Story Created:
May 19, 2008
Story Updated:
May 21, 2008
4 On Your Side: Save On Family Fun
Carole Meekins
With gas and food prices high, families are looking to have fun on the cheap.
Don't let it keep you home. 4 On Your Side found some great bargains to entertain your family this summer.
We found trains, boats and other cool rides close to home. No airfare necessary.
"Depending on the direction that you head, there's always something," said Milwaukee Moms founder Meg McKenna.
Milwaukee Moms is a Web site chock-full of information, advice and ideas for active families. McKenna founded the Web site several years ago and it's really grown.
It includes dozens of ideas for family fun.
"We've really tried to centralize things for people so they can find ideas," McKenna told us. "We do a weekly newsletter too where I try to not just hit our calendar items but to bring in ideas from other areas."
Up north...you can hit the Manitowoc Maritime Museum, camp out at Kohler Andrae State Park, or go up to Sheboygan and splash into the Blue Harbor Water Resort.
West in Waukesha County, go to the lake. There are several lakes with sandy beaches, showers and other amenities for family fun.
Don't want to spend the money at Great America? Try Little Ammericka in the town of Marshall. Smaller rides allow the little kids plenty to do. Or go to Green Bay to the famed Bay Beach park. Rides there will cost you pocket change.
Down south, Kenosha has two cool museums for kids featuring woolly mammoths and dinosaurs. Both are absolutely free.
Milwaukee County has some great outdoor offerings including free music at dozens of parks and family-friendly movies on the river.
When it gets REALLY hot, cool off in the AC. Marcus Theaters offers weekly kids' movies all summer starting in June.
Or take a dip in one of Milwaukee County's many public pools and splashpads.
Cool Waters opens Memorial Day weekend. Other outdoor pools open June 14.
Click on the links under related content for more information on cheap family fun.
