Old McDebbie's Farm

I just heard about this fun farm that I want to check out next year! It opens in March and there are train rides, pony rides, fishing, and animals to feed. In April they have Easter Egg Hunts. In October they have Friday night fires for marshmallow roasting and a not-so-scary Halloween trail. This place sounds like a blast! Why am I posting about this in December?  I just found the flier in "the pile" {more on that here} and want to throw away the flyer, but I don't want to forget about it! So we'll see you in 2012, Old McDebbie!

What's Going on Today?

I made a list of activities to do this summer, but some of these activities are only available on certain days. I love the idea of being organized so I printed off a blank calendar for the month and began filling in activities. As much as I love this idea, it's just not practical for me and my family. Sometimes stuff comes up at the last minute or I realize no one has socks {or worse yet, undies} and I have to do laundry again. Sometimes I wake up and have a meeeellion things to do and can't function until I get some of it done. This new list makes it easy for me to have fun on a whim without scouring every webpage on my master list.

Monday

Hmmm...no special events for Mondays. If you're looking for something to do, check out the "Any Day" Activities or this post for fun free indoor activities.

Tuesday

Lawn Bowling at Wright Park 1-3

Tacoma Farmer's Market on 6th Ave. 3-7
Concerts at American Lake Park 6:30
Regal Movie for $1 10 a.m. {Go early to make sure you get decent seating! 9:40 was perfect for us}
Starplex Cinema $1 movies {and $1 hotdogs!}

Wednesday

Wagon Shop {at Steilacoom Museum} 2-5

Steilacoom Farmer’s Market 3-7
Steilacoom's Concert in the Park 6:30

Regal Movie for $1 10 a.m. {Go early to make sure you get decent seating! 9:40 was perfect for us}

Thursday

 Tacoma Farmer's Market on Broadway 10:30-4

{You can ride the Tacoma Link Light Rail to the Farmer's Market for free - make it part of the adventure!}
Concert in the Park at Curran Apple Orchard 6:30
Tacoma Children's Museum FREE admission 10-5
Museum of Glass FREE from 5-8 on 3rd Thursday
Washington State History Museum FREE from 2-8 on 3rd Thursday
Tacoma Art Museum FREE from 5-8 on 3rd Thursday

Friday

Hmmm...no special events for Fridays. If you're looking for something to do, check out the "Any Day" Activities or this post for fun free indoor activities.

Saturday

Steilacoom Historical Museum Kids Club {last Saturday only}

Wagon Shop {at Steilacoom Museum} 1-5

Marine Science and Technology Center 10-2 FREE

Lawn Bowling at Wright Park 1-3 FREE

Brown's Point Lighthouse 1-4 FREE
Tacoma Nature Center- 10-4 FREE {Discovery Pond & Trails open til dusk}

Ride the miniature steam engine in Port Orchard, donation basis, 2nd and 4th Saturdays only from 10-4
Lowes Build & Grow Events {see website for specific dates; not every Saturday}
Michael's Make it Take it Events {see website for specific dates; not every Saturday}

Any Day*
Tacoma Nature Center FREE 8-5 {Discovery Pond & Trails open til dusk}
Lott Wet Science Center 10-4 FREE

Pick blueberries at the Blueberry Park for FREE
Visit a Sprayground
Ride the ferry out to Anderson Island, $4.70 for adults, $3.40 for kids 5 and up {I know this isn't very close to free, but I really want to do this one so I'm adding it to the list}
Ride the Tacoma Link Light Rail to downtown Tacoma FREE
Tacoma Union Station FREE weekdays 8-5
West Hylebos Wetlands dawn to dusk {don't forget to download your scavenger hunt!}
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge sunrise to sunset
Art in the Park
Hike/walk the gardens...photo scavenger hunt anyone?
Visit a local beach or pier
Take a walk around Chambers Bay {a little history anyone?}
Go to the library!
Starplex Cinema $2 movies {and $1 hotdogs}
Bowl for FREE 8-6 {must pay for shoe rental $2.50 each}

*Please note that activities listed under "Any Day" may have special hours or be closed on Sundays. Our family uses Sundays as a day for worship and family activities at home so I didn't list special Sunday hours. Individual websites contain any additional information you may need, including directions and contact information.

