Posted by: When kids are out of school for the summer, parents in South Florida appreciate ideas for fun things to do. Especially, if those activities are free, cheap or come with a discount. Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties offer lots of fun and entertainment for families, both indoors and outdoors.
We have beaches, parks and pools, of course. We also have the Summer Savings Pass and the South Florida Adventure Pass, which offer substantial discounts on attractions.
Free museum days in Miami-Dade and free museum days and deals in Broward also continue through the summer.
It's always good to double-check with a venue before you head out in case something has changed.
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Bright Red boarding at the West Palm Beach Brightline station. Photo: Carolyn DiPaolo
Train Deals in Broward, greater Palm Beach and Miami Dade
- Tri-Rail offers $5 fares on weekends and holidays
- Brightline’s Kids Summer Passport program: $5 kid fares & free admission to SoFla attractions
Photo: Deposit Photos
Back to School events, some with free supplies
- Events in Broward
- Events in greater Palm Beach
- Events in Miami-Dade
Free and cheap things to do with kids in Broward
Bubbles in Dania
Putt Putt in Pembroke Pines
AllGolf putt putt in Pembroke Pines offers deals. AllGolf deals include free entry 4 p.m – 9 p.m. Tuesdays for kids 12 and younger with adult paying regular price of $11. AllGolf is at 950 N. Flamingo Road, Pembroke Pines 33028, 954-441-1333, website. For 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Thursdays, the deal is all you want to play, including 36 holes, for $11.
Splash Adventure Photo/Broward Parks & Recreation
Pools, water parks and splash pads in Broward
Splash Adventure at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield & some other water parks and splash playgrounds in South Florida offer reduced fees in the afternoons.
Lots of public parks feature splash pads that are open for free.
Splash pads include
- Waters Edge Park in Tamarac offers a splash playground. Entry is free. Tamarac Story Trail at Waters Edge Park
- Osswald Park features a Splashpad, 2220 NW 21st Avenue, Fort Lauderdale 33311, 954-828-6455, free entry, adults need to directly accompany kids 7 & younger
- Mickel Park in Wilton Manors offers a Splashpad with squirting water for youngsters. Entry to the park, playground and Splash Pad are free. Mickel Park, 954-390-2100, 2675 NW 7th Avenue, Wilton Manors 33111
- City Park, 6600 Sunset Strip, Sunrise 33313
- Flamingo Park, 12855 NW 8th Street, Sunrise 33326
- Cypress Preserve Park, 9020 NW 38th Street, Sunrise 33351
- Welleby Park, 11100 NW 44th Street, Sunrise 33351
- City Park in Oakland Park, 3900 NE Third Avenue 33309, parking is free
Vista View Park, 4001 S.W. 142nd Ave., Davie 33330, includes a splash pad with 21 spray features. Entry to the park is free on week days and $1.50 for ages 6 and older weekends and holidays.
Story Trail in Waters Edge Park in Tamarac. Photo/city of Tamarac
Story Trail and Splash Playground
Enhance a walk in the park with a story. Tamarac Story Trail at Waters Edge Park features pages of a storybook displayed along a path. The park includes a splash playground and other amenities. Entry is free.
Night Sky
Use telescopes for free at Fox Observatory in Sunrise. Observatory in Markham Park is usually open Saturdays, weather permitting. Entry to the park is $1.50 for ages 6 and older until about dusk. If you enter in the evening, entry is free.
Photo/Weston Parks and Recreation
Skate Park
Entry is free for Tequesta Trace Park in Weston, which features a skate park. Other amenities include sports fields & roller hockey rink, exercise path and playground.
Model Trains in Davie
Old Davie School is offering a free exhibit featuring little railroads.
The model train display in 2023 is featured 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. week days June 12 – July 7 at the historical venue, 6650 Griffin Road, Davie 33314.
Photo/NSU Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale
Art Activities
Free entry day at NSU Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale, including August 3, includes free activities for kids. Sunny Days/Starry Nights events are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. first Thursdays. NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale is at 1 E. Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, 954-525-5500, website.
Fern Forest. Photo/Broward Parks & Recreation
Nature fun
- For a birding excursion, libraries in Broward and greater Palm Beach loan birdwatching backpacks for free
- Fern Forest is an oasis for nature walks The 244-acre wilderness preserve features walking trails and an elevated boardwalk for savoring the sights, scents and sounds of nature. Entry is free
- Park is not open during repairs — Secret Woods in Dania offers a deck overlooking New River, 2701 W. State Road 84, Dania Beach, 954-357-8886, website, entry is free
- Long Key Natural Area is at 3501 SW 130th Avenue, Davie 33330, 954-357-8797, entry is free
Free & inexpensive kid-friendly films & events
- Free kids’ movies in Pembroke Pines
- no movies in July Free family-friendly movies Fridays in Hollywood
- Free dive-in movies in Pompano
Photo/Tradewinds & Atlantic Railroad
Ride a teeny train
A little steam train runs on tracks around Tradewinds Park, usually 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. third full weekends, weather permitting. Fees are $1.50 for rides and $1.50 weekend park entry fee for ages 6 and older.
Free entry days at museums and attractions
Free entry day at Art & Culture Center of Hollywood, usually offered third Sundays
Plantation historical museum offers free entry
Free outdoor concerts
- Friday Night Sound Waves offers free entertainment at oceanside park
- Free Starlight Musicals concerts in Fort Lauderdale
- Summer Nights concerts in Oakland Park are free
- Free live music at Hollywood Bandshell
- Free live music outdoors at Gulfstream in Hallandale
Deals & Other Fun in Broward
- Broward Library branches offer free events and activities
- Kids at free deal at Legends restaurants
- free bowling & bowling deals
- Marine Environmental Education center, MEEC, in Hollywood offers educational exhibits and entry is free. MEEC is a partnership of Broward Parks and Recreation and Nova Southeastern University. The oceanside venue is usually open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays at Hollywood North Beach Park, 4414 N. Surf Road, Hollywood 33019. It's a good idea to phone ahead to ensure the venue is open the day you are venturing out.
