Whether you are a stay-at-home parent or a family looking to have fun with your kids, here are 30 ways to answer the question "What are we going to do today?"

1. The Mall: The mall isn't just for window shopping anymore. Many malls around the country have updated children's play areas, Build-A-Bear Workshop, pottery painting, movie theatres and portrait studios.

2. Bookstores: Attend a planned event at Borders or Barnes & Noble. Each store's website lists events based on store location. Author signings, story time and musical guests are just some of the types of events offered.

3. The Library: Public libraries often have free entertainment year round. This summer at The Toledo Lucas County Public Library in Ohio, for example, boasts a Summer Reading Club, Harry Potter's Midnight Magic, Madcap Puppets and Brown Bag Concerts among others. Check your local library's website for up to date events in your town.

4. Family Game Restaurants: Chuck E. Cheese's has more than 500 centers in the US and Canada. Centered around family entertainment, kid friendly food and prizes, Chuck E. Cheese's, and others like it, are a guaranteed fun time for birthday parties, rainy days or for celebrating everyday events.

5. Gardens and Conservatories: Nature conservatories, Botanical gardens and Arboretums offer educational programs, tours, art exhibits and concerts.

6. The Zoo: A trip to the zoo is a fun and educational way to spend an afternoon as a family. With a membership to a local zoo, free or discounted admission is available with reciprocal zoo programs.

7. The Airport: Many airports don't allow onlookers to park on the grounds after the events of 9/11, however, you can find a nearby park, restaurant, or parking lot to sit and watch the planes take off and land.

8. Museums: Many small towns have museums to highlight the town history or a local business. Bigger cities offer art, science, sport museums and more.

9. Science Centers: Places like COSI (Center of Science and Industry) in Central Ohio, or the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago are both fun and educational for children and their parents.

10. The Park: Take a walk, play with the dog, throw and catch a baseball, football or frisbee, watch your kids run around on the playground, play a game of soccer or basketball with another family, rollerblade or skateboard, or ride your bikes around a metro park. Go out for ice-cream or another treat or take pictures of the fun to make the time away more of an event than just another day in the park.

11. A Public Pond or Quarry: These types of parks are typically pay-by-car admission and offer such activities as swimming, volleyball nets, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, picnic tables and charcoal grills to have a cookout, and a concession stand for snacks and drinks.

12. Local Sporting Events: If your town has major or minor league team, visit their website for special kids days or fireworks after the game. For example, The Toledo Mud Hens in Toledo, Ohio, a AAA baseball team, offer fireworks after every Saturday home game. If larger sports teams are not in your area, take in a high school game in your local school district.

13. Ice or Rollerblading/Skating Rinks: Head indoors for a day of laughter if you are an inexperienced skater or let your kids teach you the newest tricks and moves in the rink.

14. The Movies: If you have young children or babies, many theatres around the country have scheduled parent/child viewing times with special accommodations like brighter lighting and diaper changing stations. For vintage style movie-viewing, pack up snacks and blankets and head to a drive-in theatre. For the "going to the movies" experience in your own backyard, set up a projection screen outside and watch a movie under the stars.

15. Markets: Visit farmers markets for the freshest local fruits and vegetables as well as flowers. Head to area flea markets to find vintage or antique furniture or accessories to update your living space or children's bedrooms. If there are no markets in your area, scout around for local yard or garage sales for great finds.

16. Orchards or Patches: Try apple or peach orchards to pick your own bushels or pumpkin patches near Halloween. Head inside for gift stores with homemade desserts and crafts.

17. Farms: Drive through the country to see horses and cows grazing in open fields. If you're up to it, call ahead to an area farmer for permission to walk through their grounds and see the animals up close.

18. Fairs and Festivals: There are so many to choose from through late spring and early fall in cities across the country. Many churches organize festivals as fundraisers for the following year, Sundays are a great day for quieter crowds and dinners prepared by members of the church. Heritage festivals, such as Greek-American, Polish-American and German-American in Northwest Ohio, offer a chance for your family to experience the food and traditions from around the world. Festivals are held around the country celebrating a wide variety of themes. Visit Festivals.com to search for venues in your area. Don't forget about checking out your state and county fairs!

19. Water or Amusement Parks: Whether it's a city water park or national amusement park in your back yard, introduce your children to what thrill-ride seekers rave about and experience roller-coasters at their finest.

20. Islands: If your family lives near water, visit a small lake island or one off the coast, such as Put-In-Bay, Ohio and Kelleys Island in Lake Erie. Experience the quaint downtowns, local restaurants and shops.

21. Feed the Ducks: Head to a nearby pond or stream with staled bread or crackers and watch a family of ducks.

22. The City Pool: Try out your city pool to cool off in the summer and possibly meet new families.

23. A Planetarium: Check with your local colleges and universities for programs available to the public. The University of Toledo in Ohio opens the doors to Ritter Planetarium and Brooks Observatory throughout the year for public programs with moderate admission costs.

24. Fast Food Play Yards: Don't underestimate the fun your kids can have during lunch at a McDonald's Playland in your town.

25. Your Local YMCA or Other Family Center: The YMCA offers a huge list of programs including adventure guides, aquatics, arts and humanities, camping, family night and more!

26. Go Camping: If your family isn't ready for this kind of outing, it is always an option to put a tent up for the kids in the backyard, or sleep outside on the porch on a warm night. For tips on planning your first camping trip visit the article Make and Organized Camp Check List.

27. The Beach: Take a trip to the public beach at a nearby state park.

28. Classes or Sports: Sign your child up for music, gymnastics, dance, voice, art, language, swimming, or sports teams.

29. What is your city known for?: Is your city the "flag city", "glass city" or "windy city" explore the history of your city or town and why it has the name that it does.

30. Volunteer: Help out at a food bank, or visit with the sick or elderly at a hospital or nursing home. Call ahead to schedule a time or to see when visiting is allowed.

Don't be limited on what types of activities your city or town offers. There may be places and events that you weren't aware of. Explore your town, or research online for attractions around you, and then make your own list of things to do that are unique to your hometown.