Need some free fun this weekend?

One thing that many of us overlook when considering our weekend fun are the State and National Parks. Many of these great places are free (or nearly free) when considering all the things that you can do once there.

I'm not a hiker, biker, or really much of an outdoorsy person, but I do love Spring and being outside when the flowers are freshly bloomed and the air is clean. This next month or two will be a beautiful time to hit up some of the things within driving distance of your home.

Before you set out on this great adventure, ask yourself some questions:

(1) Can I take my own food? Packing a picnic lunch or bringing your own snacks/drinks would certainly help on the cost of the day. Check the parks website to see what the restrictions are on this.

(2) What are my photo opportunities? We're heading out to the Texas Bluebonnet fields this weekend. I can't wait to take photos of my kids! If you have photo opportunities, consider bringing a change of clothes for whoever is involved. Something for the photos, and something for play!

(3) Is there an admission and what kind of payment do they accept? I'm horrible at carrying cash - I never have it! Will they accept my debit card? Will I have to pay for parking?

(4) Is there anything that we can read beforehand to make this trip more enjoyable? If you are going to a cave, what can you read or find online before the trip to help get everyone excited. Kids love to read a book about something and then see it come to life! Do the same for everyone in the family.

Here is a great link to the National Park Foundation. You can search in a couple of different ways to find exactly what you are looking for.

For state and local parks, use your Swagbucks search engine!