There is no reason to spend money on a big vacation when there are so many fun and free things right where you are!
Here are just a few (100+) ideas to get you started! 😉
In The House
Video Performance Treasure Hunt:
Living Room Sleepover
Make a Fort out of Blankets
Movie Night in Pajamas
Have a Craft Night (Nature Journals,
Family Board Game Night
Scavenger Hunt around the House
Paint with Watercolors
Have a Reading Party and play a little Bingo:
Learn some Origami
Make Box Cars (sit in them for a movie night)
Make Paper Airplanes and Race Them
Have a Magic Show:
Make Potato Stamp Art
Make sock puppets and have a Puppet Show (don’t forget to record it!)
Have a Tea Party
Melt Crayons on Canvas for Art
Have a Costume Party (use halloween costumes)
Have a Dance Party
Make homemade musical instruments and have a concert
Make a Parachute out of an Old Umbrella
Make Confetti Fire Crackers:
Make Layered Soap
Use some of those 2×4’s laying around and make a family game board:
In the Yard
Backyard Campout in a Tent
BBQ Potluck with neighbors or friends
Water Activities: Run through the Sprinklers, Have a Water Bottle Water Fight, Water Balloons, Water Baseball or Kickball, Make a Slip-n-Slide…)
Draw with Sidewalk Chalk
Have a car washing party and get your rides sparkly clean
Decorate Bikes for a bike ride or your own parade
Out-door movie night (In your garage or on an exterior wall w/ projector)
Make your own circus with hula hoops (include your pets too)
Create your own Obstacle Course
Plant Flowers
Plant a Garden
At the Park
Fly Kites
Ride Bikes
Play Tennis
Play Frisbee
Learn Frisbee Golf Have a Picnic Go on a Nature Walk
Try Ice Blocking
Play at a Splash Park
In Town
Attend a Farmer’s Market
Attend Free Movies (check listings)
Go to a Concert in the Park
Watch a Parade
Visit Flea Markets or Yard Sales
Check Bowling Lanes for free events
Go swimming at Pool (look for free days)
In Nature
Try Geo Cashing
Enjoy Hiking
Go Stargazing
Visit/Tour a Farm
Feed ducks at a pond
Find Alphabet Letters in Object for Letter Photo Art
Reserve a spot at a county park and camp overnight
For Others
Do Yard Work for a Neighbor
Take them a meal or treats
Write letters/cards/art and mail them to a loved one
Make a Quilt for a Child in the Hospital
Serve at a local food kitchen
Write Love Notes to Members of Your Family
For Learning
Visit Historical Sites in your area
Visit Museums (check for FREE days)
Visit a National Park (Click HERE to see FREE days)
Visit your Local library (sign up for a reading program)
Have a Science Day (and do science projects)
Tour a Fire Station
Tour a Factory (chocolate is always good)
Visit family’s grave sites
Learn about your family’s history
Tour the capital building or the local courthouse
Learn about different countries (photos, books, movies, food, talk to someone who’s been)
For Play
Make Sidewalk Chalk Make home made Play dough Write a Play/Movie and act it out (or video it)
Visit a new park/playground
Have a toy swap (get rid of old toys and swap for new ones with friends)
Make paper dolls
Make Shaving Cream Art
Make Bubble Blowers
For Eating
Make homemade ice cream
Try a new recipe
Let kid’s create the menu and serve the adults (teach how to set a table correctly)
Have a manners/courtesy dinner
Make and Pull Taffy Make French bread Pizza
Have a Neighborhood Potluck
Make Healthy Smoothies Make Chocolate Dipped Frozen Bananas
Make Healthy Popsicles
What are some of YOUR favorite free things to do in the summer?
{We’re linking up to these great parties!}
sarah bridgeman says
I love the ideas, but one of them says Geo cashing and it should be geocaching. This is a great activity to do with the family and they are located in almost every park and cemetery and hiking trail. So when you go hiking with the kids or walking on a trail, they get some added fun. It has also taken me to some of the most unusual places I never would have even know about. Even in my own town.