Fun and Inexpensive Places to Take Children

Township Activities

• Your community probably offers a host of low-cost and free activities. Contact your parks and recreation department as well as your local library. Events range from story reading, opportunities to learn new games, plays, movies, concerts and township celebrations. Get a schedule and take advantage of activities. If your township does not offer what you want, check out the schedule of neighboring townships to find other events.

  Take advantage of local parks and sports facilities. Parks are perfect for hiking and fishing. Many townships have public tennis courts, tracks, and playgrounds that provide free entertainment and exercise.

Other Community Activities

• Let your children be spectators at a sports event. Take them to a college football or basketball game. Even cheaper, take your children to a high school game.

  If your children like nature, orchards and farms are usually free to visit and your children may enjoy learning about animals or picking fruit. You can also visit a zoo. Sometimes you can find discount coupons for admission or try going with a group.

  In addition, some stores offer complimentary or low-cost programs for children. Home improvement stores often offer free workshops for children, bookstores offer story reading and special events. Craft shops may have low-cost programs or demonstrations.

  Contact your synagogue or church since many have free programs available to children. Bingo, bazaars, and speakers are often sponsored by synagogues and churches. Your children may also enjoy joining a church or synagogue chorus, which will have practices and may provide opportunities to put on performances. During the holidays, tour the community at night looking for the best Christmas lights.

  Ask your fire or policemen if you can show your child the station. Often they will let them sit on the equipment and talk about what they do.

Day and Multi-Day Trips

• Many areas have beaches within a reasonable drive and your children will enjoy a day of sand and water. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the ocean at a free or nominal price. If there is a quaint town nearby, consider walking around town and creating a treasure hunt of items for your children to find while you browse.

  When traveling, consider sightseeing off the beaten path. If you stay in less centrally located suburbs and tour sights not directly in a city, you will have fewer crowds, less costly parking, and often cheaper accommodations. For example, Williamsburg, Virginia, is well-known, but Jamestown and Yorktown provide an opportunity to explore history in Virginia at a cheaper price. Select an area you want to visit and find out what nearby towns offer.