Born and raised in Florida this list in comprised of all my favorite cheap places to go and cheap things to do with my family.
Some places and ideas listed are just one or two hours of fun and some are all day fun!
(All prices,dates and times should be verified before visiting. Please verify with venue websites where applicable)
Backyard Camping
Camping
Various locations
There are so many places to camp out in Florida. Make memories while singing campfire songs and making smores. Sleeping under the start is such an amazing experience for the whole family! Whether you are in your back yard or choose to travel to one of these suggested locations Orlando camping will always be a memorable experience!
Follow the links to these suggested locations:
At Chuck E Cheese's in Altamonte
Chuck E Cheese
Various Locations
Where a kid can be a kid! Pizza, Ski Ball, Arcade Games, kiddie rides and more!
Personal Recommendations:
Check online for a coupon like 100 Tokens for $20.00
School Groups and Summer Camps frequent you may want to call ahead and check.
Most rides are suitable for younger kids.
The games are all 1 Token
Food can get pricey here so play and eat somewhere else.
Cost:
Depends on package you choose.
Mining for Gems
Congo River Golf
531 FL-436, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
www.congoriver.com/altamonte-springs-experience-the-congo-golf.html
Besides the obvious Putt Putt Golfing there are a handful of other activities to enjoy! You can feed Alligators and Turtles, Mine for Gems, Play in the Arcade and Take the Lazer Maze Challenge.
Alligators and Turtles at Congo River Golf
Hours of Operation:
Sunday- Thursday: 10 AM-11 PM
Friday & Saturday: 10 AM- 12AM
Cost:
Miniature Golf:
Adults- $12.99
Children 10 and Under- $10.99
One Child Under 5 is FREE with each paid admission
Aligator Food:
.50 cents per handful
$3.99 to feed using a cone pole
Gem Mining:
$5.00 and Up
Arcade:
Buy Tokens to play games.
Lazer Maze Challenge:
$3.00 per game
Dollar Day
Dollar Day
This is an idea I thought up. It's a day where you visit multiple stores and buy something for a dollar or less at each store. It's sort of like a scavenger hunt. You will be surprised at how many stores offer quality dollar items!
Store Recommendations:
Target,
Walmart
Dollar Store
Dollar Tree
Big Lots
Goodwill
7-11
Toys R Us
McDonalds and more!
Personal Recommendations:
Shop in a strip mall with lots of stores in one parking lot.
Get food and drink from the Restaurants or Gas Stations.
Look in Dollar Bins and Clearance Sections.
Check by the register for small items.
Family Game Night
Playing Parade-opoly
Most of us own a few games. No, not those electronic video games with the clicky controllers. You know, old school style games with a board and tokens and play money. Like, Monopoly, Clue, Scrabble, Yahtzee and many other classics! Gather up your family and declare a Family Game Night. Pick a few board games to play together. Offer prizes and bragging rights to the winners. You could even raise the stakes for the winner to remove weekly chores or possibly lessen a grounding from two weeks to one. Anything that'll work to bring your family together for a couple hours to sit and play games. Family Game Night is a great rainy day activity.
Personal Recommendations:
Monopoly, Monopoly Hotels, Monopoly Deal
Clue, Catan, Life, HeadBandz, Scrabble, Uno
Yahtzee, Scattergories, Operation
Fishing
Various Locations
myfwc.com/conservation/freshwater/fish-orlando
There are so many places to fish in Orlando it's almost ridiculous. Most parks, hotels and beaches have fishing areas. If you don't have your own rod and tackle a quick trip to Walmart and less than $20 should get you a cane pole, hooks and worms at the very least. You can also buy your fishing license there as well. Be sure to visit the website above for public fishing locations and times.
Flying kites in our backyard
Fly A Kite!
There are so many public parks and beach areas that you can enjoy spending time out doors. My kids love to fly kites. I love it because it's a cheap activity to do outside! We go to the dollar bins at local stores and pick up a few kites for cheap and then it's time to fly. See who's kite flies the highest and who's kite goes down first. Which kite will be eaten by a tree? Enjoy the peacefulness of flying kites as a family. Pack a picnic lunch and a wiffle bat and ball or a football and you've scored a good couple hours out of the house making memories!
Found a Cache in Altamonte Springs
GeoCaching
www.geocaching.com
A real-world Treasure Hunt happening right now all around the world. Navigate to a set of GPS coordinates and then find the geocache container hidden in that location.
Caches can be all sizes colors and shapes. Every Cache has at least a logsheet or logbook for you to sign. Some larger Caches have small trinkets to take and replace with something of equal value. Most Caches are hidden in wooded or natural areas. There is always a chance of danger so stay aware of your surroundings.
Personal Recommendations:
Download the App
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
Buy Trash Grabbers and rubber gloves at the dollar store. This way you can search safer and pick things up without touching them.