- Deals & Events at Xtreme Action Park in Fort Lauderdale
- $9 Roller-skating Wednesdays in Davie, including rentals
- South Florida Adventure Pass offers entry to several attractions
- Tri-Rail offers $5 fares on weekends
- Regal Theatres: Discounted movie tickets on Tuesdays
- Free museum entry if you have this one thing…
- Discounts at Historic Bonnet House in Fort Lauderdale
- Butterfly World: $5-off & other discounts
- $1.50 Summer Movie Clubhouse for kids at Cinemark
Things to do with kids this summer in Miami-Dade
Photo/Frost Art Museum
Free Passport for HistoryMiami
HistoryMiami museum offers Miami-Dade residents opportunities for free entry. Pick up a “Passport” which allows kids and their families to peruse the exhibits for free during summer. Information is online.
Free Art for Kids
Miami Beach Botanical Garden offers free art classes for kids.
Other free fun in Miami-Dade
- Miami Beach Botanical Garden offers free entry
- Miami-Dade Libraries
- Arcade deals at Bowlero lanes
- Free Family Fun Day at The Underline
- Get the kids moving with a fun game with free bowling for kids all summer long
- Explore one of the 16 beaches in the Miami area
- Free or cheap bike trail
- Dog-friendly Park
Photo/Tri-Rail
Deals & discounts in Miami-Dade
- Regal Theatres: Discounted movie tickets on Tuesdays
- Tri-Rail offers $5 fares on weekends
- Free museum entry if you have this one thing…
- Regal Cinemas kids’ summer movies for $2
- Summer Savings Pass offers 3 South Florida attractions for 1 price
Free and Cheap Things To Do With Kids This Summer in Palm Beach County
Photo/Manatee Lagoon an FPL eco-discovery center
Manatee Lagoon
Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach offers waterfront deck & interactive exhibits & it’s free Other amenities include picnic area, shop and an augmented reality 3D animated solar tree exhibit.
Bubbles in West Palm
Afternoon Discounts at Rapids Water Park
Rapids Water Park in Riviera Beach is relatively expensive. A discount price of $30 is usually offered 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with taxes and $15 parking extra.
Rapids Water Park offers afternoon discounts
Photo/Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
Other fun & deals in Palm Beach county
- Libraries in greater Palm Beach offer activities and events
- Kids at free deal at Legends restaurants
- Palm Beach Zoo offers free entry deal for kids
- Yesteryear Village in West Palm Beach represents Old Florida
- Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach offers waterfront deck & interactive exhibits & it’s free
- StoryWalk displays offered on nature paths at parks, including Boca Raton
- Relax with free entertainment outdoors in Wellington
- Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
- Arcade deals at Bowlero lanes
- Regal Theatres: Discounted movie tickets on Tuesdays
- Free museum entry if you have this one thing…
- Tri-Rail offers $5 fares on weekends
- Summer Savings Pass offers 3 South Florida attractions for 1 price
- $1.50 Summer Movie Clubhouse for kids at Cinemark
Fitness & recreation
Robotics, AR & Electronic devices
For kids, teens & adults, exciting & educational electronic devices are free to borrow from participating local libraries. Broward libraries loan electronic & robotic devices, fitness equipment & other gear
Fern Forest Photo/Broward Parks & Recreation
Outdoors
Lush parks with shady trees and nature paths. Lovely waterfront promenades. Refreshing pools and waterslides. South Florida offers a wealth of delightful outdoor spaces for family-friendly excursions. Examples include
- Fern Forest, free entry & free parking, features several nature paths, including its elevated boardwalk into cypress/maple swamp, 201 Lyons Road South, Coconut Creek 33063, 954-357-5198, read feature Nature Trails & Free Entry at Fern Forest in North Broward
- Free entry for Pondhawk Natural Area
- TY Park in Hollywood, includes tennis, picnic tables & a 2-mile paved path primarily around a lake for walking, running, biking & skateboarding, 3300 N. Park Road, Hollywood 33021, 954-357-8811, read TY Park in Hollywood is lovely venue for outdoor exercise & relaxation
- Secret Woods, free entry & free parking, includes a boardwalk overlooking the New River, and assorted other nature walks, 2701 W. State Road 84, Dania Beach 33312, 954-357-8884, read feature
- Free surf, paddleboard & skimboard lessons from Island Water Sports in Deerfield Beach, free lessons 7 a.m. Saturdays, participants need to pre-register online or via phone. feature
- Public pools, water playgrounds & waterparks
- Other Broward Parks, free on weekdays, some free on weekends, phone first to ensure park you're interested in is open
- Free birdwatching equipment on loan from libraries
- Bike routes in Broward
Parks & Outdoor Fun
- Florida State Parks entry fees for state parks usually $2-$10 per person or per vehicle. Some parks in Florida offer First Day Hikes.
- Palm Beach County Parks
- Broward County parks, weekend & holiday fees of $1.50 for ages 6 & older apply at various regional parks
- Miami-Dade Parks
- Other local municipal parks and natural areas may be open, but please verify with your city department
For a splurge
Sea Turtle Walks & other turtle events oceanside in South Florida
Miami on the Cheap is a member of 