Any free or cheap (budget friendly) activities or day trips within OHIO?

[kimsuenew]

Hi! I know that we are all very budget conscience on here and I wanted to "pick your brains" for ideas of free or low cost activities to do this summer in Ohio? I know there are alot of Dis Pals from Ohio (or near to) so I thought you might know of some places!

Cedar Point and Kings Island admissions are kind of pricey (plus, due to my medical/mobility challenges I would have to rent an ECV there which would drive up the price $45.00 or $50.00 so they are out).

I would love to have budget friendly ideas for day, or week-end trips, in Ohio or close to Ohio (not far into the neighboring States like Michigan, Kentucky, W. Va. or Indiana).

A vacation is out (WDW the last two years was the last "real vacation" for several years). I am soon two have two major surgeries (quite a bit OOP for both) but we hoped to do some fun, cheaper trips around Ohio so we can at least get away a little bit!

Anything that requires much walking is out (like hiking) but I do have a wheelchair to use for "flat terrain" or surfaces!

We are two adults in our 40's and we will have two teens with us! We are open to any suggestions or ideas our fellow budgeteers have! TIA!

 

[Aristomommy]

I bought the book Kids Love Ohio and found tons of great day trip ideas for my family. You may want to see if your library has a copy. I have been able to get great deals through many radio stations in my area also. They have 1/2 price deals for waterparks, bed and breakfasts, museums, botanical gardens and amusement parks. Visit the websites of local radio stations or pm me and I can give you names of a few in my area. We plan to take a day trip once a week this summer and I have many free or cheap ones already lined up.

 

[maggiew]

You could do a "Presidential" tour and do some of the President monuments (several in Ohio).

The McKinley memorial in Canton, OH is free to walk up. I'm not sure what kind of access they have for wheelchair accessibility. But it is many steps to climb up.

The McKinley museum is $7 for adults ($6 seniors) and $5 children (up to 18).

http://www.mckinleymuseum.org/about_the_museum


There is also the Harding Memorial in Marion, OH. Its free.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harding_Memorial
http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/c04/index.shtml

Harding Home
http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/c03/
Adults $6
Children (6 to 12) $3

Grant Birthplace in Point Pleasant, OH
http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/sw08/
Adults $2.5o
Seniors $2
Children $1.50 (6 to 12)

Grant Boyhood home and schoolhouse in Georgetown, OH
http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/sw09/
Adults $3
Children (6 to 12) $1.00

Harrison Tomb in North Bend, OH
http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/sw11/
Free

Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont, OH
http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/nw09/
Adults: Museum or Home $6.00
Adults: Museum & Home $10.50
Youths 6 -12 $2.00
Youths 5 & under FREE
Senior Citizens / AAA $5.00

There is also the Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum
http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/nw01/

Maggie

 

[LadyBeBop]

How about the Air Force Museum in Dayton? A tremendous history lesson, only a few hours from anywhere in Ohio. And you can't beat the price...free.

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/

 

[jbdisneymom13]

I second the air force museum idea. We love it there. Another museum experience my family really loves is the Henry Ford Museum / Greenfield Village in Dearborn MI - Only about an hour N of Ohio. It isn't too expensive and they have so many cool things! We have also enjoyed taking in minor league baseball in Ohio. The Toledo Mud Hen's stadium is really great and makes you feel like you're at a big time game. We got wonderful seats for $12 each but you can get them even cheaper. The Ohio State Fair is another good one. No matter what - have fun!

 

[parkers*momma]

in my neck of the woods...Sauder Museum in Archbold, Ohio, Toledo Zoo, African Safari in Port Clinton, Ohio Caverns, Mack-a-cheek (Piatt Castles), turtle creek if you like flea markets, Toledo Museum of Art, Botanical Gardens in Toledo, A day at Shipshewana in Indiana (amish country)...there is so much to do for very little money.

 

[parkers*momma]

Another good one....Hocking Hills. Camping, walking trails, horseback riding, etc. Very pretty area.

 

[JerJan]

Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Football hall of fame in Canton.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

How about riding the Jet Express or Miller ferry to Put n Bay or Kelley's Island on Lake Erie. You can rent a bike or golf cart and ride all over the island. Not sure if you know anything about the island's but there is no car traffic so riding a bike or driving a golf cart is the only mode of transportation and thus safe to do in the streets there.

If it is a hot day tour the caves on the island the temp in the cave is 52 degree's. Tour the winery. Have lunch/diner at one of many places. Listen to some music at one of many locations. Go up in the Perry monument. Visit the butterfly house. Sample some fudge.

 

[deva]

Not sure where you are coming from. There are some nice beaches in the eastern and western suburbs of Cleveland, a nice science center downtown (next to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway has day trips to Hale Farm and Village.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

The Bluegrass area of KY has some nice things to do like the Bourbon trail near Bardstown (7 bourbon distilleries with tours and tastings, plus My Old Kentucky Home in Bardstown); shopping and strolling in Berea (Kentucky's artisan area) with lunch at the Boone Tavern; or a visit to the Kentucky Horse Park off I-75 between Georgetown and Lexington. Newport on the Levee in N KY has an aquarium and a fun boardwalk area.

Also, check around for prices at Kings Island. Dad can get them from his work for just $22 ea - that's half price - and it's such a fun spot for teens. If you go after 5:00, you get in free that day and use your ticket the next, so it's really a bargain (that's the way we always do it, and we can leave early if the kids get fussy and feel like we got our money's worth). An ECV might be more comfortable, but I know we see wheelchairs there every time we go.

 

[kimsuenew]

WOW thank you all for such awesome ideas!

We are now planning a trip to the AF Museum next week (that had never crossed my mind until reading this thread) and I am using "cut & paste" to copy all of these wonderful ideas (for use later)!

We took a somewhat spontaneous little drive two weeks ago to the Bellefountain/Zanesville area (we left within one hour of suggesting it) and I packed a picnic... it cost very little (food we already had in the house and not much in gas) but was a terrific and relaxing day!

In a way... it reminds me (looking for short/nearby trip or day trips) of when we were first married! Our vacations were short and frugal! We got a way from these small trips when we both worked (a lot higher income equalled the ability to vacation) by doing HHI four years in a row and WDW two years in a row and even though we really, really, really loved those vacations... this summer will still be fun and not disappointing! Yes, we need to be frugal and plan for budget friendly outings, but at least we still will get to "get away" a bit and make great family memories!

Thank you again for the excellent suggestions!