13 Family Recreational Activities That Cost Very Little

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You and your family want to spend some time together outside the house. You want to do some recreational activities, but the cost isn’t affordable.  What sports and activities can you do with your family that are affordable and fun?

There are many recreational activities that you can do with your family at a very cost-friendly price. You can go fishing, hiking, or cycling! Keep reading to discover 12 cost-friendly recreational activities you can do with your family.

A family walking together

1. Hiking

If you live near the mountains or in a forest, you can put on your tennis shoes and go for a hike! Hiking is a great outdoor activity that gives you a breath of fresh air and some exercise too! Discover the beauty of nature around you for little to no cost. All you need are comfortable walking shoes, a bottle of water, and a packed lunch! Then you can head out to the nearest trail by yourself.

2. Bike Rides

If you have a bike, you and your family can explore! Whether your bike through the neighborhood, a nature center, or a woodland trail, biking is the perfect low-cost activity to get you and your family out of the house. If you don’t own a bike, look for rent-a-bike options in your local community, as you can usually rent one for 10-30 dollars a day.

3. Fishing

Getting outside and interacting with nature is beneficial for the whole family. Take your family fishing if you live near a local pond, park, or lake! This recreational activity is relaxing yet fun at the same time. All you need is a cheap fishing rod and reel, some hooks, and bait. All of this generally costs less than 10 dollars, and If you don’t have a fishing rod, you can create your own out of a stick and some string. To keep it cost-effective, avoid buying the bait by using pantry items that you may have at home, like corn, bread, and lunchmeat! Fishing isn’t hard to learn once you get the basics down I promise your family will be hooked for years.

4. Frisbee

Frisbee is a fun sport that the whole family can enjoy! If you don’t have a frisbee, you can purchase it at any sports store for less than $15. Then you can go to any local park, stay home in your yard, and throw it around with your family. If you’re lucky, the park will even have disc golf! You can try to see who can throw the frisbee to the net in the least amount of tries! Whether or not there are designated goals, you can play various games with a frisbee. You just have to be creative!

Kid throwing a frisbee

5. Walking

If you are looking for a cost-free activity, walking is perfect! You can walk in any area to get some fresh air and exercise. You can walk in your neighborhood, at the park, in the city, and see what nature holds! If you’re in the city, you can take a walk and go window shopping. If you go to the park, pack a lunch and a blanket and have a picnic! Walking is the perfect activity for a day when you have nothing to do but want to get outdoors and spend time with your family.

6. Stargazing

If you’re looking for a memorable family activity, go out into the wild and watch the stars! All you need is an area free from light pollution, a blanket, and some snacks. See how many shooting stars you see, or identify the constellations! If you don’t know any constellations, download the free app Sky View to make your stargazing night an even more memorable moment.

7. Camping

If you have a tent, then have a family camping night! You can go to a local campsite or find a park that allows camping for free. If neither option is available, you can camp in your backyard!  Camping is fun for the entire family.  Pack your favorite games, snacks, and drinks, and enjoy the sounds of nature while you sleep. If there’s not too much light, you can even stargaze! If you don’t own a tent but still want to go camping, try to make your own in your backyard with some blankets, chairs, and sticks! Creating a tent is also a great family activity, even if it doesn’t turn out as planned.

Family camping

8. Go To The Beach

Going to the beach is an excellent option if you want to spend time with your family! Pack your sunscreen, towels, drinks, and snacks, and spend the entire day at the beach! The beach is always a great activity to share with your family, regardless of age. Plus, there are various activities you can do while you’re there such as swimming, playing in the sand, looking for shells, sunbathing and even volleyball! Click here for 25 Beach Safety Tips for a Fun Day at the Beach

9. Geocaching

If you or your family love technology, you should go geocaching! Geocaching will get you out of the house, exploring your local parks for items people have hidden at a particular location. Create an account on geocaching.com. Then download the app to start geocaching! You never know what you will find!

10. Scavenger Hunt

Like geocaching, scavenger hunts make you explore your neighborhood or city for no cost! To start, think of some clues or download them from the internet. Then have each family member look for these clues and take a picture. The first person with all the correct images wins! Some examples of scavenger hunt clues are something that barks, an item that is 99 cents, the funniest thing you can find, or a unique building in your community! Scavenger hunts are an exciting interactive activity that can take place in your neighborhood, in nature, or even at your house!

11. Visit the Farmers Market

Another activity you can do as a family is visiting the local farmers’ market. You can smell the flowers and freshly cooked pastries. You can listen to community members’ stories and try different foods. You can explore other recipes and try them at home! Sometimes farmer’s markets even have live music, crafts, and dancing, making it the perfect activity for family day.

Vegetables for sale

12. Family Game Night

If you are looking for an activity to do at home, try a family game night! All you need is a pair of cards, and your options are endless! You can play war, rummy, crazy eights, euchre, poker, gin, etc.! If you don’t know how to play, you can look up the instructions online. You can also play games without cards such as charades, Pictionary, and Scattegories! You don’t need to purchase these games, as you can find various templates and ideas online.

13. Recreational Centers

Joining a community rec center has many perks that go beyond just playing sports. They offer so many ways to keep you and your family fit throughout the years plus build friendships along the way. although some of the sports they offer might be pricey for some they do offer other sporting options that cater to everyone. Click here for Fun, Fitness, and Friendship: The Best 8 Social Sports To Try

Conclusion

There are dozens of unique activities you can do with your family. The options are endless, from walking in the park to camping to scavenger hunts to game nights! Spend time with your family by being creative and spending days outside in the fresh air.

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