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At least around here the martial arts clubs will let you come and
participate a few times for free. That could be fun. Also gymnastics
clubs. We went for a month, free, and there's usually lots of kids.

When my nieces were here they liked theater and costumes so we spent lots
of time in costume shops, which lead to vintage clothing stores and then
second hand shops. My niece, (12) found an old crushed velvet jacket
from the forties, maybe, and bought it. She sold it to her teacher for
$75. bucks! So it could be profitable too.
We also found a place that teaches belly dancing, which was perfect for
the girls who were into costumes. They got to participate in the class
and could have gone to a restaurant to dance one night, but were too shy.
Lots of movement and music and flowing fabric. They had a great time.

Rock hounding clubs and bird watching clubs go on regular field trips to
interesting places. They might make you join, for insurance purposes,
but they might just let you tag along too, as a kind of trial thing. You
get a loosely organized field trip with lots of knowledgeable people to
ask questions of.

Sky watching clubs hold regular meetings, once a month or so, at night
for viewing the stars. They usually invite the public at no charge and
you get to look through lots of different telescopes. That's really fun
because it's at night and you can take hot chocolate and the kids get to
race around, everybody's happy.

We hike a lot. But we live where we can be in the woods in a few
minutes.
We swim. The public pool is free, but usually pretty crowded. We go
sometimes to the big hot springs resort and swim all day and play on the
water slide. It costs but if you go with the idea of being there awhile,
it feels like it's worth it.
In the winter we skate and snowshoe. I can't tell you how fun this is.
We usually go skating at night, I don't know why but somehow this makes
it more of an adventure. Maybe it's just Dylan's age. (9)
Panning for gold is fun. Digging for crystals and sapphires is fun if
you don't have environmental objections.

We bought a canoe at a garage sale a few years ago and take it out in the
summer. That's fun, and hard work and when you get home it feels like
you really did something! Dylan hangs over the side and tries to catch
water snakes. Let your kids paddle. You might not get very far very
fast but you'll laugh a lot.

We clean up the little creek that runs through the city park. This
sounds stinky but we always have fun. Mostly I pick up junk and Dylan
catches frogs and water bugs.<g>

I know a lot of people are afraid of trampolines but, WOW! These are so
fun. Better than drugs. And if you put a water sprinkler under it...
perfect summer day.

We just discovered a place with racing carts. They're little cars you
zoom around on a track. This was hilariously fun. If your kids are
little though I'd try to find a slow time, so big kids aren't crashing
into them. They can bump pretty hard. The one we found is open in the
winter, too, and not too expensive.

We've never been but have thought about those paint ball places. If your
not against guns that really looks like fun. Maybe they're expensive, I
don't know.

Nice music stores will let your kids fiddle around on the instruments.
It's best to go when they're not too busy, because most places that will
let your kid plug in a six hundred dollar guitar will want to be pretty
close by. And it can be really fun to make those duck fart noises on a
clarinet.

Once when we were in Denver we went into this fabulous game store. There
were fun things everywhere and masks and doo dads. We spent hours playing
there and had a wonderful time Dylan loved it and still talks about it.
No such store around here, though.

Sporting goods places sometimes have indoor basket ball hoops or a rock
climbing wall. There's one about forty miles from us but when were in
that town we stop in and if they're not busy they let Dylan climb the
wall. Usually they charge and give lessons, but if you just wander in,
they might let you play.

Art gallery's and museums often have special programs for kids. These
are sometimes pretty structured, but you could ask. The one near us (55
miles away) does basket weaving, sculpting, painting, puppet making
etc. There's usually a program you can get if you call that will tell
you the schedules.

Horseback riding. I don't know if you live near a stables but in
addition to giving riding lessons they usually just rent out horses to
ride. This is nice if you have a horse lover. My nieces did this here
and then started lessons when they got home. They love it, and even work
now at the stables for a little extra money on the days they take their
lessons.

Places like Home Depot ( if you live near one ) have woodworking shops
for kids once a month or so.

Home improvement places will give away their broken ceramic tiles if you
want to try a mosaic. We mosaic stepping stones for the garden.
They're pretty but they're slick! Dylan calls them step around stones.

Weaving shops often have demonstrations. This is very cool because even
if you don't have a passion for textiles the looms are amazing to watch.

There are alternative energy fairs with all kinds of cool stuff to look
at and tinker with. Once we got to work on a straw bale house.

Book stores have story hours or talks or readings by different authors.

Dinner theater is very fun if you get the right show. That's more
expensive but for a treat...

Oh, this got long, sorry.
Deb L