FRUGAL FAMILY FUN DURHAM
Free & Cheap Summer 2017
Free and cheap things to do as a family in and around Durham. Cheap in my eyes is admission or activity for a family of 5 that costs under $20 before tax for the entire adventure. (Not including gas)
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1.Watson's Farms (Free)
Great play area for kids including a very large slide, swings, tire obstacles, a real tractor to sit on and bonus animals to pet and play with. (Goats, pigs and sheep)
Hours are: 9am to 6pm 7 days a week
Location: 2287 Regional Highway 2 Bowmanville
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2.Livingroom Community Art Studio (Free)
A great drop in centre to make art, any art from anything you can find. You can also take art classes at a suggested donation or pay what you can.
Hours are: Thurs, Fri and Sat 10am to 6pm
Location: 149 Simcoe Street South OSHAWA
http://www.livingroomcommunityartstudio.org
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3.Linton’s Farm ($3 per kids)
Very large play area for kids with enough to keep them busy for a few hours. There are small games such as suck race, bowling and ball games. Kids like the small house with slide, maze, tunnel swings, play harvester and play train. A big hit with the kids is the giant sand pit, trike racetrack and tire obstacle area. When the kids tire of the play area, go visit the goats, chickens, sheep and other animals on site. No charge for adults in play area.
Hours are: 8am to 8pm (kid’s area may close sooner)
Location: 571 Raglan Road East Oshawa
https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=132471756788762&_rd
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4.Kids Bowl Free at Neb's ($2.43 each)
This is a great program for the summer that kids get up to 2 games free per day. Sign up online and bowl away. At Neb's in Oshawa (or other locations for the program) the shoe rental is just under $3 per kid per set of shoes, special needs kids are free shoe rental. July 3rd to Aug 31st here is the link for the youth pass free which is up to 6 kids free. Family passes can be purchased at an affordable price.
Hours: times of the games and dates apply sign up and show coupon on phone. Saturdays not included.
Location: 1300 Wilson Road North Oshawa
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5.Riverview Park and Zoo or Peterborough Zoo (Free $2 train ride)
Great sized zoo with tons to see and do including a giant slide, 3 parks together, a splash pad and the animals of course. One favorite activity is the small train that runs over the canal and in the forest for only $2 per person. Over 48 species including some family favorite animals the otter, monkeys and camels. Free parking, donations accepted and newly added store on site as well as a small snack shack with ice cream.
Hours: 8:30am to dusk 6pm
Location: 1230 Water St, Peterborough
http://www.peterboroughutilities.ca/Park_and_Zoo.htm
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6.Family Favorite Movies ($2.99 each)
Every Saturday at Cineplex Movie Theatres enjoy a previously shown movie new or old for $2.99 per person. The movies start at 11am sharp and usually no previous so arrive in time to get seats.
Locations: in Ajax, Oshawa and Bowmanville
http://www.cineplex.com/Events/FamilyFavourites
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7.Home Depot Workshops (Free)
Once a month Home Depot put on workshops free for kids recommended ages 5 to 12 (I take mine since age 1.5) These workshops teach kids how to build wood projects with glue, wood, nails and a hammer. Kids get a pin for each project, a certificate and sometimes a candy. Register with local stores to make sure you have spots and check online for the projects.
Hours are: 10am to noon once a month on a Sat
Locations are: Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa and Bowmanville.
https://www.homedepot.ca/content/homedepot_ca/en_ca/home/ideas-how-to/workshops.html
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8.Tuesdays on the Trail OPG (Free)
Amazing summer program for kids ages 4 and up involving different aspects of learning and many hands on activities. There are 2 locations and 2 times. The themes run from art, drama, science in the park, nature and many more. Sign up is required for Eniskillen location. Look for the big OPG tents when arriving at locations. Make a day of it and bring a lunch picnic and go for a hike or play after.
Hours: Start Tuesdays at 10am or noon
Locations are: Eniskillen or Pickering
http://www.opg.com/communities-and-partners/host-communities/Pages/Tuesdays-on-the-Trail.aspx
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9.Art Gallery and Second Sunday Art Day (Free)
Once a month the McLaughlin Art Gallery in Oshawa and OPG host a free 2hours of art activities. These can include cultural activities, sculpture / 3D art, or 2D art drawings and activities. After take a stroll in the gallery at no extra cost and don't forget to stop in the kid friendly room to play. On regular days the gallery is free to browse with a suggested donation of $5. Visit the Oshawa Public Library Kids section across from the gallery before or after to make a great day out.
Hours: once a month 1pm to 3pm (regular hours Mon to Fri 10am to 5pm and says till 4pm)
Location: 72 Queen St, Oshawa
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10.Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology ($5-$7)
This museum houses two of Canada`s oldest surviving Canadian build engine and a lot of other related exhibits. Regular admission is $7 adult and $5- $6 for kids over 6, 5 and under free. $20 for 2 adults and unlimited dependent kids. Look up Ontario attractions coupons for the 2 for 1 admission coupon to save your family on a day trip out. Coupon here http://attractionsontario.ca/attraction-listings/hamilton-museum-of-steam-technology/
Hours: Tues to Sunday noon – 4pm
Location: 900 Woodward Avenue, Hamilton
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11.Oshawa Community Museum ($5 donation)
A hidden gem in Oshawa by the lake consisting of 3 building done up in the 19centery period. A great place to spend the day with kids learning about the past. Follow the day up with a picnic lunch and a day at Lakeview Beach since this museum is right on the waterfront. The museum asks $5 donation per person, families may be able to pay what they can call and ask.
