Here are some summer family activities around Central Florida that are free or pretty close to it. So get out and enjoy our amazing community.
Summer Fun Days at Bok Tower
Wawa is providing complimentary admission to
Bok Tower Gardens on the first Thursday and Friday of the month now through September
Bowling
Aloma Bowling Alleys
(Aloma Bowling Center, Boardwalk Bowl, Airport Lanes) is offering two free games of bowling all summer long for kids. As a heads up, you will have to open up your wallet for shoe rentals and food for a mid-game snack.
Enjoy the Movies
The Regal Summer Movie Express offers $1 kid movies on Tuesdays & Wednesday all summer long at Regal Cinemas. Although is it even possible to enjoy a movie without popcorn? We think not, so budget for a snack bar visit beforehand.
Head to the Beach
While Florida is home to so many beautiful beaches, Cape Canaveral’s Jetty Park is one of the best for families. It will cost you $15 to get in, but for that you get plenty of parking, tidy bathrooms and a store (in case you forgot something!), not to mention a playground and awesome fishing pier. If you hit it at the right time, you may be able to wave out the cruise ships as they leave or arrive to port.
Ride Bikes
Lucky for bicycle enthusiasts, there are a ton of great paved trails to explore around Orlando. The Cross Seminole Trail has a selfie-worthy stop where you can play in a beautiful beach area at Howell Creek Bridge Trestle. Or, if you live on the other side of town, there’s the West Orange Trail that goes right through the center of Historic Downtown Winter Garden, making it a perfect place for a refreshment pit stop.
The Library
Quite possibly the last great bastion of ‘free,’ your local library offers free classes, workshops, both on-site and take-home activities for kids and so much more. And did we mention the thousands of books on every subject imaginable?
Local Parks & Nature Preserves
Explore what our beautiful community has to offer. With great parks 7 nature preserves around every corner you can get outdoors and explore.
In addition to serving as a terminus for the West Orange Trail, the Winter Garden area has numerous nature preserves. Of particular note is the Tibet-Butler Preserve, which features 438 acres of pristine wilderness that encompasses many bodies of water in the Butler Chain of Lakes, officially recognized by the state as Outstanding Florida Waters.
About 35 minutes east of our tourism districts, Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area is another local nature preserve worth visiting. Named for a spectacular, 200-year-old live oak tree that survived after being split down the middle, Split Oak features a mixture of trails and unpaved roads through diverse wildlife habitats, including the 5.3-mile North/South Trail.
About an hour and a half north of our tourism districts, Ocala National Forest is home to the world’s largest contiguous sand pine scrub forest. You can enjoy activities such as swimming, picnicking, fishing and even hunting, although you’ll need a permit for the latter. And 25 minutes east of downtown, the 80-acre University of Central Florida Arboretum offers biking and self-guided tours through more than 600 plant species.
Call or text 855-780-9986 or submit our Consultation Request form today
