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Cheap/Free Family things to do?

Cheap/Free Family things to do?

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Old Aug 20th 2013, 2:15 pm
  #31  
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Default Re: Cheap/Free Family things to do?

Discovered that the Central Rock Climbing. Club in Worcester is free for kids before 2pm during the week... very nice place too and R's just down the dodgy dead end looking road past the cool Higgins Armory Museum.
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Old Feb 25th 2014, 7:53 pm
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Default Re: Cheap/Free Family things to do?

http://www.tryhockeyforfree.com/

Anyone with kids interested in trying out hockey, it'll be free on the 1st March...

And those in the metro burbs, the baseball field in Sudbury is flooded for a nice, safe and flood lit free ice rink.
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Old Feb 28th 2014, 1:49 am
  #33  
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Default Re: Cheap/Free Family things to do?

If there's a national park near you, there are free entry days scheduled every couple of months through the year. The next one is the weekend of 19th-20th April.

http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm

To find the national parks in your state, click on 'Find a Park' up top.
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Old Feb 28th 2014, 10:24 am
  #34  
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Default Re: Cheap/Free Family things to do?

Originally Posted by Bob
http://museums.bankofamerica.com/

Only just came across that, but anyone with a BoA card, can get free access to a bunch of museums on the first weekend of the month just for showing the card.

Bit so so for places in MA, but might be better else where.

http://www.citypass.com/ Seems to be aimed at weekend tourists, but that's not to say you couldn't use it for your own city. Don't know how good it is, but seems popular for Boston at least, but else where?

http://highlandstreet.org/programs/f...fridays-2.html In the summer, in MA, this place pays for a whole bunch of places across the state for free entry every Friday during the summer holidays. It's really good, we were able to check out a whole bunch of places we wouldn't have otherwise because of cost, but those bigger venues like the Zoo's can be crazy busy.

For those in MA, well the metrowest area: -

http://www.decordova.org/ Great outdoors art/garden is free first Wednesday or the month, or for cyclists, military families or Lincoln town residents.

http://www.discoverymuseums.org/ Acton, Discovery Museum is free first Friday of the month after 4:30 and every Friday during the summer, it's great for kids about 2-13 I'd say.

The above two are near each other and both cracking towns to explore too if you're not in the area.

So what about you lot, anything fun that's free or cheap in your neck of the woods?

Would be nice to have a list of places for anyone visiting somewhere new, or for those new to the area


This is a really useful thread, especially as we are moving to the greater Boston area within the next couple of months hopefully. Thanks Bob
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Old Feb 28th 2014, 11:50 am
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Default Re: Cheap/Free Family things to do?

If your in San Diego, the first 4 Tuesday's of each month on a rotating basis, various museums are free to City and County of San Diego residents, and active military and dependents based in San Diego.

http://www.balboapark.org/visit/tuesdays


Not all are included, most specifically the San Diego Zoo.
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Old Feb 28th 2014, 3:44 pm
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Default Re: Cheap/Free Family things to do?

Originally Posted by Book Worm


This is a really useful thread, especially as we are moving to the greater Boston area within the next couple of months hopefully. Thanks Bob
Good luck with the move! There is a lot of good stuff in the summer.

Stuff like - http://www.natickfamilies.org/ for Natick, obviously, but many towns either have their own program or group of towns have their own. Sudbury, Acton, Concord, Lincoln, Marlborough, Brighton all have a good family network but there are plenty of others but I don't know how good they are or what they offer over the holidays.

You'll find loads of great events at your local library too and they're usually available for non-town residence too, so we'd hit Natick, South Natick, Berlin, Stow, Acton, Northborough, Southborough etc...which might be a bit far in the burbs if you're in Boston, but you get the idea and find whatever is local.

Membership to the Acton Discovery Museum for us has been the best value as we've saved hundreds going to various art museum type places or such that are reciprocal, including Fruitlands in Harvard.
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Old Mar 2nd 2014, 4:39 pm
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Default Re: Cheap/Free Family things to do?

http://www.regmovies.com/Movies/Summer-Movie-Express

Summer movies have been announced at Regal cinema, which are a buck a ticket during the morning.

http://www.michaels.com/Kids-Store-E...efault,pg.html

Michaels have also listed their crafts, which is now $2 for a half hour kids craft. It was an hour last year though but oh well
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Old Mar 11th 2014, 11:58 pm
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https://www.kidsbowlfree.com/center.php?alley_id=6153

Free Bowling!
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Old Apr 29th 2014, 12:39 am
  #39  
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Default Re: Cheap/Free Family things to do?

http://www.bostoncentral.com/events/...lfun/p5074.php Free fishing weekend in June for those in MA.

