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Cheap Staycation Ideas

January 9, 2024 By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

Fun Staycation Activities For Families

I can’t wait to share my favorite cheap staycation ideas with all of you!

It’s no secret that I love to travel…..I mean my very favorite sinking fund category ( by far!) is my vacation fund.  However, as we all know, traveling can get expensive….very expensive.

Once you add up the prices for flights, gas, hotels, restaurants, etc there is hardly any money left for the activities!  And we all want the activities!

Which is why I am SO happy that fun staycations are becoming more normalized.

What is a staycation?

A staycation is a vacation where you don’t leave your city, and in many cases you don’t even leave your house!  Instead of traveling to a new location you stay home and take a break from your regular day to day routine, no going to school or work or anything typical.  Instead you will spend your time relaxing, exploring your city, and doing fun activities you never seem to have the time for.

Vacationing the staycation way gives you the opportunity to have a vacation….frugally!  You won’t need to spend money on flights, hotels, and every meal.  Instead you can save that money for something more important (debt payoff maybe???) and enjoy all of the many fun things to do and see right in your own hometown!

cheap staycation ideas - how to have a cheap at home vacation

 

Cheap Staycation Ideas

So, without any further ado!  Here is my master list of the BEST cheap staycation ideas for families!  I hope you are able to find the perfect activity to help you relax, have fun and make memories!

At Home Family Staycation Ideas

Let’s start with my at home staycation ideas.  Some of the best family activities can be enjoyed right in the comfort of your own home!

1.  Movie Marathon

If you are looking for a relaxing and cheap staycation idea you just might love having a movie marathon.  Choose one of your favorites tv or movie series and spend a few days binge watching!  Of course you should add in some popcorn and your favorite movie treats.

You can find some great deals on streaming services if you know where to look!  Shop around and see if you can sign up for a few new ones to enjoy over your movie weekend.

2.  Play Board Games

My family loves playing board games.  It’s a fun way for us to spend time together, laugh, stretch our brains and make memories.  Spending a day playing board games is the perfect staycation idea for families.

Board games can be expensive to buy brand new, but don’t let that deter you!  There are so many budget board games that are perfect for families check out my list of favorites here!  Instead of buying new you could borrow a few games from a friend, or buy some games from the thrift store (my fave place to purchase games).

  • Related:  How To Play Fish Bowl

3.  Have A Spa Day

The entire family can join in on an at home spa day.  Take some individual bubble baths, put on face masks, paint each other nails, and enjoy some R&R together as a family. 

If you are looking for a cheap way for at home salon quality nails, my daughter loves this gel nails system!

Want to spend a little extra money on your spa day?  Try a spa day out!  Take the family to a local spa and enjoy some pampering for the day!

4.  Learn A New Hobby

A staycation is the perfect time to learn a new hobby or work on perfecting one you already have!

You could use this time to take a cake decorating class, paint (my family loves to paint along with the Bob Ross YouTube Videos), learn to sew, sign up for a photography class, or anything else that sounds fun to you!

5.  Yard Games

I am such a sucker for yard games!  I love being outside with my family and yard games are the prefect way to make that happen.

One of my favorite things about yard games is that everyone can play.  I’m not atheltic….so I always feel a little odd when I join in a game of softball, however a yard game….now that is something I can participate in confidently!

A few of my favorite yard games are:

  • Croquet
  • Spikeball
  • Bocce Ball
  • LadderBall
  • Corn Hole

6.  Update A Room In Your House

Do you have a few house projects that you have been putting off?  Use your staycation free time to get those projects done!

Maybe you are wanting to redecorate a room, update a bathroom, or organize a closet.  It doesn’t matter if it’s big or small, just as long as it gets done!

7.  Put Together A Puzzle

Puzzles are a great way to relax and keep your mind sharp.  I love setting out a puzzle on our kitchen table for my family to work on during long weekends at home.  My favorite brand of puzzles are Dowdle!

8.  Get Some R&R

One of my favorite cheap staycation idea is to rest and relax!  The busy hustle and bustle of every day life can wear out anyone and everyone!  You might enjoy using your time off of work to get some much needed rest!  Spend the day in bed catching up on your sleep, there is no harm in that!

  • Related:  Free Self Care Ideas

9.  Backyard Campout

Have a campout in your own backyard.  You could lay out blankets right under the stars on your trampoline or a cot, or set up a tent with the kids.  

