Aside from a vacation, this is how we will have fun this summer.  Since we'll be spending on vacation we need to save the rest of the summer!

~Reading.  DS has joined the summer reading program at the library so he will be borrowing books for free.  We'll go once a week to get new books and participate in the kids program---the theme is "Bugs".  We also will enjoy family read-aloud time.  We don't watch much TV so every night before bed we'll snuggle in and read.  I have books I want DS to experience that he might not pick up on his home, like Farmer Boy, Toby Tyler, Shiloh, etc.

~Slip-n-Slide and sprinklers!

~Game night: We love to play Trouble, Uno, checkers, Scrabble, Connect 4, Guess Who?, etc.

~Gazing at the stars: Spreading a big blanket on the lawn and staring up at the glittery twinkling stars in the night sky.

~School: We will "homeschool" a little to keep DS up to date on math and spelling.

~Family devotions and Bible study.

~Visiting the local museum (free admission!) (Our town is kind of small so we are limited.  We love museums---Do some of you in larger cities have multiple museums to visit?  Would love to hear about it!)

~playdates with friends

~$2 movie theater (movies are first run, too!)

~Vacation Bible School and family nights at church

What are some of your ideas for frugal family fun? 

 We have "under the stars" nights here, where live music or plays and skits are performed by various local groups. They're in the parks and free for anyone who wants to stop by. It's perfect for an evening picnic.

Of course, 4th of July brings free parades and activities. We have a celebration here with a pro rodeo and carnival, etc., that's really expensive, but if you stick to the parade, fire works display, picnics in the park or backyard BBQ's, it's free to cheap.

I have 5 boys (3-12). As they get older we spend more on family outings so I like to be careful where  $$ is going.  An outing charging a fee will cost $50 average! +gas.

Any free concert at the park, community events

Visiting different parks and play (free)

Swimming pool once in a while ($15- $22 depends where we go)

Library (free)

Swimming lessons $30 per child, ouch!

Scouting events, riding bikes, movies at home, biking down the river trail.

Sometimes I say NO to suggested outings that are too far or too costly.

 Carmina

Good thread, Dolly77! I am looking forward to hearing more ideas, too.

We are also signed up for "Catch the Reading Bug!" at our library. They also have free weekly movies at different branches that we might try.

We are signed up for swim lessons so I will be packing lunches for after lessons and try to do our errands then, too. It's going to be a bit of drive for the two-week long session but it was only $23 per kid (5 of them total.

VBS for oldest dd (as camp helper )and youngest ds. Younger dd could have gone this year too but hasn't potty-trained yet. Two older boys will be at Scout camp that week.

Yes, we have the option of  a triple membership to the Family Museum, Putnam Museum and the Niabi Zoo. However,last year the triple membership went up to $190. That's a $30 increase. I have dragged my feet renewing the membership.

I would really like to use the pool at the YMCA camp but that is either $10 per visit or $199 for the summer sampler. So not sure yet.

We also have a family reunion in June that we always look forward to.

Boy, I wish we had a $2 movie theater. Sometimes, the local theater here does Bookworm Bunch where you fill out a bppl report and then get to see a second run movie. We didn't make it there last year.

As I say, I am looking forward to reading more great ideas.

Colleen

Dear Dolly, Regarding star-gazing, Jupiter will appear as a bright star one night next week;  I forgot the day, but you can Google it.

We have free monthly museum days here.  We have in San Francisco 3 art museums & numerous art galleries, the Exploratorium (science & computers, etc for kids), a science museum/planetarium/acquarium, a Jewish museum, & I'm probably forgetting some.  Have I taken advantage of this largesse? NO! simply because I loathe being in a crowd -- San Francisco attracts scads of visitors -- especially international visitors as the dollar weakens -- & I'm certain that their guidebooks share the info of the free days....

Sometimes, one of my friends takes me to the museum on her pass that covers 2. 

