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Start The New Year Off With A Fun Family Trip to Florida

January 6, 2025 | Leave a Comment

Family fun in Florida on a budget
Image Source: Pexels

Many people believe that the Sunshine State is an expensive vacation destination. However, it’s totally possible to have family fun in Florida on a budget. If you’re pinching pennies, you probably won’t be able to visit pricey attractions like Disney World and Universal Studios. But luckily Florida has lots of affordable entertainment options, from gator parks to manatee preserves. If you’re tired of the cold and dreaming of a tropical getaway, here are some tips to help you plan an affordable trip. 

6 Ways to Have Family Fun in Florida on a Budget

Marvel at Manatees 

Manatee Family fun in Florida on a budget
Image Source: Pexels

Believe it or not, you can observe wild manatees in Florida. It’s amazing to watch these huge, magnificent creatures float around and munch on palm trees. During the winter, they tend to congregate near power plant outfalls and springs because the water is warmer there. So if you time your trip right, you may be able to see dozens of manatees at once!

Most manatee observation centers and parks are free or low-cost, so this is a great way to have family fun in Florida on a budget. Check out this list of popular viewing areas from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to plan your trip. 

Hang With Gators 

See alligators in Florida
Image Source: Pexels

Another way to have family fun in Florida on a budget is to hang with gators. You can spot alligators, turtles, and other wildlife at many state parks throughout Florida, including the Everglades and Hillsborough River near Tampa. To enhance the experience, you can even book an airboat tour. Companies like Gator Park in Miami offer affordable tickets and allow children 5 and under to ride for free. 

There are also alligator theme parks such as Gatorland in Orlando and Gatorama in Palmdale. They have entertaining exhibits and animal shows that will teach your kids about crocodiles, alligators, and other reptiles. Gatorland even has a thrilling zipline positioned over a crocodile enclosure for an additional fee. Admission is much more affordable than other theme parks, enabling you to have family fun on a budget in Florida. 

Visit Disney Springs and Other Malls

Florida has some amazing malls
Image Source: Pexels

Want to get a taste of Disney World without breaking the bank? Admission to Disney Springs, a themed shopping complex, is totally free. There are many fun places to window shop, including a Lego store, a Disney apparel shop, and a Star Wars galactic trading post. The complex also has outdoor stages that offer free entertainment. Right now there’s an art walk featuring the work of local painters and a music show called Springs in Motion. You can also pay for special experiences such as bowling or riding in a tethered hot air balloon. 

If you aren’t visiting the Orlando area, rest assured that there are other malls and outlets in Florida to explore, such as CityPlace in West Palm Beach and Dolphin Mall in Miami. 

Play Miniature Golf 

Mini golf Family fun in Florida on a budget
Image Source: Pexels

Florida has many sprawling, themed mini-golf courses that your kids will love. Congo River features caves and tropical rainforests, so it’s no surprise that it was rated the best mini golf course in Florida. There are eight different locations throughout the state, including Kissimmee, Bonita Springs, Daytona Beach, and Clearwater. 

If you’re visiting Orlando, don’t forget to check out Disney’s Fantasia Gardens mini golf course. It’s located on the grounds of the Swan Hotel and offers Disney magic at an affordable price point. The two 18-hole courses feature hippos, ostriches, and other characters from the iconic film. 

Relax on the Beach

Florida beach fun with the family
Image Source: Pexels

The best way to have family fun in Florida on a budget is to relax and play at the beach. Around 90% of the state’s coastal access points are open to the public, so you’ll have plenty of choices. This convenient map from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection shows you all of the pristine beaches you can explore. Don’t forget your sunscreen and beach toys! 

Visit Free or Low-Cost Museums 

Art museum Family fun in Florida on a budget
Image Source: Pexels

If you’re hunting for free museums, Florida will not disappoint. You can find a number of fantastic museums scattered from Tallahassee to Sarasota, all with free admission at least one day a week. Tallahassee has the Museum of Florida History, which is always free and combines exhibits and educational programs to show how the state has grown. The Harn Museum of Art near Gainesville is one of the largest museums in the state and provides free entry. Found in the University of Florida’s Cultural Plaza, the museum houses collections of pre-Columbian, African, and American paintings as well as contemporary art. 

