The Lollipop Road

Posts Tagged ‘free activities’

Well, the summer is almost over and we’ve been searching for a few last minute things to do with the kids, so this deal day, we’re focusing on a few remaining free and discount activities that you can do as a family before school begins again.

1. Once again, the National Park Service is providing free entry into our National Parks this coming weekend, August 14-15.  If you haven’t planned your weekend yet, you might want to check out our selection of articles on National Parks.
2. SeaWorld Orlando currently has an ongoing promotion with Pepsi that will give you a free admission with each full-priced admission purchased.  This offer is good for up to 6 tickets!  Tickets must be purchased by August 31, 2010 and are valid through December 21, 2010.
3. Are you a Bank of America customer?  You can gain free admission to select museums and attractions around the country on September 4th and 5th, just by showing your ID and any Bank of America card or statement.
4. Ever wanted to go to a free movie screening?  GOFOBO gives out tickets to movie screenings every day.  You will frequently need an RSVP code, but you might get lucky and find one at FatWallet.  You can also check out the Free Movie Screening Blog.  Here is an upcoming example: Hubble 3D – August 14, 2010 – 11:00 AM, Celebration! Cinema-North, Grand Rapids, MI.  Good Luck!

Enjoy what is left of the summer!

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Fresh off of a 22-day Road Trip through the American West, Amy over at Pit Stops For Kids has put together an informative article for our readers in anticipation of Fee Free Days at our National Parks this coming weekend. We hope you enjoy!

Grand Teton National Park is one of those destinations that sneak up and surprise you with its (often unsung) beauty and dignity. And it need not worry about being upstaged by next door neighbor Yellowstone; what Teton lacks in geysers it more than makes up for in lack of traffic and crowds and an abundance of hiking, rafting, horseback riding, fishing, and camping.

Located directly to the south of Yellowstone (one park admission gets you into both), Grand Teton is manageable in size, making it easy for families to plan morning and afternoon activities with a mid-day break at their hotel, lodge, or campground. If you have time, day trips to both Yellowstone and Jackson Hole are worthwhile, but if only have a weekend (or just prefer to stay put), there’s plenty to keep you occupied within the park boundaries.

What to See with Kids:

Jenny Lake and Surrounding Areas:  Many Grand Teton lakes will vie for your attention, but our families favorite hiking was along the shore of Jenny Lake and up to Hidden Falls. This beautiful landmark can be accessed by either hiking trail from the String Lakes Trailhead (1.5 mile hike in on level terrain) or by shuttle boat from the Jenny Lake Dock by Jenny Lake Lodge.

Jackson Lake by Horseback:  Experience Grand Teton true cowboy-style with a horseback ride in the Jackson Lake area. (Stables are located at Colter Bay Village.) As you ride, your ‘wrangler’ will tell you many facts about the area, you’ll get plenty of photo ops of the mountains, and maybe spot some wildlife. Kids as young as eight can ride and it’s a great way to cover more ground than you would hiking!

Grand Teton Range by Bike:  Bring or rent bikes to take advantage of the 8-mile-long multi-use pathway that runs along the Teton Park Road from Moose to South Jenny Lake through breathtaking scenery. The path is exposed, so plan on morning or evening bike rides!

Where to Stay with Kids:

There are several good lodging options within the park, but for lake access and family conveniences, moderately-priced Colter Bay Village cannot be beat. Truly an entire community of its own, Colter Bay has a marina with boat and canoe rentals, horseback stables (see above), two family friendly restaurants, a visitor’s center with a Native American heritage center, a convenience store, and a campground, tent cabins, or full cabins to choose from. Our family opted for a cabin, and found both the location (yards from the lake) and amenities (comfortable beds, private bathroom with shower, in-cabin heater) to be a nice change to roughing it. Add the evening campfire program and ice cream for sale in the store, and you’ve got kid heaven!

Photos and text provided by Amy at Pit Stops for Kids.

