Free & Cheap Family-Friendly Activities

Dreaming of a Florida getaway? Enjoying a fun family vacation in St. Pete/Clearwater without breaking the bank is easy. 

A family plays in the water near Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach, Florida

Splash into family fun at Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach.

As the saying goes, some of the best things in life are free. Yes, even on vacation. You'll find that St. Pete/Clearwater offers plenty of affordable and child-friendly fun, so check out this list of fun things to do with kids that are either free, inexpensive or a great value for families.

1

Celebrate Sunsets at Pier 60

Pier 60 at sunset with a sailing boat in the water

Enjoy the sunset celebration at Pier 60 as the day comes to an end.

Every sunset is memorable in St. Pete/Clearwater, but when you add artisans, jugglers, musicians and other entertainers at the nightly Pier 60 sunset celebration, you’re in for a real treat. Did we mention the celebration is free?! The party takes place on famous Clearwater Beach, named America’s No. 1 beach in 2018 and 2019 by Tripadvisor. Plus, it costs only $1 to walk to the end of the pier, or you can take your kids fishing for a nominal fee. Find tips on where to park for the Pier 60 sunset celebration, and check out local sunset times.

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2

Explore the St. Pete Pier District

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If you’ll pardon the pun, this place is peerless for inexpensive family fun. Sure, you could splurge on a delicious waterfront lunch at the St. Pete Pier (hey, that’s a great idea!), but you’ll also find plenty of free and cheap options for kids. Let little ones play in the splash pad fountains, have fun at the marine-themed playground and go for a quick swim at Spa Beach. Your family won’t want to miss the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, where kids can learn about the local marine environment through interactive exhibits.

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3

Run Free at North Shore Park

An aerial view of North Shore Park showing a colorful mural on the pier

North Shore Park on St. Pete's waterfront has a playground, paths and lovely panoramas.

If your kids need to run off some steam, St. Pete’s waterfront North Shore Park is the perfect place to do it. Kids will be entertained by the parade of runners, walkers with dogs, bicyclists and rollerbladers. Parents will appreciate the opportunity to let the kids run and play in a place where no one tells them to slow down or be quiet. A few minutes’ drive north, check out the pirate-themed playground at Coffee Pot Park, with its view of pretty Coffee Pot Bayou. Or head south to the playground at Albert Whitted Park, with its view of Tampa Bay.

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4

Be Artsy at MFA and the Morean Arts Center

a children's art area with colorful tables and activities at the Morean Arts Center

The Morean Arts Center offers free art activities for families most Saturdays.

Kids will love the tortuously twisted trunks and radical roots of the towering banyan trees in North Straub Park, very near St. Pete’s Museum of Fine Arts on Beach Drive in St. Pete. (Side note: this a great place for an impromptu family portrait.) Check online or call the museum to learn more about special children's programming.

Just a short distance away, the Morean Arts Center on Central Ave. in St. Pete offers free family programs called “Drop-In Art Studios” on most Saturdays (several sessions are offered; preregistration is required) geared toward children ages 5-10.

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5

Grab a Bite on Central Ave. in St. Pete

A woman holds up a popsicle at Hyppo gourmet ice pops

Nothing beats cooling off with a gourmet ice pop from Hyppo on Central Ave.

If you get hungry, St. Pete’s Central Ave. and the surrounding area offer dozens of bistros and local mom ‘n’ pop restaurants offering affordable lunches. Some pizza and sandwich shops have inexpensive meal specials including drinks. For a tiny splurge, stop in at The Hyppo on Central Ave. for gourmet ice pops in an unbelievable variety of unusual flavors (Fair warning: The kids may decide against Kale Apple Cucumber in favor of Peanut Butter Pie or Honey Honey Dew).

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6

Learn at Great Explorations Children's Museum

A child holds up a small toy snake at the Great Explorations Children's Museum

Let kids be kids at the Great Explorations Children's Museum in St. Pete.