If you happen to have a backyard firepit, try making dinner over the fire.  We LOVE these tin foil dinners.  Trust me, they aren’t your typical tin foil dinner…they are SO much better!  Don’t forget to make the backyard campout extra special with some homemade smores!

10.  Make A Craft

Use your staycation time to make a craft, or two or three!

Here are a few fun crafting ideas for the whole family:

  • Wreath
  • Toilet Paper Roll Crafts
  • Christmas Ornament
  • String Art
  • Mason Jar Crafts
  • Bookmarks
  • Bath Bombs
  • Halloween Pumpkin Decoration

frugal staycation ideas for families - at home vacation ideas

 

Staycation Ideas You Can Do Around Your Town

There are so many fun activities you can do right in your own hometown!  It’s easy to get use to living in the same place, becoming consumed with the day to day life and forgetting to enjoy all the fun experiences right in front of you.

One thing that has helped our family participate in more activities within our hometown is by using out Get Out Pass.

The Get Out Pass is an annual subscription that lets you visit attractions in your area for free!  Last night my family went ax throwing, which is something we never would have tried without the Get Out Pass!  It was so much fun to try something new right in our own city!

When buying your pass be sure to use my coupon code: SWEETFRUGALLIFE (code currently only available for Idaho, Utah, North California, North Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Washington and Colorado passes) for the best discount on your pass (promise, it’s always cheaper than the current deal).

Many of the things I will mention below are places that are included in most Get Out Passes.  

1.  Tour Your City

Try being a tourist in your own town!  It doesn’t matter if you live in a big city or small town, there will always be something new to see or do!  

You could try a new walking path, go window shopping in a different part of town, or try a new restaurant.  Look at your city’s visitor website for ideas, or better yet. use the Get Out Pass to help you find new and fun things to do around town.

2.  Rent Scooters To Tour Your Town

Over the past few years my city has been acquiring more and more Bird Scooters for the community to use.  They are so much fun!  You just download the app onto your phone, scan the scooter you want to rent and enjoy it for as long as you want!  This could make for a very fun family staycation.

3.  Visit Your Local Library

My family all loves to read, so a visit to the library to get new books is always a highlight in our housel!  However, libraries offer SO much more than just books.  Many libraries will loan national park passes, baking pans, board games, movies, and more!

Use some time during your next frugal staycation to see what all your library has to offer!

  • Related:  10 Free Things At The Library

4.  Visit A Local Museum

Spend an afternoon at one of your local museums.  I just took my kids to the Idaho Potato Museum for free using our Get Out Passes.  It was small and quick, but fun to get out of the house and to learn more about our states famous potatoes.

  • Related:  Get Out Pass: An Honest Review

6.  Restaurant Tour

Are there some restaurants in your city that you’ve been wanting to try?  A family staycation is the perfect time to try them!  Use some of your budgeted money to take a little restaurant tour right in your town!  

Spend a day or two visiting some of the top local restaurants.  You could go out for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert…..or all of the above!  You might just find a new family favorite!

6.  Listen To Live Music

Many towns will have live music events throughout the week, especially during the summertime.  We love sitting outside on a summer evening listening to free live music.  Look on your city’s website to find any local live music events in your area.

7.  Go To A Sporting Event

If you have a sports team in your town, a fun staycation idea would be to go to one of their home games.  Sure, it might be a little pricy, depending on the league, but it’s much cheaper than a vacation out of the country!

Our Get Out Pass gives us a free pass to attend one minor league baseball game each year.  It makes attending sporting events much cheaper and we look forward to it every year.

8.  Have A Pool Day

My family insists that a pool must be apart of any sort of vacation….and I’m not arguing!

Consider adding a pool day to your frugal staycation plan!  Spending a day at the pool makes for a great family friendly staycation!  You could even pool hop, trying a different pool every day!  

9.  Attend A Paint Night

Check to see if your city has any paint studios.  These are so fun and make planning a paint night easy.  All you have to do is show up and then you’ll be taught how to paint a beautiful portrait!  It’s a fun night out with friends or family.

If you are looking for something even cheaper, consider an at home paint night!  We love these paint by number kits for at home paint nights.

10.  Go To The Theater

Get dressed up for the evening and head to a local theater to see a new play, concert or comedian.  Community theater can deliver some amazing shows and I love being able to support them whenever I can.

11.  Go To The Zoo or Aquarium

Visit the animals living in your city with a trip to the zoo or aquarium…or both!

If you happen to have a Get Out Pass, there’s a good chance they include a free visit to your local zoo and or aquarium.  We love using our passes each year to visit these attractions!

