their owners for their enjoyment. The dog park features a double gated entry, separate fenced-in areas for smaller dogs and larger dogs, benches, a wooded area, and a nearby picnic area.

So what are some other creative activities you do to keep your kids entertained during summer vacation?