Yours in Him, Deb

• We have lots of great parks and a wonderful nature center that is free.
• The public libraries here have set toddler and preschool times for reading and activities--free
• Vacation Bible School for older DS
• Family pool pass
• We live by a bike trail and can go for walks or bike rides
• Family zoo and children's museum pass I got through work for $9 a month, unlimited use
• State Capitol and State History Museum are free. I work in the capitol so coming here is something I do every day. But I just love our capitol. Beautiful building full of history.
• Farmer's markets on Saturday and Sunday. Entertainers are often present and do singing and puppet shows, magic tricks, etc.
• Jazz in June on the University Campus. Bring a blanket, find a spot and listen to free jazz once a week.
• Summer festivals and art fairs around town--free but hard to not spend money on things!
• Planatarium on University Campus gives free shows several times a year
• Indoor play center run by city. Has indoor park equipment for all ages, 6 months to 12 years. Cost is cheap, $1 per person.

Now, we live in a city of 250,000 with a state university. So we have more options. I'm from a small town and we had 2 nice parks, the pool, a great library with kids activities and we could go to any church's vacation bible school (which we all did so we could see all our friends).

Since DH will be home with the boys, I got schedules for several things and made a weekly calendar. My youngest still naps so most of the activities I planned are in the morning, at most 2 hours. Many of these can be done with other families or friends. For example:

Monday: Visit zoo (with our family pass)

Tuesday: Library for toddler and pre-school activities

Wednesday: Children's museum

Thursday: Drive to large city park 2 miles away or walk to neighborhood park 3 blocks away

Friday: Indoor play center

Saturday: Farmer's Market

Sunday: Church and summer Sunday School programs

If it rains, DH can switch up the days. I'm home a couple of those days, too, during the week. Swimming is an evening activity we enjoy along with Jazz in June. The boys won't be too rowdy if we keep them active and their little minds stimulated. There are lots of free things to do and interspersed with cheap options, we can be frugal this summer but have lots of fun.

some other ideas (I don't think they were mentioned):

Tent camping outside... the kids can have a friend or two come over and camp in the yard.

Berry picking.... if you live in an area where they have berries (especially in the south) a lot of times you can find local growers who let you pick them for like $5 a bucket or something.  It's fun for the kids and you have tons of berries to freeze.

When I was a kid, we did a lot of the slip-n-slides (visquiine, sp?). Those were a blast!

I am very jealous of your $2 movies!!  That's great!!

I got season passes for me and DS at the local water park.  $45 each for unlimited use.  DD is free.  Many friends got them too, I imagine we'll go 1-2 times per week.  There is a huge area for little kids.  Two visits will pay for the pass (compared to buying day passes).  Plus they let you bring drinks and food in so we'll pack lunches and snacks too.

Library visits and story hours

Playdates with Friends

Have zoo membership but once it gets too hot (by end of June), I probably won't use it.  Usually use it in Spring and Fall-I hate being there when it's over 100 degrees!

Considering buying an inflatable or small above ground type pool for when we are home.  Haven't signed DS up for anything scheduled at all so that could be hours of fun at home.

There is an indoor play center with bounce house type stuff that costs $6 per child for 2 hours-DD is too young but DS will love it.

Plus parks and such.  But again, I'm a wimp once it's over 100 degrees!  Need to be in the water then!

On the weekends, plan to pack snacks, drinks, and lunches and head into the mountains to the local lake-45 minute drive.  Will also make a few trips to the beach (less than normal as it's a 2.5 hour drive, too much gas!)

I am so excited for this Summer!  DS is done with school tomorrow, let the fun begin!!

Hi,

I no longer have small children, my kids are teens and both my husband and I work outside the home...I miss those days when the children were smaller...

State parks are another suggestion for a quick day trip of hiking and swimming.

Here is a link that I borrowed from another site:

http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/freefamilyfilm.aspx

Free movies Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I hope is helpful.

Joha

A friend of mine occasionally gets with other moms and rents a local motel room for the day so everyone can use the pool.  They bring a picnic lunch to share in the room and the mom take turns supervising at the pool while others rest or cool down in the room.  They bring nail polish, hair stuff and other things to do in the room and stay all day.  I wonder with vacation travel a bit down if some local hotels might run a special for just such outtings?  Liz