Posted by: 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
- $8 Roller Skating in Davie Wednesdays, including skate rentals
- Roller Skating deals @ Xtreme Action Park in Fort Lauderdale
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
Photo/Broward Parks & Recreation
Other frugal date ideas & deals
- Water Taxi in Fort Lauderdale offers discounts after 5 p.m.
- Xtreme Action Park in Fort Lauderdale offers occasional deals, read our feature or website, deals include Adult Skate Night with DJ entertainment Sunday nights, $12 per person
- South Florida parks offer watercraft rentals
- Bike routes in Broward
- Outdoor Yoga in Broward
- Farmer’s markets & flea markets in Greater Fort Lauderdale
- Deals for mini-bowling, video games & other fun @ In The Game in West Broward
- Free museum days & deals in Broward
- Bowling deals in Broward
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