Summer outings don’t have to break the family piggy bank. Here are five budget-friendly concepts to consider:
1. Washington, D.C. You’ll have a long list of no- or low-cost options when you visit our nation’s capital. From kid-friendly theater performances at the Kennedy Center to observing the famous panda family at the National Zoo, your biggest challenge will be choosing which options best fit your family’s current interests.
Is there a future pilot in your midst? Get a feel for it, sitting in a mock cockpit at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum before checking out the bird’s-eye view from the top of the Washington Monument.
Later, learn how money is made during a 40-minute tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It won’t cost you a dime.
Contact: washington.org.
2. Cleveland. With 45,000 works of art from virtually every period and genre, the Cleveland Museum of Art has something to engage every member of your family as it celebrates its centennial. Kids are often drawn to the armor court, where medieval suits of armor and period weapons prompt conversation. Take to the hiking trails in the Shaker Heights Nature Center or consider a drive and picnic near one of 17 covered bridges in the area.
Discover that maybe money really does grow on trees when you ponder the 23-foot-tall “money tree” at the Federal Reserve Bank Money Museum. You’ll also find more than 30 exhibits detailing the history and power of our currency.
Contact: thisiscleveland.com.
3. Cero’s Candy, Wichita, Kan. Three generations of the Cero family followed in the footsteps of “Candy Pete” Cero, a Greek sailor who first came to Wichita to work on the railroad in 1883. When illness kept him off the rails, he turned to what he knew — making candy. During a tour you’ll learn how the current owners combine a little history with fine ingredients to make gourmet chocolates and other treats.
Contact: ceroscandy.com.
4.Urban walking tours. Access the services of tour guides in cities like New Orleans, Philadelphia, New York, Charleston, S.C., Chicago and Berlin. The creative outings, some designed especially for kids, are offered at no charge. If you learned something, were entertained or found the tour memorable in a way that mattered, gratuities are encouraged and welcome. Bike and food tours are also available.
Contact: freetoursbyfoot.com.
5. San Francisco. A sparkling gem within the City by the Bay, Golden Gate Park beckons outdoor lovers with rose gardens, meadows, lakes, playgrounds, a carousel and an arboretum.
Museums of interest to families, including the Cartoon Art Museum and the Exploratorium, are free at least one day each month, offering storytelling, films and performances. Many offer free admission for children 12 and under.
As always, the sweeping views, often accompanied by street performances, are free.
Contact: sanfrancisco.travel.
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(Lynn O'Rourke Hayes is the editor of FamilyTravel.com. Email her at lohayes@FamilyTravel.com.)
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