Posted by: Rainy days and hot days in South Florida offer an opportunity to focus on indoor fun. Be a tourist in your in your town and savor fresh sights, attractions and things to do. If you're on a budget, various venues offer free or inexpensive entry, and some offer deals.
It's a good idea to phone a venue first to verify it's open.
Free things to do
Photo/Pixabay
ArtServe, Fort Lauderdale
Free entry at ArtServe, which features exhibits of work by local artists and a shop with items for sale. ArtServe, 954-462-8190, is at 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
Plantation
Plantation Historical Museum offers free entry to browse exhibits & occasional free events, including trivia games.
A model train exhibit is featured.
Plantation Historical Museum 954-797-2722, is at 511 N. Fig Tree Lane, Plantation 33317.
Photo/Manatee Lagoon an FPL facility
Riviera Beach
Manatee Lagoon in Riviera Beach features indoor exhibits and outdoor areas overlooking the water. Feature: Manatee Lagoon in Riviera Beach offers exhibits, tours & webcam for free.
Coral Springs
Coral Springs Museum of Art offers free entry, 2855A Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs 33065, 954-340-5000, website.
Photo/Broward Library in Fort Lauderdale
Libraries
Lots of local library branches in greater Palm Beach and Broward offer workshops, films, live entertainment, puppet shows and other fun activities for kids and adults. Some branches offer high-tech equipment that is free to use. Information is on Broward and Palm Beach area library websites.
DIY workshops
Participating Home Depot and Lowe's stores offer occasional free DIY workshops for kids and adults.
Free Bingo at Ikea
Sign up for free Bingo at Ikea stores in Dade and Sunrise. Winners receive a $20 voucher to use for items in the As Is department. Participants need to be 18 or older and signed up with the Ikea rewards program.
Hollywood
Marine Environmental Education center, MEEC, in Hollywood offers educational exhibits and entry is free. Donations are accepted.
MEEC is a partnership of Broward Parks and Recreation and Nova Southeastern University.
The oceanside venue is usually open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays at Hollywood North Beach Park, 4414 N. Surf Road, Hollywood 33019. It's a good idea to phone ahead, 954-357-5125, to ensure the venue is open the day you are venturing out.
Other inexpensive fun & deals
- $10 roller skating Wednesdays in Davie
- $5 deals at Flippers theater in Hollywood
- Groupon deals for trampoline fun, laser tag & other indoor activities in South Florida
- Play trivia at restaurants & bars in Broward For plenty of venues, it's free to play, especially if you're ordering drinks or food.
- Bowling deals in Broward
- Arcade deals at Bowlero lanes
- Silverball Retro Arcade in Delray offers deals
- Xtreme Action Park in Fort Lauderdale offers deals
- Happy Hour deals at The Square in West Palm Beach
- Happy Hour at Mizner Park in Boca Raton
- Shop for upcycled, repurposed and recycled items. Resource Depot in West Palm offers new, used & upcycled items at discount prices
Free and cheap movies this week
Online events, entertainment & educational activities
- From home, download free digital movies, e-books, workshops, lessons & music from Broward libraries and Palm Beach libraries
- Live webcams from beaches and public areas in Fort Lauderdale, Delray, Dania, and lots of others
- Space Out! Online videos, activities & apps from NASA
- Broward Library offers online events & materials
- Museum of Discovery & Science in Fort Lauderdale offers videos on YouTube & other social media
- National Parks webcams
- NASA STEM activities for students
- Free educational websites
- National Geographic Kids features online quizzes, games & videos
- Activities & projects for kids from Michael's
Other Webcams
- meerkat webcam from ZooMiami
- Otters at Play video from MODS in Fort Lauderdale, video on YouTube
- coral city urban coral reef in Miami
- Wildlife cams in Africa
- Niagara Falls
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