Don’t forget that if you purchase a Get Out Pass to use my code: SWEETFRUGALLIFE (code currently only available for Idaho, Utah, North California, North Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Washington and Colorado passes) for the cheapest price!

 

Fun Outdoor Staycation Activities For Families

Looking for some fun activities your family can do together in the great outdoors??  Check out some of the following ideas.

1.  Go On A Picnic

Pack up a picnic lunch and go spend the day outside.  You could picnic up in the mountains and take time exploring the forest.  Or, maybe you would prefer a picnic at the beach playing in the waves and soaking up the sun.  Another fun picnic place is a local park.  Make sure to pack a few frisbees and spend time playing together as a family.

2.  Go To The Beach

I do not live near a beach….but if I did it would be my first staycation activity!

Pack a beach bag full of food and sand toys and enjoy a beach day together as a family.  You might enjoy exploring a few different beaches, maybe a new beach each day of your staycation….or just stick to your favorite!  The joy of planning your staycation is that the choice is always yours!

3.  Go On A Bike Ride

If your family owns bikes, going on a few bike rides is the perfect cheap staycation idea.  Make a day out of it by packing a picnic and trying out a few new trails.

You could also rent some bikes if you don’t own any.  The bike rental shop should have some recommendations of good bike trails to try!  It’s always fun to try something new!

  • Related:  50 Fun Summer Activities For Kids

4.  Take A Day Trip

I love to see new places, so a fun day trip is right up my alley.  Try taking a day to explore a few nearby towns.  You can try out a few restaurants and enjoy some of the activities the town has to offer.

5.  Visit a U-Pick Farm

Take your family to a local U-Pick farm and enjoy the fresh grown produce.  After you are done picking, bring it home and, depending on what you picked, you can can it, freeze it, or make some homemade treats!

My family loves driving up the mountains every summer and picking huckleberries.  We always bring them home and make huckleberry pancakes for dinner!

  • Related:  Easy Huckleberry Muffin Recipe

6.  Have A Lake Day

Another cheap staycation idea is to enjoy a day with your family at the lake.  You could rent a few kayaks, pack a picnic and enjoy relaxing in nature!

7.  Go Hiking

Hiking is a great way to disconnect from life (including phones!) and spend time connecting with each other.  It gives you the time to talk, share stories, and make memories.  I love taking my family into nature to teach them a different way to relax and relieve stress.

8.  Spend A Day At A National Park

I’ve lived within 2 hours of Yellowstone National Park for the majority of my life…..but I am embarrassed to admit that I don’t go to the park as often as I should.

If you are like me and live within driving distance of a National Park you might enjoy using your staycation time to finally go enjoy it for all it’s glory.

National Parks allow free entry to everyone about 4 days each year.  They also have a pass for 4th graders to get in free.  Make sure to look up details about both of these awesome opportunities to make your cheap staycation even better!

9.  Play Your Favorite Sport

My family loves going outside and playing a sport together.  Honestly, none of us are all that athletic, but we just enjoy being active and having fun together.  

We love to play about anything!  But our favorites are soccer, baseball and kickball.

Playing a sport together as a family is the perfect cheap staycation idea.

10.  Go Bird Watching

Help your kids learn more about birds through a bird watching activity.  Get a bird watchers book for the library, or this one from Amazon and learn all about birds!

Afterwards you could come home and play my favorite boardgame, Wingspan.  It will add to the bird watching theme day!

 

Nothing Wrong With Cheap Staycations

I want to stress that there is nothing wrong with taking your kids on a staycation.  I know that the flashy vacations you see on instagram look like the ideal family time….and those are great!  But really, the most important things is spending time together as a family.

Don’t feel guilty if all you can afford is a budget friendly staycation….feel proud that you are taking the time to plan special memories for your kids.

 

 

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I hope your family enjoys these cheap staycation ideas!

How To Play Fish Bowl

July 16, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life12 Comments

Check Out This Fun Party Game For Large Groups!

Anyone else love playing party games?  Games are one of my favorite activities.  I love to laugh, get competitive, and enjoy time with friends and family all while playing a game together.  One of my favorite group games is called Fish Bowl.  This game is the perfect mix of Charades, Password and Taboo.  I’m excited to share with you exactly How To Play Fish Bowl so you can enjoy it at your next party!  

 

How To Play Fish Bowl

Fish Bowl is a really easy game to learn and play.  I’ve played it in many different groups and it has always been a hit.  The perfect game for a group of mixed personalities!