Where are some of your favorite places to go in the summertime? Any local hidden treasures? I'm sure I've missed tons of fun places to go and things to do. Please share!

Summer Fun on the Cheap

I don't think you have to spend an arm and a leg to have a good time, although sometimes spending an arm OR a leg is okay. But never both. Today I feel like keeping all of my apendages, so here's a list of things we plan to do this summer. Don't mock me - we still have a month of summer left! {To see one of the reasons we are getting a late start on summer activities, check out this post about how we've been spending our Saturdays} And in my defense, it should be known that we have already done many fun things - some on  the list, and some just lazing around enjoying family and friends at the pool or elsewhere.

Almost all of these activities are free. I have tried to list any costs that I know of so you can easily browse what will fit your budget for the day.

• Go to the blueberry park and pick berries for free. The berries are kind of small and sometimes scarce so if you're hardcore check out these U-Pick farms {more than just berries, too!}.
• Steilacoom Historical Museum kids' club, last Saturday of the month from 1-3 during the summer
• Visit the Wagon Shop in Steilacoom {by the Steilacoom Museum}, summer hours: Wednesdays 2-5 and Saturdays 1-5
• Visit a Sprayground
• Visit the Marine Science and Technology Center for free
• Visit Jack and the Beanstalk garden in Puyallup for some of the children's programs
• Visit the Tacoma Nature Center {has Discovery Pond and play area}
• Visit the West Hylebos Wetlands Park. Download your free scavenger hunt here.
• Visit the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
• Ride a miniature steam locomotive in Port Orchard {runs on a donation basis}
• Watch a movie in the park! Before heading out to watch a movie you may want to check out a parental review site to make sure the movie you are seeing meets your standards. Some movies are "designed" for kids, but not necessarily appropriate for kids. I like Common Sense Media because it details the content and has a review section for movies, video games, music, websites, and even apps!
• Check out Art in the Park where local artists have their sculptures displayed
• Ever heard of Lawn Bowling?
• Have a photo scavenger hunt...how many different kinds of flowers can you find in the gardens?
• Visit the Brown's Point Lighthouse for free. If you're up for a bit of a drive for an awesome adventure, you can tour the North Head Lighthouse {$2.50/person} while visiting Cape Dissappointment also known as the Graveyard of the Pacific in Longbeach, WA. You could make a whole trip around this one because there is so much to do in Longbeach! If you want to find a lighthouse near you, they are listed here by state with lots of other fun information.
• Go to the Farmer's Market in Tacoma {three locations!} or Steilacoom
• Summer Concerts! Music in the Park schedules for Steilacoom, the Curran Apple Orchard in UP, or American Lake Park in Lakewood
• Tacoma Children's Museum free on Thursdays, June - August
• Regal Theaters have $1 movies for kids on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the summer.
• Starplex discount theater. This is a local theater, but most areas have some sort of discount theater. Movies are only $1 on Tuesdays, $2 any other day, and hotdogs are always $1!
• Bowl for FREE. Find a local bowling alley where kids bowl free...all you have to pay for is the shoe rental. You can also buy a family pass for $20 so the rest of you can bowl for free also.
• Visit the Lott Wet Science Center, free admission
• Free kids' building/craft programs like Lowes Build & Grow and Michael's Make it Take it
• Ride the Tacoma Link Light Rail for free from the Tacoma Dome to downtown museums
• Visit Tacoma Museums for free on 3rd Thursdays.

Some of these ideas came from the Parks and Recreation, friends at church, the library, and a local MOPS group so make sure you check out your local sources for some great ideas! For more ideas, check out my rainy day list - a lot of these would be great during the summer as well.

What are you doing this summer? Did I miss anything fun and free {or cheap}? Please share!

I was not paid or perked to mention any of these businesses or services. I just find them to be helpful in having a fun and safe summer and hope you will, too!