The children are home for the summer and your family is having a staycation. Right about now some free local stuff for you — or the babysitter — to do with the kids is in order. So, get them out of the house for a day of fun that won’t break your wallet.
We’ve got seven suggestions for you.
Take them to ArtWorks at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
Create amazing moving images in the Color Me in Motion installation at the ArtWorks Interactive Gallery at Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.
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Where: One Museum Drive, in Montgomery’s Blount Cultural Park
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Info: There are all sorts of beautiful artworks and sculptures inside and outside of Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts that most kids would love to see. But if you really want to get them engaged and entertained, take them to the ArtWorks Interactive Gallery there. It’s an amazing space for them to play, create and learn about art in a fun way. Among the many features, there’s a puppet theater, giant kaleidoscope, and the amazing Color Me in Motion installation that lets kids use their body movements to creat light art on screen. That’s just a taste of the amazing activities available. The kids could spend a whole day exploring ArtWorks, and the grownups will have a fun time also.
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Extra: Bring some bread and feed the ducks and geese at the pond by the museum.
More: Summer fun at no cost: Eight free things to do in Montgomery
Go exploring at Montgomery Whitewater
Guests walk next to the river channel at Montgomery Whitewater.
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Where: 1100 Maxwell Blvd., Montgomery
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Hours: Can vary, but is usually from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.
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Info: There’s a lot of fun you can pay for at Montgomery Whitewater. They have a variety of whitewater adventure packages guests can buy. But just to visit the huge site is absolutely free. You can explore the grounds and take in the trails. There’s a lot of walking adventure to be found — and it’ll help burn out all the extra energy the kids have. The facility even has a rock climbing wall and ground-level rope walking that are free to use.
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Extra: Do your kids love music? If you’re there on concert nights, those are also free to attend.
Spend some time at a park playground
A child plays on the slide at Vaughn Road Park in Montgomery.
There are many public parks in the River Region with amazing playgrounds for kids that are free to use. You may even want to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the day. Here are a few of parks with playgrounds from around the River Region your little ones are likely to enjoy:
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Discovery Village Playground: 401 N Hull St., Montgomery
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Edward Thompson Park: 1655 Ray Thorington Road, Pike Road
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Elton N. Dean Sr. Park: 7251 Old Selma Road, Montgomery
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Gateway Park: 3800 Davenport Drive, Montgomery
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Gold Star Park, 300 Ready St., Wetumpka
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Ida Bell Young Park: 5400 Vaughn Road, Montgomery
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Oak Park:1010 Forest Ave., Montgomery
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Pratt Park: 460 Doster Road, Prattville
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Spinner’s Park: 390 W 6th St., Prattville
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Vaughn Road Park: 2858 Fieldcrest Drive, Montgomery
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Village Green Park: 3168 Park Circle, Millbrook
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Waugh Park: 459 St James Church Loop, Pike Road
More: What to know about fishing in Alabama, from laws to lures
Visit the MOOseum
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Where: 201 S. Bainbridge St., Montgomery
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Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to noon and 1-4:30 p.m.
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Info: Do your kids have no idea where burgers come from? Take them for a free trip through the MOOseum, courtesy of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association. Visit with resident Longhorn Dusty at the door. Learn about beef, from the pasture all the way to your plate. With exhibits and play areas, children will learn about raising cattle, experience being cowboys and cowgirls, and get hands on with how to grill. Of course, everyone’s going to want to look at the ACA’s beef wagon outside.
Cool off at the Prattville splash pad
Children play at the Pratt Park Splash Pad in Prattville, Ala.
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Where: Pratt Park, 256 Doster St., Prattville (next to Pratt Pool)
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When: Open all week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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Info: It’s a fun spray and splash area for kids that’s free to use.
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Extra: The splash pad is located near Pratt Pool. Normal admission to the pool is $3 per person, but kids under age 3 are free.
Go swimming in Montgomery’s city pools
Montgomery has three pools open for the general public, and they’re all free to use.
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Hours: The pools are open weekdays from 1:30-6 p.m.; Saturdays 1-6 p.m.; Sundays, 1-5 p.m.
Pool locations:
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McIntyre Community Center, 1249 Hugh St.
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Sheridan Heights Community Center, 3501 Faro Drive
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Gunter Pool, 2390 Cong. W L Dickinson Drive
More: Hit the trail: A guide to walking and biking paths across Montgomery and the River Region
Take them to the library
Summer reading is important, so why not take your kids to — calmly and quietly — check out a book from a public library? We’ve got several around the River Region just waiting to take your children’s minds on an adventure:
Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com. To support his work please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: 7 free summer fun activities for kids in central Alabama
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