Ideas for free and cheap dates in Broward

If you appreciate frugal fun, delighting your sweetie with a lovely inexpensive or free date is doable in Fort Lauderdale and the rest of Broward County.

Plenty of exciting events and interesting activities are free. Others are relatively inexpensive. With extra dollars in your wallet, splurge on sparkling wine, a fancy dessert, or other romantic indulgence.

Ideas for Free & Inexpensive Dates

Adore Art

Downtown Hollywood Mural Project/Photo Hollywood CRA

Downtown Hollywood ArtWalk events, usually 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. third Saturdays, include tours, live entertainment and exhibits from artisan vendors. Especially interesting are demonstrations featuring artist Daniel Pontet painting with his foot to rhythm of live drumming.
Downtown Hollywood area offers an interesting outdoor display of artwork. Downtown Hollywood Murals. About 30 are painted on structures in easy walkable route, read feature
Free entry at ArtServe featuring work of local artists in Fort Lauderdale
Public Art display “Walking Sticks With Stories To Tell” Northwest 27th Avenue and Northwest Sixth Street in the Sistrunk neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale. Description: “…vividly hued freestanding sculptures that reflect the West African traditions of the linguist staff, ornamental hairpin, Adinkra symbols and kente cloth colors, Walking Sticks with Stories to Tell embraces the rich cultural heritage of West Africa…”
Coral Springs Museum of Art offers free entry Mondays – Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays, Fridays & Saturdays, 2855A Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs 33065, 954-340-5000, website

Live Entertainment

Free live entertainment at Hollywood Beach bandshell usually Wednesdays to Sundays
Gulfstream Park Village, shopping, dining & entertainment plaza, features live music, usually 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, 901 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach 33009, read feature

Photo: Deposit Photos

Play Trivia

A variety of restaurants and pubs offer entertaining interactive Trivia nights, which are usually free to play, especially if you’re ordering drinks or something to eat. Read Play trivia at restaurants & pubs

Photo/Broward Parks

Admire nature

Stroll among shady trees, rippling streams and singing songbirds. Pick a path in a lush forest. Or perhaps you prefer salty air and surf. Pack a picnic. Entry for some parks is always free, and often parking is free. For those with fees on weekends, or everyday, entry is relatively inexpensive. Use Broward Parks’ website & Florida State Parks website for information about different venues

For a romantic evening excursion, register for a Night hike , usually $5 per person.

Parks with inviting nature paths & scenic settings include these & others

Secret Woods, 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
Fern Forest, features several nature paths, including its elevated boardwalk into cypress/maple swamp, 201 Lyons Road South, Coconut Creek 33063, 954-357-5198, read Nature Trails & Free Entry at Fern Forest in North Broward
Quiet Waters Park, includes a butterfly garden & nature path, 401 S. Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach 33442, 954-357-5100
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
Hollywood Beach Broadwalk — lovely 2.5-mile length between waves rolling ashore and shops, hotels & restaurants, read feature
Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk — delightful stretch along the New River from about Southwest Fifth Street east toward Federal Highway, incorporating Esplanade Park, read feature Riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale offers scenic setting for walks & outdoor recreation
Deerfield Beach Arboretum, Features native and exotic trees and plants from around the world. Includes flowering tropical trees, palms, wetlands and others, 2841 W. Hillsboro Boulevard, Deerfield Beach 33442, 954-480-4494, free entry

Free Water Trolley

Step aboard. Rivewalk Water Trolley ferries riders to 8 points along scenic New River in Fort Lauderdale. It’s free. Read feature

Free surf, paddleboard & skimboard lessons in Deerfield

Island Water Sports offers free lessons usually 7 a.m. Saturdays. Participants need to pre-register online or via phone. Read feature

Shop

Some farmer’s markets feature extra amenities, including yoga, bon fires and petting zoos. Farmers markets & flea markets in Broward
Unique Shopping Venues, Shopping Events & Artisan Fairs

Ride The Rails

Step aboard and skip South Florida traffic. Tri-Rail is relatively inexpensive & offers $5 all-day fares on weekends. The train Tri-Rail offers $5 fares on weekends

Roller Skating

Artwork/Francisco Sheuat in Fort Lauderdale

Putt-putt & pitches

AllGolf @ CB Smith Park in Pembroke Pines
- includes 2 18-hole mini golf course & a driving range, fees for miniature golf are $9 Mondays to Fridays, $10 Saturdays and Sundays for 18 holes, $2 extra for 36 holes, free for ages 4 & younger
- $10 & $13 for driving range
- batting cages $2 for 25 pitches, $8 for 100 pitches
- 950 N. Flamingo Road, Pembroke Pines 33028, 954-441-1333, website