Free Museums, Parks, Field Trips in your state – How to find them

Ponn Sabra | June 15, 2009 | Comments (1)

Interested in finding as many free or low cost Staycation destinations in your State like I do?

Want to know what a “Staycation” is in the first place?

Well, it’s a term I first heard from my mom when Governor Rell launched a “Staycation” Program in 2008 offering discounts to CT Families for Summer Vacations.

But, I guess the term has been around a bit longer with other meanings as well.

Tips for searching for free to low-cost field trips in your state:

Go to your state’s tourist website. Don’t know it? Then, find your state here.
Be Patient: Search and you will find places that’s appropriate for your family, based on their interests, desires and budget.

Be Adventurous: Try something new, such as farms or factories.

Be Flexible: Days and times for free admission is usually when the site is the least busiest, so expect odd traveling times.

Search Deep: For example, I found Wadsworth Antheneum’s Junteenth Family Day when I did the following:

Go to the typical “Visit” tab for the Admissions Page of the museum, or tourist site that you would like to attend,
Scroll down and look around. Look around for “Free Days”, “Savings”, “Weekly Specials”. For example; look at the bottom of this page where it says “Free Days” and it details all the ways you can get in for free,
Contact to confirm. I always call or email to make sure the savings is still valid or to find out if there are any “special rules”.

Other ways to find free admissions:

(In no particular order)

Bank of America’s free first weekend of the month admissions program for card-holders. Note: We were going to attend last weekend, until I found out that admission was only free for me and hubby (the cardholders), and a hefty $9/child times 3 was too expensive for me; especially when I found out I can go to Stepping Stones Museum for Free on the last Thursday of every month from 5 – 8pm. Of course, I found this out when I called. After all, it was one-hour away, and I did not want to be welcomed with any surprises–which has happened to us before.
Factory Tours USA – We love taking the girls to factory tours because one of our favorite shows is the History Channels’ Modern Marvels…now, this website gives us some great ideas.
Field Trip Factory – We participated in 2 field trips organized by them in Toledo, and I’m happy to find that there’s one more we can try here in CT: A.C. Moore – Arts & Crafts, a store we like!
Homeschool field trip organizers’ advice and tips, click here.
Free Museum and Attraction Passes at your public library – You must plan at least a day or 2 in advance, because you have to pick up the passes the day before you want to use them. Don’t forget holiday and summer library hours might change, and most likely it’s based on a first-come, first-served basis, with no “please put it on hold, I’m coming right now” reservations phone calls– no matter how kind, generous, or convincing you may be [Unless...you're buddies with the head librarian of the Children Dept. and/or know everyone at the circulation desk on a first names' basis...Hint, hint: Network for your freebies!]
Local freebie newspapers, periodicals, magazines, online & offline, search first for the “Weekly Events” section for on-going free days, then the “Special Events”.
Local bulletin boards at your local libraries, gas stations, grocery stores, etc.
Craig’s List’s Events Calendar , and Activities sections. Tip: Many times people can’t attend somewhere and offer free tickets that they already paid for. If you’re quick you can pick them up.
The Freecycle Network – Find your local yahoo groups and join now! We received free baseball, hockey, and circus tickets before.
Just Ask! We got into places free just by making a kind phone call. Genuine flattery based on research always works! So, share educated reasons why you want to attend and even put your little ones on to share their desire to go. “Educated reasons” shows you have a legitimate reason for wanting to see their attractions; so do your homework and share the educational value of going (there’s always something–be creative). Don’t expect “oh, oh…I’m a cheapo-let me in!” If a competitor has a free special, and you prefer to go to their place, tell them why. They love hearing how they are better than their competition, and will welcome your insights, tips and free visit Of course, you must be genuine and sincere–anyone can notice a fraud and cheapskate when they hear one!

I’m sure there are dozen of other ways to find free field trips, so please share your tips below and I’ll update this list as I receive them.

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From Confused Coupon Criticizer to Coupon Connoisseur (in the making) says:

October 9, 2009 at 1:54 pm

[...] I save enough money with my frugal family-fun day trips, homeschooling educational goodies, etc. I’ll just attribute my high grocery bill to paying [...]