Buy small trinkets at the Dollar Store so you have replacement trinkets if you score some loot.
Bring water.
Bring Hand Sanatizer
Bring a Pen.
*Be prepared that you may not find every cache. That is o.k. it is a treasure hunt.
Built an airplane at Home Depot
Home Depot Kid Workshops
Various Locations
workshops.homedepot.com/workshops/kids-workshops?cm_sp=vanity-_-Kidsworkshops-_-DEC13
FREE hands-on workshops; designed for children ages 5 - 12
All kid get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last.
Children must be present at the store to participate in the workshop and receive the kit, apron and pin.
Kids Workshop activities are scheduled on a first come/first served basis.
Please do not arrive before 9:00 a.m.
To ensure a spot you can register online.
Hours of Operation:
Select Saturdays 9:00 AM- 12:00PM (noon)
Cost:
FREE
At Daytona Beach Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme
Various Locations
Oh for that magical HOT NOW Sign to be brightly lit and beaming through the window as you pull up to Krispy Kreme... You know you about to taste Heaven On Earth. Step inside to one of the sweetest doughnut stores in the world! Watch these tasty treats being made from start to finish. No hidden back kitchens here. The baking and icing and cooling is done right in front of you. It's completely magical! ;) Pick any flavor doughnut you like but be sure to get at least one original glaze. When they are HOT NOW you can literally here chubby cherubs singing hallelujahs as you eat.
US Toy Lego Build for the Lego Movie
Lego Builds for FREE
Multiple Locations all year long! Dates and Times Vary.
Everyone young and old loves legos! There are bunches of ways to score FREE LEGOS all year long. Check out all these websites for times and dates:
The Lego Store at Downtown Disney Marketplace
First Tuesday of every month they hold a FREE Lego Builds
US Toy Company in Apopka
You will want to sign up for their promotional emails to get the build dates.
Toys R Us Various Locations
Call once a month and ask if there is a Lego build
*All Lego builds are first come first serve. Due to the bricks popularity be prepared to wait an hour or more in line to score your precious Lego set. Snacks and drinks may help you along your wait. If you let your kids shop/play in the store while you wait it's a good idea to try to have them check in with you every so often. Some stores get packed and children safety should always be considered.
Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics
Various Locations
lowesbuildandgrow.com/pages/default.aspx
Build a wooden project and get a free apron, goggles, patch and more!
Walk ups are normally turned away due to high attendance. No biggie though, you can easily register before the date clinic date to reserve your spot.
Hours of Operation:
Select Saturdays 10:00 AM
Cost:
FREE just register in advance online.
Nerf Gun Fight
A few years ago I was out shopping by myself and found a great deal on Nerf Guns. So I bought them all. Then I called my brother and sister and we all showed up at my house like assassins and started the largest Nerf Gun Battle ever! Epic!!! My kids ran to their rooms and grabbed all their Nerf guns and war raged for a couple of hours. Lot's of laughing and hiding and running and tons of fun memories. So, gather your Nerf guns and ammo and declare a Nerf war in your house soon!
Here are a few online store to by new Nerf supplies:
At the Downtown Library
Public Libraries
Various Locations
Orange County Library System Website
Seminole County Library System Website
Local Libraries are great indoor fun! There are weekly events and childrens readings all open to the public. During the summer months the activites double in fun and even include special guests like Gatorland animals and hands on Wacky Science experiments. Make sure to visit the websites for dates and locations.
Cost:
FREE
Dodge Ball at Rebounderz
Rebounderz
Various Locations
Family and Fitness come together in a fun jumping atmosphere! This trampoline arena is fun for the whole family. You can jump, play dodge ball, basketball and even do flips into the foam pits. There is also an arcade with prizes and a concession stand.
Personal Recommendations:
You will need to purchase Rebounderz Brand Socks
There is a waiver that needs to be completed for everyone who jumps. You can fill it out on line before you go to save time.
Check the website for special family night deals to save money.
Hours of Operation:
Monday- Thursday 11:00 AM- 9:00 PM
Friday 11:00 AM- 11:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM- 11:00 PM
Sunday 10:00 AM- 8:00PM
Cost:
Rebounderz Special Jump Socks $3.00 a pair
30 Minutes of Jump Time: $8.00
60 Minutes of Jump Time: $14.00
90 Minutes of Jump Time: $20.00
Additional hour: $10.00
Arcade costs extra
Tijuana Flats
Tijuana Flats Taco Tuesday
tijuanaflats.com/location
Two Tacos, Chips and Drink for $5.49 plus Tax Kids meals start at $4.50 and come with entree, chips, candy or applesauce and a drink!
Cost:
Starts at $5.49 plus tax per person.
Kids Starts at $4.50 plus tax per person.