Families with toddlers through early-elementary school kids will enjoy the hands-on approach to fun at Great Explorations Children’s Museum on 4th Street in St. Pete. Here, children can create artwork, shop in a kid-sized supermarket or act like a newscaster at a miniature TV news desk. The lovely Sunken Gardens, right next door, is reasonably priced and a great place to walk with kids and look for flamingoes and parrots.

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7

Zoom Down a Mega Slide on Treasure Island

On Treasure Island, you can have a perfect beach day (and some inexpensive kid-sized fun, too) at Treasure Island Slide Florida, with its giant inflatable slide, bungee trampoline and bounce house. Farther to the north, in Largo, take the kids to the Highland Family Aquatic Center to enjoy several water slides, the pool, a water play area and more. It’s open every day in the summer (check for weekend hours at other times of the year).

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8

Enjoy the View at Ozona Blue

While Ozona Blue’s menu isn’t technically “on the cheap,” their kids’ menu has five good selections (including twin cheeseburger sliders) for under $10 that include ice cream and a drink. Grown-ups who visit this landmark Palm Harbor restaurant can also find plenty of sandwiches and and some salads under $15, and many entrees are reasonably priced, too. What makes Ozona Blue a standout for families, however, is the waterfront pool area where parents can enjoy the view, keep an eye on the kids in the pool and still enjoy a nice meal and conversation. (Priceless.)

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9

Take a Bike Ride in Dunedin

An image of the Pinellas Trail in Dunedin, Florida

The Pinellas Trail runs through many cities in St. Pete/Clearwater, including charming Dunedin. The trail is nearly 50 miles long.

Dunedin is sweet little town with easy access to the Pinellas Trail. What better place, then, to rent a bike, explore and get some exercise? Check out Kafe Racer for reasonably priced rental bikes and a great little cafe where you can grab a bite before or after your ride. If you're looking for a sweet confection after your outing, head to Strachan's Homemade Ice Cream for a frozen treat.

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10

Plan a Beach Day at Fort De Soto Park

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Families should put Fort De Soto Park on their must-do list while visiting St. Pete/Clearwater for two reasons. The first is the amazing expanse of white sand at Fort De Soto’s North Beach, where tidal variations result in kid-friendly lagoon pools and sandbars perfect for exploring. (There’s also a pirate ship-themed playground adjacent to North Beach.) Fort De Soto Park has won many awards including “Best Family Beach” from both Parents magazine and USA Today.

When you’re done playing in the sand at North Beach, it’s time to explore the Spanish American-era fort that is the park’s namesake. Here, kids can run in and out of the cool cement-block chambers that are under the fort – they just happen to be perfect places to shout out a greeting or sing a song. Kids find the other-worldly acoustics fascinating. Don’t miss it.

With 35 miles of soft sands fringed by blue-green water, there’s no shortage of beaches for families to explore in St. Pete/Clearwater. Check out our list here to find more great beach spots for your family vacation.

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11

Use CityPass for Extra Savings

A female worker taking care of Rex, one of the rescued dolphins at an outdoor tank at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Experience pure wonder when you get face to face with rescued dolphins, sea turtles, otters and sharks at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

If you want to see top attractions around the area but don't want to pay full price, you can save with an advance purchase of CityPASS Tampa Bay. CityPASS gives you a package discount off regular admission prices to five area attractions, including the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Busch Gardens, ZooTampa at Lowry Park and MOSI, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Tropics Boat Tours Dolphin or Sunset Cruise.
 

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12

Get Around for Less

The Jolley Trolley stopped at an intersection

Hop on an old school trolley to get around downtown St. Pete – it's free!

You don't need a car to enjoy all these activities. Unlimited GO Cards for buses and trolleys are available for just $5 a day, allowing unlimited rides all over the area, from Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach, to Boyd Hill Nature Park in south St. Pete. Also, St. Pete's downtown Looper Trolley, which hits all the downtown hot spots as well as Tropicana Field during baseball season, is free! The new SunRunner bus provides quick and comfortable service from downtown St. Pete to St. Pete Beach. It's free until November 2023; after that, single rides will cost $2.25, and all-day passes will cost $5.

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