 

1.  Gather Supplies

One of the reasons why I love this game so much is because it’s so easy to prepare.  You do need to gather a few supplies, but you probably already have them in your house.  To play Fish Bowl you will need:

  • Blank White Paper
  • Scissors
  • Pens/Pencils
  • Bowl (this can be an actual fishbowl, but is not necessary to play)
  • Timer (I just use the one on my phone)

 

2.  Prepare The Fish Bowl

Now that you have your supplies, it’s time to prepare the “fish bowl.”  The original game was meant to be played using an actual fishbowl, but any bowl will work just fine.  Use whatever you have at home!

Cut your white papers into thin strips, they need to be big enough for players to write a word or phrase on.  Each player will need three strips of paper.  Once you have your strips of paper of cut, pass three to everyone playing.

Ask each person to write a noun on each one of their paper strips.  For example you could write, “pine tree”, “Santa Clause” or “rollerblades.”  You can make these words as vague or familiar as possible, but keeping mind that you want your team to be able to guess the word you wrote down.

Fold each of the papers in half and place them into the bowl.

 

3.  Split Into Teams

It’s now time to split into teams!  You will need two teams for this game, each with an equal amount of players in them.  I call the teams, Team A and Team B (so creative, I know 😉 ).  You can call the teams whatever you would like!

Have everyone sit in a circle, with teams sitting every other person.  So, players will sit: Team A, Team B, Team A, Team B, etc.

 

4. Round 1:  Taboo

Now, for the fun part!  Let’s learn how to play Fish Bowl!  This game is separated into three rounds.  Each round is played similar, but with a different twist.  The first round is the Taboo round.

Choose one person from Team A to start the round.  Give that player the bowl containing the paper strips and set the timer to 60 seconds.

Once the timer begins the player will pull a strip of paper from the bowl and describe the word on their paper while trying to get their team to guess it. first player will pull a strip of paper from the bowl and describe the word trying to get their team to guess it.  They can not say any part of the secret  word, or use any gestures.  So, if the word is, “Blanket” they can not say the word “blank” when giving the clue.  Instead they might give clues like, “something warm on your bed.”

Once the team guesses the word on the strip, set it aside and draw out another strip from the bowl.  Keep trying to get your team to guess as many words as you can before the timer goes off.

After the 60 seconds are done that player keeps the strips of papers their team guessed correctly, and then passes the bowl to the next player, who should be on Team B.

Play continues in this order until all words in the bowl have been guessed.

Once the round is over, have each team add up the amount of papers their team guessed correctly.  Each paper is worth one point for the team.

Fold the papers in half again and then place them back into the bowl.  It’s time for round 2!

 

5.  Round 2:  Password

The second round of the Fish Bowl game is the Password round.  Play continues similar to round 1, where each team takes turns trying to get their teammates to guess as many words as they can within the 60 second time limit.

However, this round you can only give a one word clue to describe the word on your paper.  For example, if the word is “blanket” you might give the one word clue of “bed.”  It really helps to try to remember the clues that were given in the first round and try to give your one word clue based off of the first round clues.

Let Team B start this round since Team A started the first round.

Once all of the papers have been guessed correctly, add up how many words each team guessed correctly and add it to your score.

Fold the papers in half and place them back into the bowl for the last round.

6.  Round 3:  Charades

The final round is the charades round (my favorite!).  Keep playing using the same routine as round 1 and round 1; passing the bowl around the circle and taking 60 second turns trying to get your team to guess the words in the bowl.

Only this time, you can’t say any words when trying to get your team to guess.  You can only use gestures to act out the clue.  So, if my word was “blanket” I would maybe act out getting into bed and pulling a blanket on me.

After all of the words in the bowl have been guessed add up the scores for each team one more time.

Whichever team has the most points at the end of the game wins!

 

In Conclusion

The fish bowl party game is so much fun.  It’s a great ice breaker to use at a youth activity or party.  I love teaching this game to new people, because everyone who plays it enjoys it!  Fish bowl is a game for all personalities and interests.

Try this game at your next get together, you will not regret it!!  Before long you’ll be teaching everyone else how to play fish bowl!

 

Related Articles:

Fun activities to do at home

25 Completely Free Family Winter Activities

 

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I hope this helped you understand how to play fish bowl!

Free Things To Do In Salt Lake City

May 13, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Check out this list of all the free things to do in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Planning a trip to Salt Lake City, Utah?  You will not be disappointed by all this beautiful city has to offer.  Nestled right below the mountains is the beautiful metropolis of Salt Lake City with tons of free fun.  From outdoor activities to nightlife to tons of family friendly activities you will find something for everyone.  Check out my list of 26 free things to do in Salt Lake City.

