Fru-Gal Friends

Subject: Looking for inexpensive outings for summer Sun 24 Feb 2008, 7:40 am

I am trying to plan for the summer. I would love to get some ideas of things to do with the kids. I wanted to take our vacation at Jellystone National Park but dh won't go. I think the little ones would really enjoy it. Here are some ideas thus far. I am shooting for 1 activity a week to keep them occupied

The local waterpark - both kids have a free pass- $10.00 per person w/o a pass

The local state park - $3.00 car load

the local beach - $6.00 for 12 and over - $4.00 11 and under
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Vicki

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Subject: Re: Looking for inexpensive outings for summer Sun 24 Feb 2008, 8:19 am

Why would the hubby not want to go to Jellystone,,or is it just that place or any type vacation.My dad was like pulling a tooth to go on vacations,,he was such a workaholic.

How about a "party" in the back yard..like cook out a dish that one of the kids pick out(each child gets to choose a meal each week,then its music,grilling out,,water balloon fights(cheap),etc.It can be like every Wednesday,,so the kids can plan that day ahead of time.makes them look forward to that day!

We are planning a weekend in Columbus as soon as its warm,,one day at the zoo and one day at Cosi(childrens museum).

Subject: Re: Looking for inexpensive outings for summer Sun 24 Feb 2008, 8:28 am

Howcome there's a charge for the beach?

Do you ever get discounted tickets for the zoo?

We often get discount vouchers for ten-pin bowling here.

Family picnic, bring a selection of games.

Our neighbour has taken their two little girls strawberry picking a few times, they always bring lots home too.
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Subject: Re: Looking for inexpensive outings for summer Sun 24 Feb 2008, 1:56 pm

we camp in our back yard .. they love that

the library has a summer program

our community college has a summer programs ..

we go to the park and picnic

visit local places .
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1790

Well, we go to state parks where enterance is free and the picnic and swimming is free...that is fun:)
we hike
we play in the streams
we take long car rides to towns we don't often or have never been to and find a park at the school or whatever to play at.
we camp in our tent
we garden as a family
we visit an amusment park that there is no admission and the kids buy tickets for their rides..it's cheap!
those are a few ideas Smile

Subject: Re: Looking for inexpensive outings for summer Sun 24 Feb 2008, 3:37 pm

Thanks everyone. Around here there is almost nothing free. They charge to get on the beaches, they charge to get into the parks that have beaches.

Not sure why dh doesn't want to go to Jellystone but I am seriously considering going anyway. Not his thing I guess.

In the summer we always do outside cooking, water balloons, sprinkler etc.. We haven't camped out here but that is because we only have a tent that holds 2 people. Would love to have a larger one. If I had a larger one we could use that at Jellystone

The zoo is free except for parking. It is located up in Washington DC and everything is overpriced and you are not allowed to bring food or drinks in. It takes about 45-60 minutes but that might be a possibility. I might wait though because with homeschooling in September we can go as a group and get meals and souvenirs included really cheap.

The community college has programs but they are quite costly starting at $100.00 per child and they start at age 8.

All the local attractions are costly also. and well if I am going to pay then I am going to go somewhere they haven't been and then you have to count the gas which is now $3.10 a gal.

Our library has a summer program for the family which starts at 8:00am on Saturday and the kids think that is torture more than fun because they have to wake up so early and then all they do is listen to someone read a book and do a craft.
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Vicki

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Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1790

hmmm...sounds like you have yourself a problem , Vicki! I am not sure what else you could do for fun,...I will be thinking though.

Subject: Re: Looking for inexpensive outings for summer Sun 24 Feb 2008, 7:22 pm

Sometimes having kids in homeschooling, theres programs for them,,and discounts for teachers of public school and homeschool.I know I was looking into COSI museum for kids and thought I saw discounts for teachers and students.Also discounts for people with AAA.Just a thought.

Subject: Re: Looking for inexpensive outings for summer Sun 24 Feb 2008, 9:17 pm

Vicki just a thought try free cycle around here they give away tents all the time ..

check with you homeschool group there are alot of discounts for homeschooling .

for the college see if they have scholarships

isnt there a program for family to the parks ???
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Yes, good advice Gayla.
Also, don't forget to put a 'Wanted' request on Freecycle for any discount/free entertainment vouchers that other Freecyclers may not wish to use.
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Subject: Re: Looking for inexpensive outings for summer Mon 25 Feb 2008, 1:23 pm

I will be placing a wanted ad on freecycle. Thanks I don't know why I didn't think of that!

My friend from church who helped me with Darin and Bailey when Rachel was hospitalized last year wants to go camping with us and guess what? She has a camper!!! It sleeps 8 and there will be 4 of me and 3 of her!!! We will split all costs. It will be great. She also has a swimming pool that was just built last summer and has invited us over as often as we want!!

We get great homeschool discounts but they don't have them during summer months. They will start back up in August/September like they did this past year. That is how Darin and I went to the Zoo and aquarium. I can't wait for these. They will also have some to amusement parks in May but the kids will be in school.

No programs for the parks but that is okay. I found a free one that has picnic tables and a playground so we can picnic and play one day, the state park with the beach is only $3.00 for a car load so we will go there also. We make too much money for the scholarships for the programs at the college. You have to make under $35,000.00 to qualify. It will all work out. Now I have to run and post an ad on freecycle!
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Vicki

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Subject: Re: Looking for inexpensive outings for summer Mon 25 Feb 2008, 2:58 pm

sounds that summer coming together for you Vicki ...
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Subject: Re: Looking for inexpensive outings for summer Mon 25 Feb 2008, 3:42 pm

I posted a wanted ad on freecycle. I hope someone replies!
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Vicki

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Subject: Re: Looking for inexpensive outings for summer Mon 25 Feb 2008, 3:46 pm

Our area has garden walks during the summer. Groups of people allow you to walk through their home gardens and ask questions, take pics or just enjoy the flowers. That's for free.

We, also, have free concerts all summer long. The music ranges from 1950's to the present to jazz, depending on the band. Some are in the park and some are at the canal, some are at our art museum.

We have Shakespeare in the park. Every summer two Shakesperean plays are performed. They ask for free-will donations.

There's several museums in our area that ask only for donations to tour the museum.

Maybe, your area has some of these things, too.

Subject: Re: Looking for inexpensive outings for summer Mon 25 Feb 2008, 5:32 pm

oh Sissy the walks in the garden sound so nice .. I wish we had something like that .
_________________
Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)