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Fee Free Days at our National Parks is upon us once again.  Next weekend, August 14-15, the National Parks Service is waiving entrance fees at over 100 National Parks.  This is a great opportunity to explore a bit of wilderness before the kids head back to school later this month.

To get you started, we’ve come up with our three favorite parks to visit this August.

1. Glacier National Park – With all roads open for only a few short months each year, this is an opportune time to visit Glacier National Park in the late summer months.  What makes it even better is that this year, they are celebrating their centennial – it has been 100 years since they became our 10th National Park in 1910.  If you only have a day, drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road (or take a tour), take a ranger led hike (or one of your own) and visit the Many Glacier hotel for a quick lunch or to enjoy a one-hour cruise on Lake McDonald (only $14.95/$7.95).  Amy over at Pit Stops For Kids recently visited with her family on her 22-day Road Trip – check out what she has to say about Glacier National Park and the Many Glacier Hotel.
2. Lava Beds National Monument – Thinking about the record high temperatures that have hit much of the nation the last few weeks, I’m thinking that the kids might like to explore somewhere cool and cool.  One of the more remote parks in California, Lava Beds National Monument offers over two-dozen lava tube caves that can be explored on your own.  These vary in difficulty, but there are plenty that are family friendly (we did it with a one year-old).  As a bonus, the temperature inside is always a cool 52-55ºF.
   Exploring outdoors yields lots of cool stuff too, like Native American pictographs (Symbol Bridge/Big Painted Cave/Petroglyph Point), a deep wide crater to peer into or how about climbing a spatter cone.  In this mountain region, even outdoor peak summer temperatures hover in a comfortable range (75-80ºF).  Check out these tips on caving before you head out.
3. Valley Forge National Historical Park – For our East Coast friends we recommend Valley Forge.  Known as the winter encampment for General Washington and his troops, Valley Forge has lots to offer in the way of both nature and history.  Start at the visitor center with a 30-minute film chronicling the trials, tribulations and sheer exhaustion of those men who fought to win our independence.
   Take a 40-minute ranger led tour (free), hop on the 90-minute trolley tour (fee) or wander around on foot or motorized carriage (your car) on a self guided tour of the park.  Kids always love the interpreters at Washington’s Headquarters and Muhlenberg’s Brigade.  Thankfully, you’ll always be able to find some shade to escape the sun on a warm summer day.  Bring a picnic lunch and be sure to stop at the playground where your younger kids can burn off some energy.  Note that this park is free at all times.

If you are a family on a budget, be sure to take advantage of Fee Free Days next weekend and be sure to check out the remaining dates throughout the year.  You can find lots more information on our National Parks right here on our website.  And…be sure to check back on Monday when we have a special guest post on spending a weekend in Grand Teton National Park with kids.

If you enjoyed these photos and would like to see more, visit Photo Friday at Deliciousbaby.

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This week we’ve been trolling for freebies and discounts to round out your spring travel plans.  Now that spring has officially sprung, it is a great time to be planning a short getaway.  Here are our top finds for the week:

• The National Park Service is celebrating National Parks Week by waiving all admission fees from April 17th – 25th, making this an awesome FREE activity for the family.  To top it off, they’ll also be offering special deals on tours, lodging and souvenirs, so pack up and head out to a National Park this spring.
•  JetBlue has launched a 2-day sale with one-way fares starting at just $29.  Book by March 24, 2010 for travel between April 13 and June 16, 2010.  Don’t miss these deals, this may be as cheap as it gets!
• The National Cherry Blossom Festival is being held in Washington, DC  from March 27th through April 11th this year and provides lots of FREE activities and attractions for families.  Be sure to take advantage of Family Day on March 27th!
• Last, but certainly not least, if you plan on booking a cruise with NCL, be sure to do so before April 2nd when fares are set to increase.  Space is still available for Easter week on the Norwegian Pearl from $399 per person for an inside cabin.  You won’t find a better deal during this peak travel week.

