Discover Free Outdoor Activity Ideas

Vacation activities doesn't always need to be paid for, there are fun and very rewarding activities in the great outdoors that will not cost you a penny, some of the great activities available at our National Parks and beaches are absolutely free, some come at a small fee, and some are age restricted but the fact is you'll definitely find something that suits you or your kids. Find out some of these activities and where you can enjoy them.

Hiking

Hiking's not just for summer! It's fun, it's free, and it's a great way balance out kids' "nature deficit disorder": kids average 44 hours a week in front of screens, and when they do play outside, it's often in organized sports; so spending vacation time in Nature is all the more valuable.

Quality Beach Time

Little kids don't need theme park rides or fancy water slides to have a marvelous time; they're enchanted by waves lapping on a shore. And at the right beach with waves for boogie-boarding or body-surfing, for instance older kids too can be happy for hours.

National Wildlife Refuges

Great places, for the Great Outdoors: the US has over 500 National Wildlife Refuges, and most major cities have one within an hours drive. Many offer free programs such as guided tours or "Take A Kid Fishing Day".

National Trails Day

It's always a good day to head to the Great Outdoors, but a couple of days every year are better than most. National Trails Day, in early June, offers more than 1500 events around the US and many are free, such as: hiking, biking, and helping with trail maintenance. National Public Lands Day is another big day: in late September, thousands of people volunteer to repair trails, clean up trash, and otherwise give TLC to the Great Outdoors areas enjoyed by all.

US National Parks: Fee-Free Weekends

Yellowstone National Park

On several weekends every summer, National Parks in the US offer free admission; often, individual National Parks offer special deals on these weekends, too (such as free group photo, or discounts on organized tours). You can choose a National Park to visit - pick your park by name, state, or driving distance from major cities, from a number of websites such as one maintained by the Parks.

National Parks: Ranger-Led Programs, Junior Rangers

One of the best features at US National Parks are the free ranger-led programs: hikes, presentations, star-gazing, special kids' programs "Junior Ranger" programs are terrific too, but may entail a small fee. Such a program is offered at the Yellowstone National Park.

Kids Ski Free

Skiing's expensive; but families can catch a break with "kids ski free" pricing of several types. First: at any mountain, kids generally ski free until they reach a certain age - say, five years old; some mountains let kids ski free until they're ten or twelve. Kids can also ski free when they're in Grade Four (or Five), at many ski resorts. Finally, "Kids Ski Free" promotions are another way to ski gratis (but with a paying adult).