free family activities Archives

Get Out Pass: An Honest Review

August 4, 2025 By: Sweet Frugal Life13 Comments

Is Get Out Pass worth it? I think so!

Well, it’s official! I’ve been using the Get Out Pass app for over three years now, and I have loved every minute of it! Our entire family has been loving getting to enjoy activities we normally wouldn’t be able to afford, without having to pay for them each time we go! I can’t wait to share this honest Get Out Pass review with you!

Sweet Frugal Life is an affiliate with Get Out Pass and this article contains affiliate codes. I will be compensated from purchases made using the links/codes in this article.

What Is The Get Out Pass App?

The Get Out Pass is an subscription based app that gives you free access to multiple local venues and fun activities. All you have to do is pay a one time yearly fee. The amount of activities you get for the money you pay is a GREAT value. We get our moneys worth with just one trip to the amusement park….and then we get so much more beyond that.

This is the perfect way to explore activities around your community, without having to pay tons of money. My family has experienced more fun activities in the past year with the Get Out Pass, then we have in the 12 years of living here.

How Does The Get Out Pass Work?

Using the Get Out Pass is so easy! First, sign up for your pass online here. Make sure to use my discount code: SWEETFRUGALLIFE to get a percentage off of your yearly pass. Here’s an insiders hint: my code will ALWAYS be cheaper then the websites sale price…..you’re welcome!

You will sign up for your Get Out Pass based on your location. For example, I live in Idaho, so I have the Idaho Get Out Pass.

After you are all signed up and paid your one time yearly fee, download the Get Out Pass app onto your phone and sign into your newly created account.

Now, all you have left to do is browse the participating attractions available in your area and choose which one you want to visit!

Once you select a venue to visit, drive to that attraction and show the Get Out Pass app to the ticket attendant!

And that’s it! The staff member will let you inside, free of charge!

*Make sure to read the fine print of each venue before attempting to redeem your pass. Some attractions have specific days that they can be used and others can only be used a certain number of times throughout the year.

Who Is The Get Out Pass For?

The Get Out Pass is for everyone! It’s perfect for:

Families on a budget
Couples needing new date night ideas
Someone who likes trying new things

I also highly recommend giving the pass as a gift for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, or just for fun! How fun to give the gift of experiences! They will love it!

What Locations Are Available?

Not all locations are available for the Get Out Pass. Currently you can get a Get Out Pass in these areas:

Arizona
Arkansas
California – Central Valley
California – North
California – Southern
Colorado
Florida – North
Florida – South
Florida – Central
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Kansas City
Kentucky
Las Vegas
Maryland/Washington D.C.
Nebraska
New England
Nevada – Las Vegas
New England
New Jersey/Philadelphia
New Mexico/West Texas
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh
St.Louis
Tennessee
Texas – Dallas/Fort Worth
Texas-Houston
Texas – San Antonio/Austin
Utah
Washington

How Much Does The Get Out Pass Cost?

The yearly cost of Get Out Pass will vary based on your specific location, however most prices are between $50-$150 per person/per year. Which, when you consider the amount of attractions available to you with the pass, this is a fantastic deal! If you would to pay for each of the attractions offered, the cost would be so much greater than this deal.

When buying your pass be sure to use my coupon code: SWEETFRUGALLIFE for the best discount on your pass.

What Attractions Are Included?

There are so many fun venues available to you with the Get Out Pass. Our family has loved getting to try some new places that I normally wouldn’t spend money on.

Every location will have different venues, but here are a few that we get with the Idaho Get Out Pass:

Lagoon (YES! Lagoon, an amusement park in Utah is on the Idaho Get Out Pass!)
Aquarium
Art Museum
Yellowstone Bear World
Archery Range
Aquatic Center Swimming Pool
Zoo
Ice Skating Rink
Roller Skating
Axe Throwing
Chukars Baseball Game
Round of Golf
Gravity Factory Trampoline Park
I-Jump Trampoline Park
Glow Golf
Museum of Natural History
Escape Room
Indoor Shooting Range
Rock Climbing Gym
Arcade
Pickleball Club
Ski Resort
Roaring Springs Water Park
Bowling
Hot Springs

There really is something for EVERYONE!

Get Out Pass Pros:

There are so many things I love about my Get Out Pass, but here are a few of my favorites:

The app is very user friendly and easy to use. Whenever we want to have a family outing, I can just open up the app and scroll until I find the perfect activity.
Getting to experience new places. I love that we have tried new things, like axe throwing, that I normally wouldn’t spend money on.
More quality time spent together with my family. We’ve loved being able to build more family memories!
It’s budget friendly! If I would pay for each of the activities separately it would cost so much more money then buying the subscription pass.

Get Out Pass Cons:

I promised an honest review, and I’m going to deliver. Here are a couple of things that I don’t like about the Get Out Pass:

Not all attractions are available daily. Many of the venues aren’t available for weekend use, which can make it difficult for my busy family at times, as we prefer weekends.
Some of the venues only allow you to use it for a short time. Most of the attractions available let you in for the full experience. But, I was disappointed to see that my local trampoline park only offered a free 15 minute jump session, when an hour long is the norm. 15 minutes is just not long enough to fully enjoy the experience.

