Want to bring variety to your life but can’t afford expensive pastime options? No worries! Regardless of whether you live in Austin, New York, Los Angeles, or other places, there are still many free and cheap family activities for every budget. In our guide, you will find the best free or cheap things to do anywhere in the USA.
20 Things to Do Without Money
Living on a budget does not mean you can’t have interesting experiences with your friends or children. Explore the list of things to do that don’t cost money and discover your city’s multiple locations and attractions.
#1. Enjoy Free Music
Music plays a significant role in many people’s lives, leading to the increasing popularity of free outdoor concerts and fun events featuring live music year-round in the USA. You can listen to concerts with free classical music in restaurants or parks on Sunday or Friday evenings.
#2. Don’t Miss Free Museum Days
When organizing your self-guided tour through the city, consider when museums offer free admission for visitors. For example, Czech Center Museum Houston has free entrance each last Monday of the month, and the Holocaust Museum opens its doors to everyone on January 27.
Visiting free museums provides an excellent opportunity to spend quality time with your kids, learn about important historical events, and save money simultaneously.
#3. Visit a Farmers’ Market
Visiting a local farmers’ market is one of the best cheap things for spending time with your children. In addition to an interesting experience with new tastes and sounds, you can buy fresh veggies and fruits of better quality than in a supermarket.
People often avoid going to farmers’ markets as they consider the products there too expensive. It especially relates to individuals in a difficult financial situation. If you find yourself short on funds, faxless cash advances may be a suitable option for you. They help you get extra cash of up to $1,000 by your next payday. They make it possible for you to apply in 5 minutes and get the money the next business day.
#5. Go to a Zoo
Zoo visits are among the best budget-friendly outdoor adventures for families with kids. Although the humanity of zoos was once questionable, today, many places have emerged that prioritize animal welfare, providing spacious enclosures and good living conditions. Kids will have fun listening to the sounds of the natural world and observing giraffes, elephants, and other fascinating animals.
Furthermore, on specific days (such as the first Tuesday of every month in Houston), admission is free, allowing people to enjoy a variety of animals without incurring significant expenses.
#6. Explore an Art Gallery with Cheap Admission
If you are an art lover, it may be a great idea to visit galleries located in your city. Many legendary art galleries offer free admission on specific days, allowing everyone to catch a glimpse of the cutting edge.
Don’t miss your chance to see the world from the perspective of famous artists!
#7. Organize a Self-Guided Walking Tour
Have you been living in your city for years but still don’t know its history well? People often find it challenging to explore their town due to their studies, jobs, and homework commitments. As it may often be expensive and boring to hire a professional guide, you can learn about the past of your hometown and tell it to your children. Furthermore, this option suits any child’s age.
American cities are packed with attractions worth visiting, so seize the opportunity to learn more about the place where you live!
#8. Visit Your State Parks
Each state boasts its unique and breathtaking natural beauty, making a visit to a state park an excellent and affordable option for a weekend getaway with your family. State parks provide a quiet zone where you can immerse yourself in nature and enjoy a peaceful atmosphere. Furthermore, this is one of the most affordable options for people in a difficult financial situation.
The best state parks in the USA are considered the following:
- Custer State Park – South Dakota;
- Antelope Island State Park – Utah;
- Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park – Florida;
- Big Bend Ranch State Park, – Texas;
- Roxborough State Park – Colorado;
- Valley of Fire State Park – Nevada;
- Chugach State Park – Alaska;
- Smith Rock State Park – Oregon;
- Grayson Highlands State Park – Virginia.
#9. Go to the City’s Park
If traveling to distant locations is not your preference, you can explore parks within your city. You can ride a bike, read books, have a picnic, or even pay for a golf course. Laying a blanket on a hill and enjoying the downtown skyline during the day or stargazing at night can be an excellent idea.
#10. Catch a Movie
One of the most affordable and standard ways to spend time with your friends or family is to catch a movie. If going to a traditional cinema seems boring to you, consider trying a drive-in movie theater, which allows you to watch your favorite movies outdoors.
Here you can see examples of several drive-in movies theaters in Austin, Texas:
- Doc’s Drive-In Theatre – Buda;
- Blue Starlite Mini Drive-In – Downtown;
- Stars & Stripes – New Braunfels;
#11. Discover Food Trucks
If dining at a restaurant is too expensive, there are various locations attracting visitors with their delicious and affordable food. One example of such places is food trucks, where you can try tasty tacos, hot dogs, and other fast food options.
#12. Ride a Bike
Renting a bike and exploring the various locations of your city or surroundings is one of the best low-cost activities to enjoy with your family or friends. If you or your parents have an old bike, this activity can be free for you, as you don’t need to rent it!
#13. Play Outdoors
It is not necessary to go to museums to have fun for free. You can simply go outside with your children and play ball near your house or gather with friends at the park to play cards.
#14. Play Indoors
If you feel tired after work and outdoor activities are not an option for you, you can always choose to stay home and relax. Select from a wide variety of games, such as cards, puzzles, or online games, and enjoy a great time in the comfort of your own home.
#15. Go to a Botanical Garden
Exploring botanical gardens is an excellent way to spend time outside of your house for free. There you can find many beautiful flowers and trees, and amazing areas for people watching. In the USA, you can visit notable botanical gardens such as the Japanese Garden in Zilker Botanical Garden (Austin), the United States Botanical Garden (Washington), Fairchild Botanical Garden (Coral Gables), and many other remarkable botanical gardens.
#16. Visit Historic Temples
Exploring new cultures and religions and learning their historical background is on the list of
great ideas for spending your weekend for free. In the USA, you can find numerous Hindu temples with an incredibly interesting history.
The following are among the best Hindu temples in the USA:
- Austin Hindu Temple And Community Center – Houston;
- Akshardham Temple – New Jersey;
- Radha Krishna Temple – Utah;
- Vraj Hindu Temple – Pennsylvania;
- Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthanam – New York;
- Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple – Illinois.
The Hindu temples attract many visitors not only for their impressive details and historical past but also for their wonderful grounds.
#17. Volunteer
If you are looking for interesting things to do for free, volunteering may be an excellent choice. There are numerous volunteering projects in various locations in the USA and worldwide. You can help animals, care about the environment, work as a teacher, and more.
One of the main advantages of volunteering is that although you can’t earn money there, you can visit a new place, have free accommodation, and, in several cases, even free meals.
#18. Try Hiking
Hiking is an excellent option to see the natural world for free. Search for hiking trails, invite your friends, and make sure to double-check your food and water bottle! Hiking is first about your comfort, so wear convenient clothes and comfortable shoes.
#19. Go to the Beach
Spending time on the beach is one of the best things to do for free in the USA. You can choose from various locations throughout the country. Fabulous landscapes, warm sand, incredibly beautiful sunsets, and close people nearby. What else is needed for happiness?
#20. Exercise
Going to a gym is not affordable, and exercising at home seems too boring? An excellent free alternative is to work out in various locations out of your house, such as a park or on the beach. From new emotions to breathtaking landscapes and the chance to meet new people while exercising together, engaging in outdoor sports offers not only a cost-free experience but also numerous other benefits!
Bottom Line
A limited budget is not a problem for getting new emotions and spending quality time with your close people. From listening to free live music to visiting museums, there are many things to do for free, providing everyone the opportunity to find a suitable option.
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