Marlborough Dental Associates on Bolton St, doing their free kids dental check up on 17th May for kids without insurance. X-rays, fillings, the lot. It's a fun event, they have games, face painting and stuff like that.
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Old Apr 30th 2014, 8:01 pm
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Default Re: Cheap/Free Family things to do?

http://www.masheepwool.org/

Fiber Fest, again....for the wool type folks. Out in Cummington, MA which is 20 mins from Northampton, a beautiful part of the state if anyone hasn't been.

This fair is great for kids, $10 car entry and lots to do and see.

Yankee Candle HQ is in the area as well and they have loads of fun free/cheap things to do for kids and all their trial candles and clearance stuff get sold for peanuts.

Lots of nice restaurants and craft breweries in the area too.
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Old Apr 30th 2014, 8:14 pm
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Default Re: Cheap/Free Family things to do?

Oh this thread just reminded me of something I wanted to share.

Do you want to entertain a toddler for a while and don't want to pay to see the fish at the local aquarium? Just go to Petco (or other local pet store) and let him run around looking at the mice, hamsters, ferrets, cats, fish etc. Young Sir loves it.

We'll pick up some dog treats or hang out while the dog gets her claws trimmed. That way I don't feel like I'm taking advantage. It's still cheaper.
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Old Apr 30th 2014, 10:05 pm
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Default Re: Cheap/Free Family things to do?

Originally Posted by sir_eccles
Oh this thread just reminded me of something I wanted to share.

Do you want to entertain a toddler for a while and don't want to pay to see the fish at the local aquarium? Just go to Petco (or other local pet store) and let him run around looking at the mice, hamsters, ferrets, cats, fish etc. Young Sir loves it.

We'll pick up some dog treats or hang out while the dog gets her claws trimmed. That way I don't feel like I'm taking advantage. It's still cheaper.
My daughter and I take my grandson when we go to buy young locusts for her bearded dragon. If you pick a quieter time sometimes the staff are petting the pets and let the little kids stroke them too. The only problem we have had is when he wants to see the elephants......
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Old May 5th 2014, 11:01 pm
  #43  
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Default Re: Cheap/Free Family things to do?

Originally Posted by sir_eccles
Oh this thread just reminded me of something I wanted to share.

Do you want to entertain a toddler for a while and don't want to pay to see the fish at the local aquarium? Just go to Petco (or other local pet store) and let him run around looking at the mice, hamsters, ferrets, cats, fish etc. Young Sir loves it.

We'll pick up some dog treats or hang out while the dog gets her claws trimmed. That way I don't feel like I'm taking advantage. It's still cheaper.
We do that too, at Walmart...the mini aquarium, with the saddest fish ever but it keeps the kids quiet for a bit.

Anyway.

http://www.bostonpride.org/parade/

14th June, Boston Gay Pride Parade....it's a right laugh and loads of fun. The parade is great and there are loads of fun acts and food at the finish line.

We took part in the parade a few years ago and it was a blast.
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Old May 6th 2014, 10:06 pm
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Default Re: Cheap/Free Family things to do?

Originally Posted by lizzyq
let the little kids stroke them too.
Ah but you can't actually say that here though
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Old May 6th 2014, 10:17 pm
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Default Re: Cheap/Free Family things to do?

Originally Posted by sir_eccles
Oh this thread just reminded me of something I wanted to share.

Do you want to entertain a toddler for a while and don't want to pay to see the fish at the local aquarium? Just go to Petco (or other local pet store) and let him run around looking at the mice, hamsters, ferrets, cats, fish etc. Young Sir loves it.

We'll pick up some dog treats or hang out while the dog gets her claws trimmed. That way I don't feel like I'm taking advantage. It's still cheaper.
Yep my boys loved doing that. Only trouble it can often back fire with them spending the entire following week bugging me for a puppy and I don't do dogs or cats. We got some fish and a hamster right now so we often pop in for supplies and look around then we there.

Large hunting stores are good too. We have a Cabelas close by with huge aquarium tanks, caves, waterfalls and lots of stuffed animal exhibits. Plus looking at all the tents and camping stuff, avoiding the guns for now Easily an hour.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cabelas-glendale

When we were in MA we used to like visiting the cape cod national seashore (but then again we were living on cape cod) free, educational, tour guided walks, movies, lighthouses, museum etc

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...achusetts.html

with its highlight being the salt pond visitors center.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...achusetts.html
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