Looking for Affordable Summer Fun? Try These Activities and Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank

It’s always exciting when the summer season comes around. The kids are out of school, work can get a little easier, and the temperature is nearly perfect. It’s only natural to think about all the fun summer activities that you can enjoy while everyone has more free time. However, when you start making your bucket list of fun summer ideas, you’ll likely start to think about how much it will cost to enjoy those festivities.

You don’t necessarily need to travel to Disneyland to have a great time. There are plenty of inexpensive and free activities you can enjoy, from day trips to places around town to simple outings you can enjoy in the backyard. Consider some of the activities on this list and make it a summer your family will remember for years to come.

Free Water Activities

When the summer temperatures start skyrocketing to new heights, you’ll want to cool down. However, going to a waterpark can be costly, especially with a large family. The good news is that there are other ways to get soaked without spending any money. For instance, many neighborhoods have parks with free splash pads that your kids can run through. If you don’t have that, you can set up sprinklers in the backyard or purchase a small inflatable pool that you can fill with water and use year after year.

Head to the Park

One of the best ideas for summer fun without breaking the bank is heading to the local park. While there, your kids can have a blast on the playground equipment. On cooler days, head to the park and have a picnic on the grass. Many parks also offer the opportunity to go hiking. Being surrounded by beautiful greenery is a great time, and it’s splendid for your child's mental health. Plus, you never know what animals and plants you’ll discover. 

Make Crafts

Whenever your kids are getting restless, use it as an excuse to make some crafts. Head to Michael’s or another local craft store, pick up some supplies, and keep them for a rainy day. There are endless arts and crafts projects you can try this summer:

• Tie-dye t-shirts
• Paint rocks
• Make your own play-dough
• Create origami art
• Make snow globes
• Produce sand art
• Create pretend animals out of items around the house, like paper towel rolls

Backyard Camping

If you live in a house and have a backyard, then use it as an excuse to go camping! If you don’t already have a tent, you can buy one for cheap at the store or make your own out of bed sheets and things around the house. While you’re out there, you can tell ghost stories, gaze at the stars, and potentially even eat dinner on the lawn. Then, you can roast marshmallows for a sweet treat. If you don’t have a fire pit, you can make them on the stove inside and then enjoy them outside. Your kids may like backyard camping so much that they want to do it every weekend. 

Grow a Garden

This may finally be the summer when you go all in and grow that garden you have always dreamed of over the years. Growing a garden is a fantastic family activity. Use it as an opportunity to plant vegetables, herbs, flowers, and anything else you like. Gardening offers many big advantages. For one, you can grow your own food, so you spend less at the grocery store. Gardening is also great for physical and mental health. You’re digging, moving, and having fun. As far as mental health, your kids will feel incredibly fulfilled when they see a small seed that they planted grow into a large plant.

Go to the Library

Although most books and movies are available digitally these days, you still likely have a public library in town. Head there this summer. The library is full of books, including many newer releases and old classics. You can also save money by going to the library to rent movies, video games, and more. 

Look for Discounts at the Museum

Another fun way to beat the summer heat is to head to one of the many great museums that you likely have in the area. Whether it’s nature, history, or science, there is a museum out there for you. Your kids will have a blast exploring, and you may learn a few things yourself. You may think that the museum is an expensive endeavor, especially with a larger family. However, many museums offer discounts during summer days, and many times, they open their doors for free. Just do a bit of research, and you may get lucky. 

As a bonus, if you ever wanted to visit a museum in another country, you can do so without paying for airfare across the globe. That’s right. Take a virtual tour. During any given afternoon, you can visit Venus de Milo or check out the Mona Lisa.

DIY Obstacle Course

One of the ultimate summer activities to try is creating your own backyard obstacle course. Take items from the house or garage like ropes, hula hoops, chairs, and anything else that you can imagine and bring it outside. Just make sure it’s safe. Once it’s all set up, you can make it into a friendly competition. If it’s really hot outside, consider incorporating water into the mix!

Catch a Movie

While you don’t want to spend your entire summer at the movie theater, this is the time of year for the best blockbuster films, so go and catch a few. The movie theater is another place that gets expensive if you’re bringing the whole family, so you need to be smart. There are movie theaters in many towns that play movies during weekdays at great prices. Some play movies that have been out for a while, and you can often catch them for under $5 each. If it’s allowed, bring your own snacks, and you can save even more money.

Join a Bowling League

Another great summer activity is bowling at the local alley. Just like at the movie theater, you can often go to the bowling alley on weekdays and play a game for a great price. However, if you want to get the best bang for your buck, have your kids join a bowling league. That way, your kids can play every week and make good friends along the way. Plus, you never know – your kids may get so good that they're able to play competitively.

Head to the Roller Rink

You can also plan an exciting summer at the roller rink. Yes, these still exist, and they’re a ton of fun. Best of all, you can get a season’s pass at many of them for just a few bucks a month. This is a fun idea, whether your kids are experienced or not. If they’re not, they can learn. A roller rink is a unique experience that your children are sure to love.

Visit a National Park

One of the best and most educational summer activities you can enjoy during the season is a trip to a national park. You can head to one in town or take a road trip across the country to one you've always wanted to visit. There’s so much to enjoy and behold at these parks. You can see wild animals, many species of plants, and you’ll get all sorts of exercise during the process. 

The best thing is that every major national park has days throughout the year when entry is completely free. You’ll want to check the calendar during the given year, but many of these free days include Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, and more.

Play Games Inside

When all else fails, you can beat the heat by playing games in your living room. There’s nothing quite as fun as playing a round of Uno or Twister. Chances are that you already own the games, so you won’t need to spend cash on them. How about a board game like Monopoly or Chutes and Ladders? Many people also like making their scavenger hunts at home, and you can do the same by hiding things you already own and making a map on construction paper. 

Volunteer Somewhere

Finally, perhaps the most fulfilling summer activities you can do this season include taking your kids somewhere to volunteer. That could be at a local animal shelter, a soup kitchen, or to clean up at a local park. You don’t have to do it every day, but spending a few days during the summer helping the community could be fun and lead to a lot of growth for you and your kids. 

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock.com