When it comes to vacations in the Great Outdoors, sometimes the best things in life are free: beaches, mountains, brilliant color of leaves in fall...
See also: Free Things To Do - In Cities.
See also: Free Things To Do - In Cities.
1. Keep It Simple, At The Beach
Photo © Teresa Plowright.
Little kids don't need theme park rides or fancy waterslides to have a marvelous time; they're enchanted by waves lapping on a shore. And at the right beach -- with waves for boogie-boarding or body-surfing, for instance-- older kids too can be happy for hours.
2. Take A Hike
Hiking's not just for summer! Photo © Teresa Plowright.
It's fun, it's free, and it's a great way balance out kids' "nature deficit disorder": kids average 44 hours a week in front of screens, and when they do play outside, it's often in organized sports; so spending vacation time in Nature is all the more valuable. Our About.com Guide for Walking has tips about hiking. Fresh air and exercise are bonuses.
3. National Wildlife Refuges
Photo courtesy of National Wildlife Refuges.
Great places, for the Great Outdoors: the US has over 500 National Wildlife Refuges, and most major cities have one within an hour’s drive. Many offer free programs such as guided tours or "Take A Kid Fishing Day".
4. National Public Lands Day, National Trails Day
It's always a good day to head to the Great Outdoors, but a couple of days every year are better than most. National Trails Day, in early June, offers more than 1500 events around the US and many are free, such as: hiking, biking, and helping with trail maintenance. National Public Lands Day is another big day: in late September, thousands of people volunteer to repair trails, clean up trash, and otherwise give TLC to the Great Outdoors areas enjoyed by all.5. US National Parks: Fee-Free Weekends
Yellowstone National Park, photo © Teresa Plowright.
On several weekends every summer, National Parks in the US offer free admission; often, individual National Parks offer special deals on these weekends, too (such as free group photo, or discounts on organized tours). Choose a National Park to visit - pick your park by name, state, or driving distance from major cities, at About.com's site for US Parks.
6. National Parks: Ranger-Led Programs, Junior Rangers
Ranger-led program for kids, Yellowstone National Park.
One of the best features at US National Parks are the free ranger-led programs: hikes, presentations, star-gazing, special kids' programs... "Junior Ranger" programs are terrific too, but may entail a small fee.
7. Kids Ski Free
Photo © Teresa Plowright.
Skiing's expensive; but families can catch a break with "kids ski free" pricing of several types. First: at any mountain, kids generally ski free until they reach a certain age-- say, five years old; some mountains let kids ski free until they're ten or twelve. Kids can also ski free when they're in Grade Four (or Five), at many ski resorts. Finally, "Kids Ski Free" promotions are another way to ski gratis (but with a paying adult).
