Cheap Family Fun

**5ft Diva** · #1 04-07-2007, 10:58 AM

What is your definition of cheap family fun? What do you guys do for cheap family fun? Do you go somewhere, do you stay at home, do you spend a little or no money at all and have any of these activities started family traditions? (by cheap I mean "low in price", not "of little value")

Dia Minha · #2 04-07-2007, 07:19 PM

One of our family favorites is "the big screen". Elder borrows the projector from work and we make a movie theater in our dinning room. Usually I get the movies from the library so the amount of money spent is just on popcorn and M&M's because both are an absolute must for movie night. We have it for the weekend so Friday we do a new movie (one we haven't seen) Saturday we will do a favorite movie, and Sunday we will do a church film

This last Thursday we went to the "Bean Museum". This is a museum on the BYU campus. It doesn't cost a thing. It is full of real, dead, stuffed, animals. I like it better then the zoo, because you can see most of the animals in a very life like setting and very close up, close enough to touch. It only costs gas and a sack lunch. There are lots of other museums in the area, that are free to visit as well. Downtown has a lot too.

My kids love the Peppermint Place. It is a candy factory in Highland, I believe, were you can go on a short tour of sorts and watch them make the candy. There is a small store located on the bottom floor so usually each of the children get a $1 or so to purchase a treat. They have a section were they sale their seconds, so a lot of times you can get really yummy treats for cheaper if you don't care what it looks like.

I'm sure you heard me talk about it before, but once again we love Antelope Island. It is $7 per car load and then usually a packed lunch or snacks and drinks to tide you over. It is so peaceful. There are lots of different things to do, including a visitors center, the corals, the old ranch house, and lots of biking and hiking trails.

I also love to go to the docks and watch the sun set. The kids and I have done this many nights, when daddy is not expected to get home very soon. I get them ran through the bath and ready for bed and then load them all up in the van. We drive out to the docks located near Saltair. If you take the Saltair exit and make a left right before the gates it will take you right out to the docks. We have gone all the way out to the big rock before, but I don't like to be out there after dark, because the road isn't finished. The sunset is always amazing and we get to look at all the beautiful sail boats and dream of mommie's future sail boat.

We love to go to the drive in during the summer. It isn't very cheap by anymeans, but it's a lot lot less expensive then taking them to any other movie. I like it, because I actually get to watch the movie, because I don't have to worry about feeding the baby, or the kids crying or making to much noise. Usually this makes for a wonderful night, because they will all fall asleep before the second show or soon into it and then mommy and daddy get a date night movie, all for the price of one. I believe adults are $7 and children 3or4-11 are $1.

Oh and rock climbing at Buddy's. I believe it is $1 for two climbs. My oldest loves climbing, the boys not too much. So, usually they would rather spend their $1 playing skee ball. A game of pool is only a $1 too and that makes for a very inexpensive date night.

Is this what you were looking for?

Dia

**5ft Diva** · #3 04-07-2007, 09:48 PM

I'm not looking for anything in particular - this was just a thread I thought would be helpful to anyone looking for cheap family fun. Your ideas were great, though. You shared a lot of things I've never thought of. I'm sure this will help others as well.

***Big_Sissy*** · #4 04-08-2007, 02:27 AM

Great idea's. We used to go to Buddies and climb the wall quite a bit. It was a lot of fun.

amberpatomo · #5 04-10-2007, 03:05 PM

GREAT ideas Dia! I am going to take my Mother in law to Antelope Island now that I have read this post. We have put so much money into two different parties for her coming and for preparing the home. Not to mention Antti will be on vacation so we will lose overtime hours. I didn't realize how fast money can come and go until this month

Do you think climbing that wall would be fun for my husband??? He wants to try it but I wasn't sure if it was for kids only or not??

Is the drive inn clean?

There is the children's museum of art that I have heard is great and full of fun for kids.

***Big_Sissy*** · #6 04-10-2007, 03:30 PM

Yes, Antti can climb the wall. I have climbed it numerous times, and have fun doing it every time. the only time it wasn't fun was when I couldn't climb it and one of the females that we were with did.

PhillyGirl · #7 04-11-2007, 02:25 PM

My husband and I want to start a family tradition when our kid(s) are older. Every Friday night is going to be movie night. We are going to make homemade pizza and then watch a movie or play games. This can be a rented movie or a classic favorite you have at home. And then Saturday night is going to be date night for my husband and I. Even when the kids are older and might not want to come to family movie night, my husband and I will be there in case they have a bad night with their friends or a date or something. I don't know if this is what you were looking for but it is something we want to do in our family.

smed · #8 04-11-2007, 05:38 PM

I know that the Zoo usually does one free day a month. and also the childrens museum. It's been about a year or so sence i've looked into these activities but if they still have once a day during the month then it makes it cheap and it only cost gas to get there. I've heard that the children's museum is loads of fun.

We usually play games, eat homemade pizza and or watch a favorite movie or rent one we haven't seen. Also on sunday night on discovery channel is a show called Planet Earth, it's about animals all over the world and how they survive in nature. My kids love this show. we record it because it comes on after bed time and watch it latter.

Tooele City Library usually has some fun things for kids during the week you can get on there web site or call and see if any of it would be something your kids like to do. My kids love friday craft day.

We also like to go to grandma's or grandpa's and play with cousins.

My husbands sister and her family live close so this weekend at the last minute asked them over for a BBQ. The kids have fun cuz they get to play with cousins. If you don't have family close invite a "favoirte family" over.

I was just looking through my family fun magazie and this months issue has alot of great ideas.

You could also probably get online and google it.

**5ft Diva** · #9 04-11-2007, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhillyGirl

My husband and I want to start a family tradition when our kid(s) are older. Every Friday night is going to be movie night. We are going to make homemade pizza and then watch a movie or play games. This can be a rented movie or a classic favorite you have at home. And then Saturday night is going to be date night for my husband and I. Even when the kids are older and might not want to come to family movie night, my husband and I will be there in case they have a bad night with their friends or a date or something. I don't know if this is what you were looking for but it is something we want to do in our family.

This is a fantabulous idea! I love the concept of your kids having a safe place to come to and that they'll know there's something fun to do if they're friends bottom out on them. Thanks for sharing!