Hours: Mon to Fri 8am to 4pm
Location: 1450 Simcoe St S, Oshawa
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12.Canadian Fire Fighters Museum (Free)
Come and visit the Canadian Fire Fighters museum for a great day away from home.
Hours: 10am to 4pm closed Weds
Location: 95 Mill St S, Port Hope
http://www.firemuseumcanada.com
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13.Hamilton Military Museum ($3/$4)
This museum has a collection of artifacts from the late 1830s and tons of information on the war from 1812. There are tons of Canadian war exhibits here. Check Ontario Attractions online for the 2 for 1 admission coupon as it costs $4 per adult, $3 for children 6 to 12 and free ages 5 and under. Coupon here http://attractionsontario.ca/attraction-listings/hamilton-military-museum/ or use the fun pass if you have 2 adults making 2 purchases and get 2 kids in free http://www.ontariofunpass.com/PersonalizeCoupon_EN.aspx#provincial-attractions
Hours: Tues to Sun noon to 4pm
Location: 610 York Boulevard, Hamilton
https://www.hamilton.ca/attractions/hamilton-civic-museums/hamilton-military-museum
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14.Discovery Harbour ($5-$7)
Discovery harbour is the original base used for the war of 1812 to safeguard access to Upper Canada. Tons of hands on activities for kids as well as demonstrations to see alongside the five tall ships that are on site. Use the coupon on Ontario Attractions to get up to 2 adult admissions %50 off and pay only $3.50 per adult, kids under 5 free and kids 6-12 are $5.25. Coupon here http://attractionsontario.ca/attraction-listings/discovery-harbour/ Save more and request a fun pass online and make 2 transactions with 2 adults to get 2 kids in free http://www.ontariofunpass.com/PersonalizeCoupon_EN.aspx#provincial-attractions
Hours: 10am to 5pm
Location: 93 Jury Drive Penetanguishene
http://www.discoveryharbour.on.ca/dh/en/Home/index.htm
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15.Provincial Parks ($10?)
Take a daycation with a picnic, at a beach and check out the daily activities going on at all the close provincial parks. Bring bikes, roller blades and anything else and enjoy the active day in the forest on trails. Save a small bit on a provincial park day pass by getting the fun pass for the kids this summer and save $2. Free every July for a day use this year its July 15th 2016. http://www.mtc.gov.on.ca/en/agencies/fun_pass.shtml
Visit the site to see hours and locations or provincial parks near you. Emily Provincial Park and Darlington Provincial Park are the two closes to Durham.
https://www.ontarioparks.com/en
16.Hamilton`s Children’s Museum ($2-$4)
A great place to learn create and build while taking a break from the heat this summer. Some interests of play here are world cultures, art, physical and natural science. Save some money this summer by using the Ontario attractions coupon found on their site for two for one admission. $2 for adults and people over 13 and under 12 over 1 is $4 each or $9 for a family of 2 adults and all kids. http://attractionsontario.ca/attraction-listings/hamilton-childrens-museum/
Hours: Weds to Sat 9:30am to 3:30pm
Location: 1072 Main Street East Hamilton
https://www.hamilton.ca/attractions/hamilton-civic-museums/hamilton-childrens-museum
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17.Art Gallery Of Ontario (Free)
Take this opportunity to visit one the bigger art galleries at a discount. This art gallery is free Weds night from 6pm to 9pm so take the day to do something fun in Toronto and later visit here free.
Hours: Weds 6pm to 9pm (other regular hours for regular admission)
Location: 317 Dundas St. West Toronto
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18. White Feather Farms (Free)
Tons of tractors for little ones to sit outside and play on as well as a small playground with sand. Inside the store is all sorts of cool things to see and fresh made snacks for purchase.
Hours: Most days 8:30am – 5pm check site for days open longer
Location: 15 Raglan Rd E, Oshawa
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19.Tank Saturdays ($10 per adult, $5 student/senior kids free under 12)
Spend a Saturday watching live tanks and visiting many of the machines in person. Once a month on a Saturday you are able to visit as an adult for $10 and Free per kid under 12 to see these in a live parade and in motion. Demonstrations are at 11am and 1pm and remember these are specific dates so check the Facebook page for up to date events.
Hours: 10am – 4pm
Location: 1000 Stevenson Rd N Oshawa
https://www.facebook.com/Ontario.Regiment.Museum
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20. Welland Canals Centre (Free)
Spend the day at the canal watching the big ships come though one of the most popular locations. Visit inside the free museum and after visit the ship park right outside. It’s a great idea before or after visiting here to bring a picnic lunch and bike or walk along the paths that run next to the canal. Drop in during the summer on a Wed or Thurs and there are hands on activities for kids
Hours: 9am – 5pm Daily
Location: 1932 Welland Canals Pkwy. St. Catharines
http://www.stcatharines.ca/en/St-Catharines-Museum.asp
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Trenton National Air Force Museum ($25)
Tons of planes to see inside and outside the museum. There are about 4 airplanes (part and full) that you can sit in the seat of. The biggest plan on site to see for sure is the Halifax NA-337 bomber from World War 2. Feb 2017 admission was added, $10 adult, $5/ $8 for ages 6 and up, 5 and under free or $25 family pass (2 adults 3 kids)
Hours: open Wed to Sun 10am to 5pm
Location: 220 RCAF Rd, Trenton