Big City Activities, Small Price Tag

Like everything in the big city, fun children’s activities often means expensive. But that is not always true. Whether you live in, or are visiting a city, trust me, you can find cheap, and even free (oh and often educational) things to do with your kids.

Park and Playgrounds. This is the urban kid Mecca. It’s free, geared for children, and as long as the weather cooperates, you can spend quite some time at these urban oases. Grassy parks are great for infants in strollers, toddlers just learning how to walk, and older kids who can organize a game of kickball or freeze-tag. Picnic lunches are a great way to enjoy a meal outdoors, and keep costs down. Infants as small as six months of age can enjoy playgrounds, once they can sit up unassisted they can swing in a baby swing! Big kids love playgrounds too… and you might even find yourself trying to cross the monkey bars or swinging on a swing!

Many cities have a large main park, such as Central Park, Boston Common, Golden Gate Park, or Millennium Park in Chicago. You can easily spend an entire day in these parks that offer not only grass & jungle gyms, but museums, theaters, carousels, ice skating, pools, etc. as well.

But the best way to find the nearest local park or playground? Just ask someone with a stroller. I bet they will be able to point you in the right direction.

Animals. My son loves any activity that involves animals. Zoos, petting zoos, aquariums, he’s all over it. Although admission to larger zoos can be pricey, look into smaller zoos or visit on reduced admission days. For example, in NYC, an adult ticket to the famous Bronx Zoo costs $27 for all the attractions. However, the Queens Zoo is only $8 for an adult admission. You can visit the Bronx Zoo on Wednesday, when all they ask for is a suggested donation.  Or if you are a frequent visitor, you can consider buying an annual membership, which in NYC includes all the Zoos and the Aquarium at a price of just $94 for two adults.

Museums. A big draw of living in, or visiting, a city is the museums. But again, admission can be expensive. So look for days or hours when admission is reduced or free. For example, the NY Hall of Science offers free admission on Friday afternoons and Sunday mornings (although not during July and August).  On the west coast, you can enjoy the San Diego Children’s Museum on the second Sunday of each month, without having to pay.

Again, frequent visitors can consider becoming members of local museums, which usually pays if in a year, you plan to visit four or more times. And often memberships include perks such as special members-only hours, invitations to special events, or further discounts on food, shops, or parking.

Kids will love these activities and the price is right. So rain or shine, summer or winter, get out and explore!