I have been asked several times, mostly by Dani, if I know of anything fun and free or cheap to do with kids over spring break or the summer.
Yes, yes and yes!!
Here's the list. click for websites, more info, photos and directions:
Sugar Mill Ruins Port Orange
free
no food allowed in, but we pack a lunch and eat out on the benches at the entrance
usually no one else there
Sun Splash Park, Daytona
free: food allowed but you'll wanna do this and a beach day
usually crowded, but kids love it
this is good combined with a beach day since the park is on the beach
Water-Taxi
cost
I've never done this but if I still watched kids over the summer we'd do this for sure, actually I am adding this to my summer list- call me if you go, I may join in!
If you take a group of kids, I'd make each kids bring their own money and I'd go on a round-trip trip!
maybe pack a lunch to eat before or after you go.
Ponce De Leon Lighthouse
cost:$1.50 kids 11 and under,
$5.00 adults
Always fun, mostly just a walk to the top but make sure you venture into all the buildings
couple this with a trip to the:
Marine Science Center
under 3 free
Youth (3-12) $2
Adults $5
Downtown Disney
free
elementary age
We do 3 things when we go here
1. hit the lego store and build and play outside the store in their interactive play area
2. eat at Mcd's next door to the Lego store (no dollar menu)
3. visit the Magic Shop
if it's crazy at the Lego store you'll wanna keep an eye on the kids it can get nuts,
longer road trips can be good, I recommend listening to Adventures in Odyssey while traveling- I have some you can borrow
Sugar Mills Ruins New Smyrna Beach
free
small area but fun to just have free space to run, the ruins are cool and a small trail makes it a little more adventurous
pretty shaded if I remember right
Reed Canal Park
free
this is a neat park and is handicap accessible, I like the handicap swing cause it's laid back, plus the ground here is all artificial turf
There is also a disc golf course here
Old Fort Park New Smyrna Beach
free
let the kids jump down into the passageways below, play hide and seek, guess why this building was built this way
finish up with a trip to NSB Dairy Queen
Beach
If you are in Florida and have kids in the summer you have got to plan a weekly beach day.
For us it was always Thursdays.
9-noon I packed no food, just water (maybe a bag of chips)
when they were hungry, we left: it cut down on sunburns, tired beach kids, me packing 800 lunches, sand in food and did I say sun burns?
Brevard Zoo
small cost
short road trips are fun with kids, sure they'll ask "Are we almost there"- always answer with "Nope we are far away", even if you're in the parking lot.
It's a zoo and I heard they have some new water features
Burger King/McD's with indoor playlands
eat and play or just get an ice cream and play
stay as long as they want and have a friend met you there
Turtle Mound
small cost per car
walk to the top of the Indian mounds
then a short drive gets you to the old house, El Dora
This is walking trip with history woven in, go in the morning
Local Movie Theatre
they have a cheap matinee day in the summer, it can be packed with summer program kids but it's fun and worth it- plus a nice indoor activity in the dead of summer
Hollywood Theatres in Port Orange will have their movie day on Wednesdays
Beacon 12 in New Smyrna not sure, call or stop by for schedule
YMCA, Edgewater
their pool is fun!
waterslide, water mushroom and a zero entry shallow end
no shade
Zoom Air Adventure
not cheap but a unique adventure so I had to out it in here
A fun way to let out your inner child and face any fears of heights you may have, now that i think of it this would be a fun mom trip or couples trip.
Skate and Shake, Ormond Beach
Yes, yes and yes!!
Here's the list. click for websites, more info, photos and directions:
Sugar Mill Ruins Port Orange
free
no food allowed in, but we pack a lunch and eat out on the benches at the entrance
usually no one else there
Sun Splash Park, Daytona
free: food allowed but you'll wanna do this and a beach day
usually crowded, but kids love it
this is good combined with a beach day since the park is on the beach
Water-Taxi
cost
I've never done this but if I still watched kids over the summer we'd do this for sure, actually I am adding this to my summer list- call me if you go, I may join in!
If you take a group of kids, I'd make each kids bring their own money and I'd go on a round-trip trip!
maybe pack a lunch to eat before or after you go.
Ponce De Leon Lighthouse
cost:$1.50 kids 11 and under,
$5.00 adults
Always fun, mostly just a walk to the top but make sure you venture into all the buildings
couple this with a trip to the:
Marine Science Center
under 3 free
Youth (3-12) $2
Adults $5
Downtown Disney
free
elementary age
We do 3 things when we go here
1. hit the lego store and build and play outside the store in their interactive play area
2. eat at Mcd's next door to the Lego store (no dollar menu)
3. visit the Magic Shop
if it's crazy at the Lego store you'll wanna keep an eye on the kids it can get nuts,
longer road trips can be good, I recommend listening to Adventures in Odyssey while traveling- I have some you can borrow
Sugar Mills Ruins New Smyrna Beach
free
small area but fun to just have free space to run, the ruins are cool and a small trail makes it a little more adventurous
pretty shaded if I remember right
Reed Canal Park
free
this is a neat park and is handicap accessible, I like the handicap swing cause it's laid back, plus the ground here is all artificial turf
There is also a disc golf course here
Old Fort Park New Smyrna Beach
free
let the kids jump down into the passageways below, play hide and seek, guess why this building was built this way
finish up with a trip to NSB Dairy Queen
Beach
If you are in Florida and have kids in the summer you have got to plan a weekly beach day.
For us it was always Thursdays.
9-noon I packed no food, just water (maybe a bag of chips)
when they were hungry, we left: it cut down on sunburns, tired beach kids, me packing 800 lunches, sand in food and did I say sun burns?
Brevard Zoo
small cost
short road trips are fun with kids, sure they'll ask "Are we almost there"- always answer with "Nope we are far away", even if you're in the parking lot.
It's a zoo and I heard they have some new water features
Burger King/McD's with indoor playlands
eat and play or just get an ice cream and play
stay as long as they want and have a friend met you there
Turtle Mound
small cost per car
walk to the top of the Indian mounds
then a short drive gets you to the old house, El Dora
This is walking trip with history woven in, go in the morning
Local Movie Theatre
they have a cheap matinee day in the summer, it can be packed with summer program kids but it's fun and worth it- plus a nice indoor activity in the dead of summer
Hollywood Theatres in Port Orange will have their movie day on Wednesdays
Beacon 12 in New Smyrna not sure, call or stop by for schedule
YMCA, Edgewater
their pool is fun!
waterslide, water mushroom and a zero entry shallow end
no shade
Zoom Air Adventure
not cheap but a unique adventure so I had to out it in here
A fun way to let out your inner child and face any fears of heights you may have, now that i think of it this would be a fun mom trip or couples trip.
Skate and Shake, Ormond Beach
tons of fun for all ages!
eat before you go and have snacks for on the way home
to keep it cheap let the kids know ahead of time you're not buying food, drinks, videogames
Bowling
local NSB Lanes are great fun!
Rent a lane for 2 hours
Eat before you go, pack some water
Fun for all ages!
Also check out my State Parks labeled posts
You will be able to link to this post through the photo link in my sidebar.
You will be able to link to this post through the photo link in my sidebar.
Dani and other babysitters- plan your summer events and let the parents know, see if they'll give you a small allowance for each event- even if it's just the admission price, pack lunches and snacks, water bottles and juice and any trip can be cheap!!
ABOVE ALL: have fun!
