Summer Time Entertainment

Family bicycling rides on the Trinity Trails! Free. Free programs at all local libraries for kids all summer. A family membership, good for a year, at the Fort Worth Nature Center (out the Jacksboro Hwy, 199, turn right at Confederate Park Road into the park, gate house immediately on right. I think a family membership is about $75.00 a year, and you'd pay for that with $$ from one family trip to 6-Flags) would give you unlimited access to that very cool natural area, for rides, walks, safe bike riding roads, hikes, some guided, educational opportunities at the Hardwick Learning Center, guided canoe trips, and various celebrations. Bison/buffalo to view behind fenced areas, free occasional sightings of deer, ospreys, Great Blue Herons, American Egrets, armadillos, wild turkeys, wildflowers in season, a complete survey of the changing of seasons that comes with year-round, regular visits. A boardwalk trip through the marshes. So worth supporting, protecting, and enjoying!

check out the treehouse at glenview baptist church in Haltom city. It is a HUGE play area with multiple climbing choices and slides. It is free to the public every 1st, 3rd, and 5th monday's of the month. Opens at 10. I would get there a little early because there is maximum occupancy limit and sometimes you have to wait for people to leave before you can get in.

check out www.jumpingparty.com they are pretty affordable and there is a coupon on their wesite you can print off.

There are TONS of free/cheat things to do. Check local libraries, they ususally have summer programming with various things like puppet shows, zoo encounters, etc. Check the local movie theaters, most offer some sort of summer club where you get tickets for free or cheap. All the movies are older, but still fun to get out of the heat. Bureau of Printing and Engraving in Ft. worth does free tours of the money factory (where they print the bills), check local parks b/c most have a pool, splash park or small water park for next to nothing. Most kid friends places also have 1/2 price days or discount days. Check Boomerangs, Going Bonkers, Zoo's, etc. for deals like that. there is a TON to do around here if you just look! Have fun.

Check out your local library for events and free book and movie checkouts. My library has storytime for the younger and older kids, movie showings at the library, and magic shows.

Most Saturdays, Home Depot or Lowes has free kids building workshops. You can sign up online or in the store. In addition to what they make, the kids also get free aprons and other things.

Also, Nash Farms in Grapevine has a couple of free events this month I plan on going to: Afternoon on the Farm on 6-11-10 and Dairy Days on 6-18-10.

If there's a place you go frequently, see if they have memberships that may save you money, like the zoo, the museum or aquarium. We got a family membership to the Ft Worth Museum of Science and History that paid for itself in 2 visits.