In Summary

All in all the pros of the Get Out Pass highly outweigh the cons. Our family has had the best time using our passes this year, and I can’t wait to renew them for next year!

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Don’t Forget To Pin This Article For Future Reference:

Review of the Idaho Get Out Pass.

How To Play Town Council – Fun Party Game For All Ages

January 24, 2024 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Town Council Group Game Instructions

The holidays recently ended, and I love looking back and reminiscing at all of the fun we had. We were able to get together with family multiple times, played games, ate good food, and laughed a lot. I’m so grateful for anything that give us an excuse/reason to get together with the people most important to us. One of my families favorite things to do when we get together is play games. Today I want to share with you how to play one of our favorite party games for all ages called Town Council.

We love playing Town Council because it’s fun, quick to play, easy to learn, and fun for all ages. Plus, you will need very minimal prep or supplies. It is really the perfect big group game.

What is Town Council?

The premise of Town Council is simple really. Your goal will be to collect all the other players onto your council. This is done by correctly guessing their previously chosen fake name. The first person to collect all players wins the game.

It usually takes between 10-20 minutes to complete the game.

Town Council Group Game Set Up

To set up this fun party game for all ages you will need just two supplies:

Small strip of blank paper for each player (scratch paper works great!)
Pen/pencils

That’s it!

Before the game begins pass one strip of paper to each player. Ask them to write a name onto the paper. This can be any name: it could be a celebrity, a friend, a cartoon character, or a random name. There is no rule!

Once every person has written down a name ask them to fold their paper in half one time and put it into a bowl.

Related: How To Play Fish Bowl

How To Play Town Council

Now that all of the slips of paper have been put into the bowl, nominate someone to be the “Mayor”. The mayor will pull out each of the papers and read them one at a time to the group. While the names are being read the rest of the players will need to listen closely to each of the names and try to remember as many of the names as they can.

The names will only be read one time, so everyone should pay close attention.

After all of the games have been read the game can begin!

Sitting in a circle, take turns having each person guess who wrote down each name. If you guess someone’s name correctly then they will come sit by you and join your “Town Council”. You now work together as a council of two.

Play continues until one player has all of the other players on his council.

If you are able to guess someone else’s council of multiple players, then you get the entire team to join your council. It can be wise strategy to guess the large councils to help your team grow quickly.

Example Game

Here is a sample game to help you understand the process.

Let’s say there are 6 people playing Town Council: Jessica, Jordan, Claire, Kelly, Greg and Luke.

Jessica goes first and asks Claire: “Are you Bugs Bunny?” Claire did not write down Bugs Bunny so she replies, “No.”

Next it is Jordans turn, Jordan asks Jessica, “Are you George Washington?” Jessica did write down George Washington, so she replies, “Yes.” Jessica now sits by Jordan and joins his council. They can now work together to guess the rest of the group.

Now it is Claires turn. She asks Greg, “Are you Bugs Bunny?” Greg wrote down Bugs Bunny so he replies with, “Yes.” He now goes and joins Claires council.

Kelly goes next. He asks Jordan, “Are you Lebron James?” Jordan replies “No.”

Luke asks Jordan, “Are you Lizzie McGuire?” Jordan replies “Yes.” Now Jordan and Jessica goes and joins Luke’s Council.

Play continues again around the circle. This game is all about memory, make sure to pay attention while players are guessing so that you can remember who says no and yes to each of the names.

Claire asks Luke, “Are you Walt Disney?” Luke replies, “No.”

Next Kelly asks Claire, “Are you Dwight Schrute?” Claire is Dwight Schrute so says, “Yes.” Claire and Greg join Kellys Town Council.

Right now the Town Councils are:
- Kelly, Claire and Greg
- Luke, Jordan and Jessica
Kelly and Luke are the Town Council leaders and try to guess each others name. The first person to guess correctly will collect the rest of the players in the game and win the game.

Luke asks Kelly, “Are you Walt Disney?” Kelly is Walt Disney, so Luke inherits his council and wins the game. Yay!

Related: Best Family Games Under $20

Town Council Rules and Tips

Here are a few tips and rules to remember while playing this party game for all ages:

You are not allowed to ask someone if they are the name that you wrote down. It is always tempting to use this strategy to “throw them off your scent” but it is against the rules.
As your council grows you are allowed to work together as a team to remember everyone’s names, but only the leader of the council asks the questions.
When the mayor is reading the names don’t make any sounds, jokes or remarks about the names being read. Try to stay as neutral and quiet as possible. The more comments made about a name the more the group will remember that name, and you don’t want to help anyone else remember the names.

Have Fun!

Town Council is such a fun group game to play! It truly is the perfect party game for all ages. I hope that it will become a favorite game for you to play with your family and friends for years to come.

Pin For Later:

I hope your family has fun playing town council, the perfect party game for all ages.

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!