Historical Buildings

Utah is full of rich history.  It was settled by LDS pioneers in a search for religious freedom.  Many of their original buildings have been preserved for tours and are open to the public.

1.  Historic Temple Square

Salt Lake City’s most popular attraction is the Historic Temple Square.  This is the headquarters for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and sits on 10 acres of ground and includes two visitor centers, a history museum, historic buildings and beautiful gardens.

All of the attractions are free and most are open to the public.  There are free tours available throughout the day, but you are also welcome to walk through the grounds and tour them yourself.  The buildings and gardens are all beautiful.  During the winter months temple square is decked out in beautiful Christmas lights making for a fun evening out.

2.  Utah State Capitol

Another beautiful historical building to visit is the Utah State Capitol.  It sits up in the hills overlooking the city.  The Utah State Capitol was built in 1916 out of beautiful granite and marble.  If you enjoy historical buildings, this is a don’t miss!  Enjoy a free self guided tour seven days a week using one of these free brochures.

3.  Beehive House

One of my favorite historical building to tour in Salt Lake City is the Beehive House.  This was the home of Brigham Young, who was the first governor of the Utah Territory, and was built in 1854.  The home is well restored with artifacts, beautiful wood work and history.  Free tours of the Beehive House are available Monday through Friday.

4.  Governors Mansion

If you enjoy historical buildings you will love touring the Governors Mansion.  This home was built in 1903 and is absolutely stunning.  Free self guided tours are available through the Preservation Utah website.  

5.  Joseph Smith Memorial Building

The Joseph Smith Memorial Building was originally built in 1911 as a luxury hotel.  It has since been converted to office and event space.  Anyone is welcome to come walk through this beautiful historic building and enjoy the marble columns, grand staircase, and beautiful rooms.

6.  Cathedral Of The Madeleine

Another must stop while in Salt Lake City is the Cathedral of the Madeleine.  This incredible cathedral was built in 1909 and boasts a gothic interior, complete with gargoyles and murals.  It truly is a beautiful sight!

7.  Benson Grist Mill

The Benson Grist Mill is an impressive mill that was built in 1854 and later restored.  A visit to the mill will give insight into how the early pioneers made their flour.  In addition to the mill you will find other pioneer buildings and homes for a peek into pioneer life.  It is located about 30 minutes west of Salt Lake City and tours are free.

 

Museums

You can find a big selection of free museums available in the Salt Lake City area.  There is something for everyone, you will find museums about history, art, science and more.  They make for a great educational and fun afternoon for the whole family.

8.  Clark Planetarium

Clark Planetarium is a must stop in Salt Lake City if you have kids.  We spent hours here the last time we went and I couldn’t believe it was all FREE!  This museum hosts many interactive exhibits teaching about earth and space.  It is kid friendly and so much fun for all ages.

9.  Pioneer Memorial Museum

After enjoying the state capitol building head over to the Pioneer Memorial Museum just across the street.  Here you will be treated to hundreds of pioneer artifacts that were brought across the country when settling Utah.  Entry into the museum is completely free.

10.  Utah Museum of Contemporary Art

If you are an art lover you must stop by the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art.  Located in downtown Salt Lake, the Utah MOCA houses contemporary art with pieces and exhibit that rotate throughout the year.  It’s completely free to enter and a great visit!

11.  Hill Aerospace Museum

The Hill Aerospace Museum is located 30 minutes north of Salt Lake City, but is worth the drive if you enjoy military equipment.  This museum houses more than 90 exhibits featuring military aircraft and vehicles.

12.  Bean Museum

If you travel 45 minutes south of Salt Lake City you will find the campus of BYU in Provo, Utah.  BYU offers a few free museums to enjoy.  The Bean Museum is one of our favorites.

This national history museum displays life like exhibits of both plants and animals.  This is a great educational experience for kids and adults.

13.  BYU Museum of Paleontology

 After enjoying the bean museum, head over to the BYU Museum of Paleontology.  Here you will find numerous dinosaur fossils and exhibits, we especially enjoyed the triceratops head.  Our favorite part of this museum was the window where we could watch real paleontologists dusting off fossils.  It was really fun to see the actual work being done to bring these fossils to life.

14.  BYU Museum of Art

The third museum I recommend visiting while in Provo is the free BYU Museum of Art.  This isn’t a huge museum, but it is free and rotates exhibits throughout the year so there is always something new to see and enjoy.

