Brooklyn, New York, offers many activities and places to visit free of charge, either all year round or on special days and times. Depending on what your children enjoy doing, there are parks, museums, libraries and theater activities for all ages that have special programs and free activities throughout the year.
The Brooklyn Children's Museum is a hands-on learning experience for children of all ages. The museum encourages learning through exhibits, programs and workshops that cover such topics as the arts, culture, the environment and sciences. The museum offers free admission days or hours that change yearly. As of November 2010, admission to the museum is free on every third Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., as well as on the second and fourth full weekend of every month from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., except on holiday weekends. However, the offer isn't valid for groups and organizations. Admission for children under the age of 1 is always free.
The Floating Pool at Brooklyn Bridge Park Beach provides bracelets for free hour-long swimming sessions on a first-come, first-served basis. There are seven lanes of swimming, and the park provides areas for kite flying or other activities while you wait to swim. The pool is open to the public from July 4 through mid-September from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Empire Fulton Ferry State Park offers a beautiful view of Manhattan and nine acres of land to run, play frisbee or fly a kite. During the summer months, the park offers free movies shown during the evening, so grab a blanket and catch a film under the stars.
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden provides classes and workshops that teach children about the different types of plants and flowers. Children learn how to grow plants and how to take care of them so they develop and flourish into the beautiful flowers seen in the gardens. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free with a paid adult admission.