Have fun and travel safe!

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The weather on the East Coast turned remarkably spring like this week.  The sun shined brightly, the birds chirped a sweet melody and the snow melted into a lovely shade of…mud.  So, armed with bright yellow boots and a sense of adventure, the boys and I went outside to play.

It was the first time my 17 month old had experienced mud.  I mean the kind that oozes out around your feet and grips your shoes when you try to walk.  He loved it!  Walking in the giant pools of melted snow and mud proved to be irresistible for both of my guys.  As my older son splashed and jumped high into the air, sprays of water flew in every direction, including mine!  But that’s okay because he was having fun.  And you couldn’t have painted a wider smile on my little one’s face as he patiently studied the fine art of mud jumping from his older brother.  It almost brought tears to my eyes.  No wait, I think that was mud!  But I digress.

Laughing out loud as my children played, I remembered how happy I was as a child doing the same things.  I loved playing in the dirt.  I actually believed that if I dug deep enough, I would get to China (probably a cheaper method than traveling by air!)  I can still vividly remember sitting in my dirt “cave” and thinking if I just dig a little more…

Truthfully speaking, it doesn’t cost a lot to entertain children.  Yes, my oldest is constantly asking for new toys and has even critiqued Santa’s gift-giving abilities!  The notorious “gimmies” aside, he’s usually happiest playing with his $5 plastic golf clubs or shoveling a little dirt around the yard with his $1 shovel.  And how many of us have commented on the stick that our child can’t seem to put down.  Hmmm, how do you gift-wrap a stick?  It doesn’t take a lot of money or time to play in the mud either, just some waterproof boots and tons of laundry pre-soak should do.

As many of us are feeling the money squeeze lately, we wonder how we can keep our kids happy and entertained on a budget.  Start by sprinkling a few fun and virtually free play dates with the kids instead of taking them to the usual places.  Invest in a seasonal or yearly pass to a family favorite (we love the zoo), which can save you quite a bundle.  Over time, you may just find that you can afford that much needed family vacation.  And you and your children will probably be happier from the quality family time that you have gained along the way.

Next week I’m going out to buy myself some cheap rubber boots.  I’ve spent the last 30 years trying to avoid stepping in the mud.  I’m so over that.

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Okay, so I have a secret…I’m a huge aviation nut.  I love planes, airports and anything remotely related to flying.  Luckily our two boys seem to share my obsession, which got me to thinking about a great (and free) kid friendly activity that can be done locally or while traveling – visiting a local airport.

Unlike larger, more commercial airports, local general aviation (GA) airports are usually very convenient and accessible.  Although the aircraft are smaller, you’ll actually be able to get close enough to see the planes and enjoy the show.  If you’re really lucky, you might even be able to get up close and personal, if you ask nicely.  It’s a great activity because nearly everyone has a GA  airport nearby, whether they know it or not.  Check out AirNav for a list of airports near you.  Oh, and best of all – it’s free!

Weekends and holidays will hold the most promise for a decent amount of traffic, as will clear and sunny days.  Some local airports even have restaurants!  Even better – you can sit back, relax, have lunch and enjoy the planes zipping around the airport.  If it’s larger planes you’re after, even major airports with commercial traffic have some great viewing spots within the terminal and outside of security.  For example, TGI Friday’s at Newark Liberty International Airport (Terminal A) has some amazing front row seats that overlook the field.  It may be a bit unusual, but the kids will love it!

That brings me to my all time favorite airport for watching planes.  Unfortunately, it is halfway around the world on the Thai island of Koh Samui.  The open air terminal sets the stage for ideal viewing.  Standing about 15 feet from the runway, you can almost feel the vibrations from the sleek jets that scream down the runway in front of you.  It’s absolutely awesome!

So, the next time you’re wondering what to do with the kids, take them to the local airport.  Watch the planes, have some lunch and enjoy the (free) show.

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