Hilarye Fuller

Here are some of my favorite absolutely free things to do in and near Lake Charles, Louisiana perfect for any time of year: Located right in the heart of scenic and artsy downtown Lake Charles you can visit the old Historic City Hall for free. The Creole Nature Trail Adventure point has lots of fun interactive exhibits that may be directed towards kids but adults will find fun and educational too, so make sure to not head out on the Creole Nature Trail before stopping here first. The best places to go crabbing are along the Creole Nature Trail including Northline Recreation Trail, Hog Island Gully Recreation Area, Blue Crab Recreation Area, and West Cove Recreation area. A tip I heard from the knowledgeable ladies at the Creole Nature Trail center (who you should definitely stop and talk with for all the tips and advice and best spots before you head out) is that you want to make sure to put the crabs on top of the ice not ice on top of the crabs because it could potentially kill the crabs and compromise the integrity of the meat.

It’s important to note that if you are looking to swim with the manatees in Crystal River, Florida you will likely want to plan your visit during the winter months. 23 Free Things to do in Niagara Falls Best Places to See Crystal River Manatees in Their Natural Habitat Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is a must visit for anyone visiting the Crystal Springs area. You can also rent a kayak or boat and visit, or you can purchase a trolley ticket from the visitors center in downtown Crystal River. This wildlife refuge is only accessible by boat, so you will either want a Crystal River boat rental or you will want to find a tour company that takes you out there.

He was old enough to walk on his own and loved walking through the cobbled streets of Colonial Williamsburg, wading at the edge of the wave pool at Water Country USA, and watching his older sisters ride the zip line at Ape Treetop Adventure. Here are some places and different experiences in Greater Williamsburg that your toddler can enjoy with you and the rest of your family: Families love visiting Colonial Williamsburg to experience living history and to learn what life was like for residents of Williamsburg during colonial times. If you happen to come in the summer and are looking for a fun way to beat the heat and the humidity then you may want to check out Busch Garden’s water park: Water Country, USA. Children under 6 are free so Mom and Dad can enjoy the museum and toddlers can take a nap in their stroller (we’ve all planned attractions we want to see around toddler nap times).

Weekly road trips of 4-6 hours in the truck with our 2-4-year-old over the past two years have taught me many great road trip tips for traveling with toddlers. and you can check out a full list of toddler toys for road trips that kids love with this post: here: Best Toys for Travel with Toddlers Long car rides can be rough on toddlers so look in your regional areas for good destination options and make sure to plan a lot of good pit stops. Here are some ideas of places you might like to take a trip with a toddler to: Tips for Visiting Dollywood with Your Family 23 Fun and Free Things to do in Niagara Falls Oregon Coast Road Trip: 25 Things to See and Do Essential Things to Know