Visit the beach for a trip filled with sand, surf and a good time. Beaches can be found along the coast or along the bank of a river or lake depending on where you live. Take advantage of swimming, building sand castles and combing the beach for seashells to take home as souvenirs. Pack a lunch for a beach picnic to finish the day. Check with the township the beach resides in to find out if any events are scheduled near you.
Take advantage of local parks and the free amenities they offer such as playgrounds, sand volleyball, basketball courts and several other outdoor activities. Some parks include hiking trails and fishing in the on-site streams. Summer parks may include water sprinklers, slides and fountains for children to play in the water so bring swimming suits and sunscreen. Depending on where you live, some parks offer petting farms at no cost where children can get up close and personal with cows, chickens, pigs and goats.
Call the public library to find out what events are taking place for children. Libraries encourage parents to bring children to find a new book to read. They offer events such as story time for different age groups, puppet shows, guest readers and craft classes all centered around children and at no cost. Some libraries offer family movie nights during special times of the year and play-group meetings for younger children.
The museum is an exciting place for a child and usually at no cost to the parents. Museums are found in medium- to large-size cities and feature exhibits from history to hands-on science. Take your child to explore the town history, walk through caves, view toys and games from your childhood or learn about the planets at no cost to parents. At certain times of the year, the museum may display a special exhibit that costs additional to view. Check for area coupons or discounts for children for these exhibits.