In Sarasota, both the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and Bayfront Gardens are free on Mondays. You’ll also find the Glass Pavilion located in the same complex, which is always free. These three attractions feature a 66-acre rose garden and arboretum, 45,000 works of art, and a curated collection of blown glass.

From visiting museums to hanging out at the beach or lake, there are many ways to have family fun in Florida on a budget. Did we miss any of your favorite free or low-cost attractions? Share your travel tips in the comments!

Vicky Monroe headshot
Vicky Monroe

Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance writer who enjoys learning about and discussing the psychology of money. In her free time, she loves to cook and tackle DIY projects.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Beach, Kids, Travel

Fun and Inexpensive Outings with the Kids

November 4, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Enjoying the outdoors is a great free family activity

Found on Pixabay

Fun and inexpensive outings with the kids are not hard to find if you know where to look. With the prices of pretty much everything on the rise an outing can become very expensive if we are not careful. Of course doing new things with the kids that will not break the bank can be just as fun.

Using your imagination and being creative can find a lot of fun. Many times at the end of the most inexpensive outings the family will have spent quality time together and probably learned a few new things along the way.

Enjoy the Outdoors

Enjoying the outdoors is one of the things that many families enjoy and the wonders that can be found by a child’s eyes are endless. Nature walks can be a very rewarding outing. Enjoying the trails with the family and actually getting away from the rush of everyday life can be relaxing. Watching the little ones marvel at things they find along the trail can sometimes make us adults see things like they are new again. A child picking up a leaves and actually studying it is amazing. As adults we are often so busy that we miss a lot.

Visit the Library

The local library is also a great place to bring our children. Many libraries hold classes for the kids that are free of charge. Although the class may be once a week and only last an hour it is worth it. If your child is older the class is done without the parent. Again, it may only be an hour but an hour of free time at the library can be worth it for Mom and Dad!

To the Beach!

For those families that live near beaches but do not want to pay the parking or costs to enter the best time to go is at dusk. The beach is nearly empty and there is no charge to get in. Pack sandwiches and snacks and you are ready for a beach almost all to yourself.

Bus Station

Little boys (and some girls) love buses and trucks or pretty much any type of transportation for that matter. Imagine the little ones face when you roll into a bus station and go to see the buses. Pure delight, cost free.

Build Something Fun

Anyone have a builder on his or her hands? Many of the home improvement stores have free classes for the tikes and for the parents too (hate to have Dad feel left out). The classes may be held mainly on the weekends but again the cost can’t be beat.

Quality time with our families does not have to be expensive. The things that cost the least can be the best and smiles are flowing freely. How we spend our time with our children is not how much money we spend to have fun with them. Childhood memories are not made of how much money parents spent occupying us. Childhood memories consist of loving moments that were spent together knowing we were and are cherished.

What free and cheap family activities do you do with your family?

Brian
Brian

Brian is the founder of Kids Ain’t Cheap and is now sharing his journey through parenthood.

 
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Filed Under: Family Time, Stuff to Do Tagged With: Activities, Beach, Build, Bus Station, Cheap, Library, Nature Walks, Outdoors, outings

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Basic Principles Of Good Parenting

Here some basic principles for good parenting:

  1. What You Do Matters: Your kids are watching you. So, be purposeful about what you want to accomplish.
  2. You Can’t be Too Loving: Don’t replace love with material possessions, lowered expectations or leniency.
  3. Be Involved Your Kids Life: Arrange your priorities to focus on what your kid’s needs. Be there mentally and physically.
  4. Adapt Your Parenting: Children grow quickly, so keep pace with your child’s development.
  5. Establish and Set Rules: The rules you set for children will establish the rules they set for themselves later.  Avoid harsh discipline and be consistent.
  6. Explain Your Decisions: What is obvious to you may not be evident to your child. They don’t have the experience you do.
  7. Be Respectful To Your Child: How you treat your child is how they will treat others.  Be polite, respectful and make an effort to pay attention.
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