Unbelievable Fun: Top FREE Places to Take Your Kids

The list might surprise you, because it’s places you might already go on a regular basis, but with new ideas of how to engage your kids while you’re there! Keep an open mind and know that in the eyes of a kid, anywhere can be an adventure!

Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods

Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods are not usually my go-to grocery stores. However, ever since having a toddler, they’ve become my favorite! They’re some of the few stores that have the kid sized grocery carts that they can push themselves. On weekends, they often times have samples too, so you can get your kid a snack while they are there!

We also love the salad bar and hot bar at Whole Foods and have had many “picnics” in their large patio area or inside dinning area for a quick lunch. They usually have a lot of great food options, even for picky eaters! The mac and cheese is a personal favorite!

If we have a lot of time to kill, we try to incorporate a little scavenger hunt for our toddler. For example, we ask them “what is the cold white drink you have before bedtime?” and he answers with “MILK!” and then we go on a search for the milk. Try this the next time you have time to kill in the grocery store, it’s sure to help keep your toddler entertained!

Outdoor Playgrounds and Nature Trails

This is definitely an obvious one, but can easily be forgotten when you’re trying to think of ways to entertain your toddler on a random afternoon or Saturday morning. Outdoor playgrounds provide a perfect opportunity for kids to run, climb, and play in the fresh air. These spaces are filled with swings, slides, monkey bars, and more, creating endless possibilities for fun and adventure.

Nature trails offer a serene and educational experience for families looking to explore the great outdoors. These trails wind through lush forests, along sparkling rivers, and up majestic hills, providing the perfect opportunity for kids to connect with nature. As they hike through the peaceful surroundings, children can spot wildlife, learn about different plant species, and enjoy the beauty of the natural world. You can simply Goggle “nature trails near me” and find a whole new place for an adventure that can take up an entire afternoon!

Don’t forget, you can bring along one of their favorite trucks or dolls too, and then their favorite toy gets to participate in the adventure too! And if you really want to kill time, have your toddler or child help you pack a picnic and bring it with you to enjoy on the trail!

Tractor Supply

Did you know Tractor Supply stores always have baby chicks and sometimes baby ducklings too!? Talk about some great free entertainment! Depending on how close you live to a Tractor Supply store, this would be an easy place to incorporate into your Saturday morning errand run for some quick, free entertainment!

Our toddler loves being able to stop by and “talk” to the animals. It actually keeps him entertained for a good 20-30 minutes… sometimes longer! For all you toddler parents out there, you know that can be a good chunk of time!

In addition to seeing the animals, there is actually a lot of other fun things to do and see in these stores too! They usually have a small toy section and clothing section too. Sometimes we like to try on the cowboy hats. 🙂 There’s plenty of random stuff to look at and a lot of different animal feeds with the pictures of the animals on them. We like to look at the pictures on the bags and try to make the animal sound that matches the picture. We can easily waste an hour here… great free entertainment!

Lowe’s or Home Depot

Another fantastic way to provide your toddler with some free entertainment, is to simply stop by your local Lowe’s or Home Depot store. There’s always so much to look at and large aisles that allow your toddler some space to run around. When he was still a baby, we liked going down the light aisle to look at all the pretty lights! Now that he’s older, his favorite section is where they have the tools that let you “demo” them. He doesn’t get to play with the tools himself, but he enjoys us making the noises!

Lowe’s offers several Kid Workshops too, you can find the event calendar just by Googling your local store. These can range from some simple DIY projects or more artistic projects, like painting birdhouses. They offer a lot of different activities for all ages and they are usually free or for a small cost.

Home Depot also offers a Kid Workshop at 9am on the first Saturday of every month. This event is FREE (while supplies last) and is usually best for older children, but they still accommodate younger kids too.

Who would’ve thought these two stores would be so great for entertaining your kids?!

Tractor Equipment Stores

Another fantastic way to keep the fun going is to stop by any local tractor or heavy machinery equipment stores. Now granted, these stores probably don’t love your kids climbing all over their equipment, BUT as long as they are careful and not too obnoxious (LOL!), this can be a lot of free fun! We’ve also found that our local John Deere supply store has a children section of toys and demo trucks they can play with and ride. No one cares how much time you spend in that section and again, it is free entertainment for at least a half-hour!

Especially if you have a little boy(s), I can’t recommend taking them to one of these stores enough and watching their eyes light up! It’s become one of our favorite places to take our son and he enjoys it every time!

As you embark on your journey to create unforgettable memories with your children, remember that fun doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. These are free places to take your kids any day of the week. So, gather your loved ones, maybe pack a picnic, and explore these budget-friendly gems that promise hours of laughter and joy.

Add one of these easy stops during your next outing and watch as your kids’ faces light up with excitement at these incredible, cost-free attractions and ideas. After all, the best things in life really are free.