Yes, You CAN Have a Stellar Summer On a Budget!

Summer does not have to be expensive. You can give your kids loads of fun memories without dishing out any money at all. Budget-friendly family fun is something Kidding Around Greenville covers regularly because fun on a budget can be so hard to find for families. But, for this article, we're going to focus on summer with a few of the coolest low-cost ideas to give your family the summer break they'll never forget without going into debt!

South Cove County ParkPhoto byKidding Around Greenville

A Fun & Free Summer

Summer fun can be free. To start, bookmark this free and cheap summer guide to Greenville. It has a lot of ideas, so that's the place to head if you need some suggestions on any given summer day.

Go to the Beach, FREE

You do not have to spend an entire month's mortgage payment on a 3-day long beach vacation in order to go to the beach. Sure, the ocean is fun. Eating out every night is great, staying in a fancy hotel could be cool. But, really, you can enjoy the sun, sand, and water without that huge bill. Promise.

Check out these Sandy Mountain Beaches. The vast majority of these mountain beaches are totally free, and there are a couple with low parking fees or an admission fee, on the list, too. We love South Cove County Park, it's just $2 to park on the shores of Lake Keowee. They have an outdoor shower to rinse off after playing in the lake, a beautiful playground, restrooms on site, and picnic spaces. There are even trees perfect for hammocks. Pack a picnic and your favorite snacks, toss in the sunscreen and a towel, and give your kiddos a day at the beach without all that expensive stuff.

Shows, Movies, and More

You do not have to drop an entire week's grocery budget on 5 movie theater tickets and popcorn to get out of the house and see something fun. Here are some alternatives to take advantage of:

• Free Outdoor Movies in Greenville
• Library programs: Check your local library's summer schedule. They bring in so many exciting presentations, shows, and events. Take your kids to see an animal show, magic show, concert, or attend a craft event. It's all free. You may need to register to attend events in advance, so don't wait to check them out!
• Speaking of libraries, don't forget those summer reading programs. Most of those summer programs we already mentioned are part of the summer reading program. And when you complete the reading goals, your kids will earn prizes. At Greenville libraries, your kids will earn a free pastry at Swamp Rabbit Cafe. Make an afternoon out of that, pick up those pastries and head to a local Greenville park.
• Another summer reading prize is a free ticket to the Summer Reading Greenvile Drive game. That means kids will go free and you'll just need to get a ticket for yourself.
• Shakespeare in the Park: Beginning May 25th and running through July 30th, brings free theater productions to Falls Park in Downtown Greenville. Pack a picnic dinner and you're ready for a totally free night out.
• Saturday Night Lights at the Tryon International Equestrian Center is totally free, extremely family-friendly, and lots of fun.
• Cars and Coffee: How about a free car show? Upstate Cars and Coffee happens one Saturday per month in the Michelin parking lot. It's totally free and family-friendly.

Cars and CoffeePhoto byKidding Around Greenville

Free Activities

Fill your summer with free activites for the kids.

• Grab free Kidding Around coloring pages featuring Heritage Green in Downtown Greenville.
• Home Depot brings kids a new activity on the first Saturday of every month at the FREE Home Depot Kids Workshop.
• Lowes also offers free workshops for kids one Saturday per month. Find the Lowes Free Kids Workshop schedule with dates and projects on Kidding Around.
• JC Penney offers a free kids craft one Saturday per month. Snatch up these free kids craft kits at JCPenney Kids Zone events.

Free Day Trips this Summer

Yes, you'll have to pay for gas, but after that and packing some snacks or lunch, these day trips won't cost you anything (and they're really fun!).

• Free fun in Hendersonville, NC: We've never seen more free things to do in one city. From a model train museum to an airplane museum, this mountain town has big fun for free.
• Athens, GA Botanical Gardens: With free admission, hidden children's playgrounds, beautiful trails, and lots more, these gardens are definitely worth a day trip drive.

Kids Bowl Free

We saved the coolest program for last. Kids Bowl Free gives kids 2 free games of bowling every day this summer. All you'll need to pay for is shoe rental if your kids don't have bowling shoes. Adults can participate all summer long, too, for a flat fee.