3 Free/Inexpensive Things To Do In a Small Town with Kids

Fun fact: I grew up in a small town about 30 min away from where John Mellencamp grew up.

I’ve always loved this song & message, and felt inspired to write you my list of things you can do there, without having to travel to a big city. This list is for those mamas who just wanna get out of the house at 2pm and have a fun adventure till Dad gets home from work at 5. This list is for the mamas who are saving for the big Disney trip next year, but still want to explore and make memories with the kiddos right now. This is for anyone, to let you know that you don’t have to travel more than 20 min from your home to explore the world around you!

*ahem*

This is my favorite above favorite thing to do, and I’d bet at least $5 that 99% of small towns have one thrift store. I decorate my home in a bit of a mid century modern meets kitchy meets abstract art gallery sort of way. I totally believe in one man’s trash being another wo-man’s treasure. Kids can get in on this too! My mom likes to take old $1 paintings and repaint over them to make fresh, vibrant colors. This is something your child can do as well! Let them pick out an old faded print or painting, and take it home and let them get their Picasso on. It’s a very inexpensive joy which can turn into hours of fun.

You could also set an old movie night or even an “Old Movie Wednesday Afternoon” by diving into the VHS tapes and having a mid-week film festival at home. Shut the curtains & pop the popcorn! Tapes are 25 to 50 cents. Spend a dollar and have a Friday night marathon!

Along the same lines, thrift stores always have bins of records. If they’re really scratched or warped, those make the best art projects. Google “record bowls”. You’re welcome. The playable records can also make for a great way to teach your kids about ancient bands like The Beatles or even the tales of a fabulous man, Bing Crosby. Let’s keep “old music” alive!

Also, books. They’re a book gold mine!

When’s the last time you really truly looked at the small local stores in your downtown? You may think it’s just a carpet store and a dentist, but I challenge you to have another look. My square back home has the standard hair salon, doctors offices, bank, but they also have 2 antique stores, a coffee shop, a cute cafe, a 24/7 Christmas store (no seriously!), a cute store of collectable hobbies, a small bookstore that sells bubble tea, & a photography studio. Within a few blocks in all directions are 3 more antique stores, a comic shop, an art gallery, & a local history museum. My town has roughly 14k people, so this actually seems like an amazing list considering most people don’t even think of their downtown area as anything but a busy 9-5 area. Have a walk around with your kids! Explore your town and you very well may be surprised what you’ve been missing out on!

I’m not a fan of being outside and going on a clear-your-lungs-and-mind hike. I will be the first to admit that I love air conditioning and electricity.

However, taking a little trip to a local park, fish hatchery, lake, or scenic walking trail really can be the best medicine for refreshing your soul. I like to take in nature and glimpse of the beauty God has given us. Also, and trust me on this one, cemeteries can be a fun place to walk through as well. I know some walking paths that cross cemeteries, and it’s so cool seeing some from the 18th century. I was always fascinated by them as a kid. I liked to read the old names and see the oldest year. Maybe do the same with your kiddos. Google happenings of that year and maybe it can turn into a history lesson for your kids (And you! 8th grade was a long time ago.)