Jump-start your brain and think of some alternative fun and recreational ideas to entertain your family and friends – for free. If you take action, there is sure to be a reaction. And this is the stuff that memories are made to last a lifetime. The section ahead lists ideas to get the creative juices flowing. Although some may seem like common sense, they are not common practice. Just scroll down and browse for something that you can do today.
- Animal shelter: Kind of a sad visit if you don’t plan to adopt an animal but you may consider volunteering to walk a dog. Sometimes, the facility will allow you to tour its clinic and explain the shots and other treatments. It’s good for kids to learn about pet care.
- Antique store: Treat it like it’s a historical museum and just browse the unique items that were once commonplace in homes generations ago. If you have a question about the origins of something, ask. Other considerations along the same line are auctions, flea-markets and garage sales to some extent.
- Bank: Call up your local bank and ask for a tour. Winter Advisory: If you wear a ski-mask, take it off before entering the bank. Kids love the big vaults.
- Beach: Whether you live near the Lake Erie shore or an inner Ohio lake, you need to spend at least one day at the beech. With kids or without, build a sand castle or just go swimming. For those who’ve never been to the ocean or a Great Lake, head up to the Erie shore and take a stroll along the a beach.
- Community events: Many communities have a gazebo, town square or some other place that offers summertime concerts, plays or magic shows for free. Go.
- Courtroom: Not the place to practice heckling but you may want to have a little fun testing your artistic talent by drawing a picture of the judge, prosecutor or defendant. Hey, if television shows like Judge Judy or People’s Court attract such an audience, why not see the action live.
- Driving tours: Have you ever taken a “Sunday afternoon drive?” Relax and explore the road less taken. Head down an old country road or state route until you hit half a tank of gas, stop, have a picnic and then go home. You may want to randomly pick a place on the Ohio map and just go for the sake of going. Another idea is to visit a small town downtown that looks like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. For starters, go to little Ohio towns like Greenville, Delaware, Lebanon, Bryan or Chagrin Falls.
- Fire stations and police stations: Just call the nearest one and ask for a visit. I’d be surprised if they didn’t roll out the red carpet for the kids and give them a tour they won’t forget. Make sure to bring a camera as many excellent photo-ops await.
- Fireworks: Ooooowww-Ahhhhhhhhh. Need I say more. Well, yes. You know the kid in you died when you stop going to the fireworks show on the Fourth-of-July.
- Fishing: Yah, I know, you have to buy a fishing license therefore it is not free. Technically, yes. But try this. Tie a string to a stick, grab a bucket, some munchies and other things you’d take on a fishing trip and cast away off your porch or deck with the kids and use your imagination.
- Hiking, biking and walking: Find a trail, a park or somewhere scenic and rejuvenate yourself. If you’ve never walked in the summer rain – what are you waiting for? (Rain-advisory – be sure it isn’t an electrical storm!)
- Hospital: Again, just call and ask for a tour. Think of the eye-opening fun the kids could have or even the learning experience you might have.
- Ice skating: You may look like Bambi learning to walk if you haven’t gone for a while but oh what fun you’ll have. Whether it’s with a significant other or the kids, plan to do it at least once this winter.
- Library or bookstore: Find out what events take place and when. Many are free such as story-time at the library where a storyteller entertains the children with excellent tales. Also, rediscover everything else that’s free there like videos, DVDs, CDs, CD-ROMs, magazines, newspapers and hmmm, what am I forgetting? Oh yah – books!
- Model homes: Create your own home and garden show. Just go to dream or get ideas for your own home improvement or landscaping project. Bring a camera.
- Newspaper: If your local paper is nice enough to give you a tour of their operation I dare you to yell – “stop the press!”
- Parades: Every town has them. Isn’t it time you go to one? Ohio’s major cities have elaborate parades on holidays like Thanksgiving, St. Patrick’s Day and others.
- Picnic-in-the-Park: This is not done enough by most people anymore. To enhance the experience, make your own kite ala The Little Rascals and see if you can get it to fly. Another idea for a trip to the park is to bring some bread to feed the ducks. And if you and your spouse need to rekindle the flame – try going barefoot-in-the-park.
- Post-office: This could be an interesting learning experience for kids. Call your local post-office and ask for a look see.
- Radio or television station: Just another tour option that most stations are happy to provide the listening or viewing public. In our modern-day society, this could prove to be a fascinating event for the grown-ups too.
- Restaurant: Find a unique restaurant or see a series of different ethnic places to see how interesting cuisines are prepared and what goes on behind the scenes. Most places love to show-off their businesses.
- Sledding: Always a fun thing to do to get out of the house in the winter at any age.
- Sunrise Sunset: Seeing it is something everyone should do at least once a year. Come on, we can all fit that into our busy schedules.
- Vineyards: Most will treat you to a free tour of the winery and explain the behind-the-scenes operation. If you’re lucky – and of age – you may even be treated to a little taste-test of their product.
- Water Plant/power plant: Yet another tour awaiting your phone call.
