Sometimes we avoid getting out and doing things in the community, with or without kids, because we feel as though it will be too expensive. While spending quality time at home with the family is important, it adds a little excitement to your life when you enjoy one of the many attractions in and around the city of Toledo. Thankfully, there are 10 free and otherwise inexpensive things you can do in Toledo, that allow you to get out and explore our amazing city for an extremely low price. The first five activities are completely free and the rest cost under $10! Grab a $10 bill, go on a fun date with your significant other or surprise the kids, and mark one of these fun things off your list! Free Things To Do in Toledo
Go to the Park
We are spoiled with an incredible metropark system here in Toledo. The Toledo Metroparks lineup is lengthy, providing a wide variety of parks spread out all over the Toledo region. You can enjoy just about any outdoor activity at these parks — including biking, camping, fishing, hiking and much more! 
Photos Courtesy of Toledo Metroparks
While you may enjoy the city’s many parks, it’s even more exciting to know that the city benefits from their presence as well. They help clean the air and water, retain storm water, provide essential habitats for wildlife, and enhance property values. The Toledo Metroparks is building one of the world’s greatest park systems, featuring abundant beauty and biodiversity, endless opportunities for outdoor adventure, a rich historic legacy, and careful planning for the future. Some of our favorite parks in the area include Side Cut Park for fishing, Pearson Park for picnicking, and Wildwood Park for hiking. If you’re up for a hike, check out some of our favorite hikes in the area, several of which pass through the metroparks in Toledo! Go to the Museum
It seems too good to be true that the Toledo Museum of Art is able to offer free admission, as visitors have the opportunity to get up close and personal with more than 30,000 breathtaking masterpieces in their state-of-the-art facilities in the heart of downtown Toledo. 
Photo Courtesy of Photography by K
It’s true — thanks to the benevolence of its founders and the continued support of its members, you can visit the museum for free! Pay attention to their list of rotating exhibitions, see their more permanent collection, and enjoy a sophisticated day at this extravagant museum dedicated to celebrating art. Stroll Through the Gardens
The Toledo Botanical Garden also offers free admission to admire some of the most breathtaking floral and plant displays you’ll ever see. This center for horticulture and the arts is an inspiring sight to see, as it hosts over 60 acres of display gardens and plant collections and a 2-acre urban farm. Stop by the gardens to relax, discover, reflect and learn. The gardens are open year-round during daylight hours! 
Photo Courtesy of Toledo Botanical Garden
Visit the Downtown Farmers’ Market
Peruse the booths at the Toledo Farmers’ Market located on Market Street downtown this summer and during the fall. While you don’t have to pay an admission fee, you’re guaranteed to find some handmade soap you can’t resist buying for your mom, or some fresh blueberries to snack on during your trip through the market. So this activity may not be entirely free — but it is still very cost-effective! 
The Toledo Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May through November. If your schedule doesn’t allow for a market trip on Saturday, stop by any of the other farmers’ markets happening in the area throughout the week! Take a Stroll Through the Old West End Neighborhood
Whether or not you’re in the process of finding a home, it’s always fun to admire impressive homes in the area. You may do that by checking out our various property spotlights or by taking the longer route through your favorite neighborhoods as you drive across town. If you haven’t already, make sure you check out Toledo’s historic Old West End neighborhood on your next afternoon stroll. This of course costs $0, and the opportunity to see a collection of historic homes is priceless. And you can come back again and again, as this area west of downtown includes 25 blocks of late-19th century structures. Explore the wide variety of styles, such as Victorian, Edwardian, Queen Ann, Georgian, French Second Empire, Colonial, Dutch Colonial, and Italian Renaissance. 
Photo Courtesy of Flickr User Don Johnson 395
This neighborhood started in the early 1800s with the creation of the area’s first log home and store, and evolved in the 1860s as wealthy Toledo residents moved here from downtown to get out of the city. The prime time for the neighborhood’s growth was between 1875 and 1916, as many homes were built — reflected in the collection we still see today.
There are several events taking place in this neighborhood throughout the year, including the Old West End Festival on the first weekend in June, Old West Garden Tours in September, and Tours de Noel in December. Things to Do in Toledo Under $10
Go to the Butterfly House
See beautiful butterflies in a lovely garden setting at The Butterfly House at Wheeler Farms. Admire the different varieties of the 1,000+ butterflies flying around, featuring species from North America, South America, and Asia. This is a great opportunity to learn about the life cycle of the butterfly in a controlled, interactive and exciting environment — no matter your age! And you can stop by more than once, as they will have over 100 different species throughout any given season. 
Between May and August, the Butterfly House is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday from 12–5 p.m. Tickets for adults between ages 12–64 cost $9, tickets for seniors cost $8, tickets for kids ages 4–11 cost $7, and kids under 3 get in for free! Get a Cup of Coffee at a Brand New Coffee Shop
Did you hear? Maddie & Bella Coffee Company, a local coffee roaster, is in the process of opening their first two storefront cafes at roughly the same time — in both Toledo and Perrysburg. If you haven’t yet stopped by their shop in downtown Toledo at 44 South St. Clair Street to taste their excellent coffee, you’re in for a treat. Their Perrysburg location is scheduled to open early- to mid-June, and both will be an extension of their already established family coffee roasting business. 
Photo Courtesy of Maddie & Bella Coffee Company
You can expect specialty espresso drinks, and a variety of pour-over options, including siphon, Aeropress, Chemex and more. You can even order a “brewery-style” tasting flight to sample one coffee brewed three different ways, so you can taste the difference of taste in brewing methods. During the warmer months, stay cool with a unique Nitro Cold Brew, a creamy cold brew on tap to satisfy your need for caffeine and refreshment all at once. The best thing about all of this? Your visit to Maddie & Bella is sure to cost you less than $10! Grab a Sweet Treat from Cake in a Cup
It’s simple. When you live in a city with a world-renowned baker in your midst, you must sample their creations on a regular basis. Stop by Cake in a Cup to grab a cupcake — or two — that will surely satisfy your sweet tooth. As you may already know, Cake in a Cup was the winner of a Cupcake Wars bake-off a few years back, and their exceptional quality has remained the same ever since. Grab a funky flavor or something simple with the family, friends, or even by yourself — for well under $10! 
Photo Courtesy of Cake in a Cup
Play a Game (or Three!) of Mini Golf
Everything at Par 2 Golf in Toledo costs less than $10 — from the mini golf games to the go-kart rides. Plus, you have two locations to choose from when planning your Toledo mini golf adventure — on Alexis Road or Heatherdowns Boulevard. Each location has three different 18-hole courses, each of which take about 30 minutes to complete. Play one course for $5 per player or all three for just $10 per player. Kids under 4 will play with a plastic putter and only cost $2.50 to play. 
This is a fun and active way to spend the day with the family or act like kids again as a couple. You can also ride Par 2’s go-karts or bumper cars, take a swing at their batting cage, or play any of their arcade games. See a Drive-In Movie
There’s something so special about seeing a movie on an enormous screen with a bag of buttery popcorn in hand while sipping on a Coke. However, once you add up all the expenses with the whole family in tow, it can be quite an expensive outing. Sundance Kid Drive-In takes away the fear of having to take out a loan for your next theater trip by offering completely affordable pricing. 
Adult tickets cost $9, tickets for kids between 5 and 12 cost $3, and kids under 5 get in for free! Park your car at this amazing nostalgic theater in Oregon for a unique and fun experience the whole family will enjoy.
What budget-friendly activities do you enjoy in town?
We’d love to know so we can help spread the word!