Looking for Suggestions on Free Activities

Updated on September 22, 2009
K.W. asks from Evansville, IN
8 answers

I just recently lost my job and money is really tight. We are looking for something to do on the weekends that would be free. I have a 2 and 1/2 year old and a 1 1/2 year old that I would love to get them out of the house, but we don't have a lot of money. Want to do something besides going to the park Any ideas? I'm in the Algonquin area, if that helps.

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L.R.

answers from Chicago on

STADE"S FARM in McHenry...has "Fall Festival" thru Halloween, different Themes/activities each weekend, a hay bale maze/climb on thing, a "corn" play ares, pumpkin cannons.....some activities cost but can be done inexpensively.

McHenry County Conservation District sites like Prairieview Education center

Moraine Hills State Park...great fall colors and tons of walking/bike paths

McHenry downtown theatres are relativly inexpensive before 5 p.m and they usually have a family friendly movie choice plus they have FREE refills on soda AND popcorn we all usually share a small of each

Plus there are a ton of fall festivals coming up take a picnic lunch and enjoy

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E.P.

answers from Chicago on

*Indoor mall play areas
*Barnes and Noble and Libraries - certain days of week they read to the children
*Downtown Dundee - at the riverwalk you can feed the ducks
*Randall Oaks Petting Zoo - it still costs but it's only $2.50 for an adult and $2.00 for children. Your 1 1/2 year old would be free. Your 2 1/2 may be free also. You can call and check the age.
*Check into apple orchards. Maybe there is one where you can go to without having to pay to get in. You can just walk around and eat as many apples and just enjoy the scenery. I used to go Jonamac that is free admission but it's far. I now go to Kuipers Farm which costs but it's either under 2 free or 2 and under free... But they have a bunch of extra activities that cost...

Also check into your township park district to see if they have any activities/events for children that might be free

1 mom found this helpful
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B.E.

answers from Chicago on

Try your local library. There is a museum pass program at several libraries that offer discounted or free admission to suburban museums...even Brookfield Zoo! I just got mine for the Kohl's Childrens Museum in Glenview for 2 free admissions. They're hard to get b/c it's so popular, but after 4-5 visits to the library, I was finally able to score the free pass to the childrens museum.

Even if you can't get the pass, your local library is a great resource for kids activities!

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C.M.

answers from Chicago on

Have you been up to the Nature Center in Crystal Lake? It's part of the Park District. Completely free, just walk in.

Some live animals, some stuffed. There are bones, furs, skins to touch. If the weather is nice, you can walk around the pond and play at the playground.

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A.P.

answers from Chicago on

Your local library is a great FUN resource...! They usually have loads of programs (for free!) that you can take part in WITH your little ones...I know that Gail Borden Library (Elgin) have many activities/programs geared toward kids that age...! Also try "googling" free activities in IL or Chicago NW suburbs and you are sure to find soemthing! Good luck!

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C.T.

answers from Chicago on

Cosley zoo in carol stream/bloomingdale is free, not sure how long they're are open after summer? It sounds like a trek to get out there, but you also drive by stratford square mall that has a great indoor play area as well. We also love the newer park in old downtown Algonquin on 62 right near the river - we picknick around the waterfall. We also try to go to as many different parks as we can around town, and near like LITH, C. Lake (veterans acres). Nature centers are everywhere and are free. And watching trains is fun for little ones. Downtown Elgin and C. Lake are cool places to do this. And keep an eye on Brookfield zoo, and museums downtown that have free days sometimes. Also, pick up "going places" and chicago baby free magazines at the library that have everything that goes on all throughout the area like festivals, exhibits, nature preserves etc.

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D.R.

answers from Chicago on

Check out the Dundee Township PD and Algonquin Recreation guides. They have tons of free activites - Algonquin has a free nature walk next weekend that we plan to do. We also just took a bike ride on the Prairie trail this weekend and had so much fun (the kids were in the bike trailer) - you can even pack a picnic lunch if you want. You also may want to consider joining mom's group. I've heard Mom-to-Mom is a large one in the area. They would certainly offer play groups and know of the other free activities in the area. Good luck!

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D.Y.

answers from Chicago on

Lord's Park in Elgin has a small farmyard (the inside may be closed for the season). Outside they have buffalo and deer that come right up to the fence to be fed. There is also a park and a pond with ducks to feed. My 2.5 year old loves to feed them. There is also the Elgin Public Museum but I haven't been inside. I have found that my daughter also loves just the simple things. She doesn't have to go to Kiddieland to have a great time! You can go for a walk at dusk with flashlighs for a "flashlight walk". Put on rain boots and try to find the biggest rain puddles to jump in. Have a picnic. Around this time we go for walks and try to see how many pumpkin decorations we can find. Go to the library. Gail Borden Library in Elgin has a play kitchen, puzzles, dress up clothes, dolls and a climbing structure all inside for little kids. They also offer a program called check out a museum that Algonquin library may offer too where you literally go to the library and check out free admission passes to different museums throughout the area including Brookfield Zoo and the Morton Arboreatum (huge playarea for kids). You can also try the website chicagoparent.com. It has a calendar of all events going on in the area and will tell you if they are free. I hope this helps.

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