15.  Fort Douglas Military Museum

Another great military museum to visit is the Fort Douglas Military Museum.  This fort was built in 1862 to house US soldiers that were sent to monitor what was happening in the Utah Territory.

This fort has been turned into a free museum and has displays of military memorabilia, tanks, helicopters and more.

 

Outdoor Activities

Utah is known for their great outdoors.  There are so many beautiful sights to see and experience in the Salt Lake City area.

16.  City Creek

City Creek is a unique outdoor mall located right in downtown Salt Lake.  You don’t even need to shop the high end retailers to enjoy this fun area.  It has fountains, streams stocked with live fish, and beautiful architecture.  City Creek is so fun to walk around, relax and people watch.

17.  Gilgal Sculpture Garden

Hidden in a residential neighborhood you will find the Gilgal Sculpture Garden.  This garden is open to the public and contains a 12 large sculptures and over 70 engraved stones all crafted by Thomas Battersby Child Jr. during the mid century.  Not many people know about this garden and it is a fun hidden surprise.

18.  International Peace Garden

Make sure your visit to Salt Lake City includes a stop at the International Peace Garden located on the Jordan River.  It features different exhibits highlighting 29 different nations.  When visiting this park you will be able to visit areas focused on Japan, Wales, Finland, and more.

19.  Wheeler Farm

One of our favorite free things to do in Salt Lake City with kids is to visit Wheeler Farm.  This is a working farm, but open to the public.  It has animals to pet, a farm house, a wooded area with trails and many fun things to see, all on 75 acres of land.  Wheeler Farm is a great way to spend an afternoon, pet the animals, and have a picnic.

It is completely free to visit the farm, but there are other activities available for a small fee, including a wagon ride and a tour of the farmhouse.

20.  Ensign Peak

If you enjoy hiking you might love hiking Ensign Peak for great views of the Salt Lake Valley.  This is a popular hike in Utah located near the state capitol building.  The Ensign Peak hike is less than a mile long, but very steep.  It’s doable for all hiking levels, but is definitely not easy.

21.  Snowbird Observation Point Trail

If you are looking for an easier paved trail be sure check out the Snowbird Observation Point Trail.  This family friendly trail is located from the third floor of the Snowbird Center.  The trail is only a half mile long and ends with an incredible view.

22.  Splash Pads

During the summer months you will find multiple free splash pads open around the city.  These are the perfect way to cool down with the kids on a hot day.

Be sure to check out these fun splash pads:  Ellison Park, Legacy Regional Park, Liberty Park, The Gateway, and Oquirrh Shadows Park.

23.  Swim In The Great Salt Lake

Swimming in the Great Salt Lake can be such a fun experience, because of the huge amount of salt this is not like swimming in your typical lake.

If this is something you want to try for yourself, make sure to read Fly By The Seat Of Her Pants article here all about their swimming experience in the Great Salt Lake.

24.  Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve

Another great outdoor excursion for families is to visit the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve.  This preserve has over 4 million birds visit each year, including 250 different species.  It’s a great outing for bird lovers.  Enjoy a walk along the 1.3 mile boardwalk loop while observing the wetlands and wildlife.

 

Other Fun Sites

You might also enjoy one of these other fun activities in SLC.

25.  Salt Lake City Library

The Salt Lake City Library offers more than just books.  It truly is a stunning architectural masterpiece and even has rooftop garden and secret staircase (let me know if you find it!).

26.  Utah Olympic Park

Utah’s Olympic Park was built for the 2002 Olympic Games and is now used as an Olympic training facility.  It is such a neat place to visit and get a taste of what the athletes experience when training for the Olympic games.

There are many things to do here, some cost money, but some are available for free!  First, you can enjoy two free museums.  One of them has memorabilia from the Utah Winter Olympics and the other museum has a lot of hands on activities teaching about skiing in Utah. 

My favorite free activity at the Olympic Park is watching the athletes train.  On many days you will be able to see both skeleton athletes and freestyle aerialists training.  I especially oved watching the aerialists flip into the pool.

 

So Many Free Family Friendly Activities

There are so many free things to do and see while in Salt Lake City.  Is there anything I forgot to add to my list?  Let me know in the comments!

 

Related Articles:

  • Kauai on a Budget
  • 20 Things To Do In New York City For Free
  • 50 Fun Summer Activities For Kids

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I hope you enjoyed this list of free things to do in Salt Lake City.

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This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT