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25 budget friendly boredom busters

Find more things to do

By Sarah Buehrle, Contributing Writer Updated 4:53 PM Monday, July 12, 2010

No-cost activities

1. County, city and township parks, playgrounds, spraygrounds

2. Storytimes and craft times, public libraries

3. Storytimes at local book stores

4. Free kids bowling. For free bowling passes, visit kidsbowlfree.com.

5. Free Family Film Festival, 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays through Aug. 11, Regal Cinemas, Deerfield Towne Centre Stadium 16, 5500 Deerfield Blvd., Mason, (513) 770-3186

6. Free Family Film Festival, 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays through Aug. 11, Regal Cinemas, Fairfield Commons Stadium 20, 2651 Fairfield Commons Boulevard, Beavercreek, (937) 429-3456

7. Rave Family Fun Film Festival, 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays through July 28, Rave Motion Pictures, The Greene, Beavercreek, (937) 429-4130, 51 Plum St.

8. Family Movie Nights, 8:45 to 10:45 p.m. July 16, Aug. 20 and Sept. 17, West Chester Keehner Park, (513) 777-1133

9. Movies in the Park, at dusk Aug. 6, Sept. 3 and Oct. 1, preshow entertainment, Fairfield Village Green Park, 411 Wessel Drive, Fairfield, (513) 867-5348

10. Family Movie Nights, The Greene, 51 Plum St., Beavercreek, in the town square at dusk July 18 and Aug. 15

11. Taft Museum in Cincinnati: Free admission on Sundays to the permanent collection and special exhibitions, with a variety of free programs, including docent-led tours, concerts, and 3rd Sunday Fundays

12. Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Fort Ancient Archeological Park and SunWatch Indian Village and Archeological Park, all offer free admission to military families through Labor Day.

13. National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, 1100 Spaatz St., free daily.

14. Explore local Native American culture and history from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 7, as both SunWatch Indian Village and Fort Ancient archeological parks host free community open houses, hands-on activities. SunWatch Indian Village, 2301 W. River Road, Dayton, (937) 268-8199; Fort Ancient, 6123 Ohio 350, Oregonia, (513) 932–4421.

15. Free summer festivals, including July’s Dayton Celtic Festival, August’s Dayton African American Cultural Festival.

16. Home Depot’s Kids Workshops, 9 a.m. to noon, first Saturday of the month, all Home Depot Stores. Projects include tool boxes, periscopes and school pencil organizers. In addition, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron and an achievement pin.

17. Lowe’s Build And Grow Program, 10 a.m., second and fourth Saturday day of the month at all Lowe’s stores, build a free wooden project. Registration not required, but space is limited. Each participant also receives a free apron, goggles, a project-themed patch.

18. Dayton Art Institute, free general admission (some charges for special exhibits), The Experiencenter offers learning and recreational activities for children and their families, 456 Belmonte Park North, Dayton, (937) 223-5277

19. Indoor playgrounds for small children including climbing and kiosks. Dayton Mall, 2700 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Dayton, (937) 433-9834; Mall at Fairfield Commons, 2727 Fairfield Commons, Beavercreek, (937) 427-4300; Cincinnati Mall, 600 Cincinnati Mills Drive, Cincinnati, (513) 346-3300

20. Krohn Conservatory, free admission daily, 1501 Eden Park Drive in Eden Park, Cincinnati, (513) 421.5707

Almost free

21. Washington Twp. Recreation Center, walk-in rates: youths and seniors $2 for residents, $4 for nonresidents, 18 and older $4 for residents, $8 for nonresidents, free for children 2 and younger.

22. Vandalia Recreation Center Indoor Water Park, pool, slides, tidal pool and more. Walk-in rates: Free for children 4 and younger with paid adult, $7 for adults, $5 for children 5 and older, 1111 Stonequarry Road, Dayton (937) 415-2340

Worth the price of admission, moms say

23. Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, annual family membership starts at $79. See www.boonshoftmuseum.org for daily rates. 2600 Deweese Parkway, Dayton, (937) 275-7431

24. Great Wolf Lodge, regular rates, rooms start at $299 a night, includes water park passes, 2501 Great Wolf Drive, Mason, (513) 459-8885, www.greatwolf.com.

25. Kings Island, individual season passes start at $74.99, Kings Island Drive, Mason, (513) 754-5700. See www.visitkingsisland.com for daily rates.

Source: Complied from the WHIO calendar, local municipality websites, The Family Network’s Family Fun Guide

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