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where to stretch a dollar

Family field trip deals

Real, working discounts and free programs we've used with our own kids. No affiliate links, no fine-print catches — if a deal stops working, we pull it from this page.

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Library Discovery Pass

FREE with your Cincinnati & Hamilton County library card

FREE!

FREE Admission to 13 Amazing Attractions

Reserve passes online with your Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library card and visit these incredible places for free. Perfect for homeschool field trips — explore Cincinnati’s best attractions absolutely free with your library card.

🎟️ Where you can go free

  • Cincinnati Museum Center Children’s Museum, History Museum & Natural History
  • Cincinnati Art Museum Special exhibitions (general admission always free!)
  • American Sign Museum Art & history of commercial signs
  • Great Parks of Hamilton County Nature programs & outdoor adventures
  • Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park 300 acres with 77 outdoor sculptures
  • Taft Museum of Art European & American art in historic house
  • Contemporary Arts Center Rotating exhibitions & performances
  • Krohn Conservatory 1,500 exotic plants & seasonal displays
  • Harriet Beecher Stowe House Historic home & guided tours
  • Holocaust & Humanity Center Immersive learning at Union Terminal
  • Gorman Heritage Farm 122-acre working farm & nature trails
  • Norwood Recreation Center Pool, gym & organized programs

📝 How it works

  1. Visit CHPL.org/discovery-pass and log in with your library card
  2. Browse available attractions and reserve your pass (2 per year per attraction)
  3. Print or save the pass to your phone
  4. Present your pass at the attraction for FREE admission
💡 Homeschool tip: New passes become available every 4 months for popular venues like Cincinnati Museum Center and Krohn Conservatory, so reserve early.
Reserve your pass ↗

Don't have a library card? Get one FREE at any CHPL location.

Summer Reading Programs for Kids

Free books, pizzas, kid meals + more — just for reading

FREE!

6 nationwide programs that pay your kids to read this summer

Combine these and your readers can rack up free books, a personal pizza, a Panda Express kids meal, Chuck E. Cheese play points, and a Mensa certificate + t-shirt — just for keeping a reading log over the summer. Most of these run May–August. One reading log can usually count for several at once.

🎟️ Where you can go free

📝 How it works

  1. Pick the programs your kids qualify for (most are PreK–6, a few go through high school)
  2. Print or grab the reading log / journal for each — most are downloadable from the program site above
  3. Track books all summer; one log can usually feed several programs at once
  4. Submit logs by each program's deadline (most run May–early September)
💡 Homeschool tip: Stack them. The same book counts for every program your kid is enrolled in — one summer of reading can produce a free book, a free pizza, a free kids meal, free arcade points, AND a free t-shirt.
Browse all reading programs ↗

Programs run yearly but rules + dates change — double-check each program's site for the current year's details.

Kids Bowl Free

Every day, all summer long

FREE!

2 FREE games every day, all summer

Unlock a summer of fun, laughter, and lasting memories — all at no cost. Adults can add a Family Pass for discounted bowling too. Available at over 1,300 locations nationwide.

2 free games daily

A daily dose of fun — every single day all summer long.

Family-friendly

Great for all ages and skill levels — easy memory-making.

1,300+ locations

Find a participating bowling center near you across the country.

📝 How it works

  1. Visit KidsBowlFree.com and register your kids
  2. Find a participating bowling center near you
  3. Kids receive 2 FREE games every day all summer long
💡 Homeschool tip: This is a great PE credit activity and a perfect way to meet up with other homeschool families for a fun group outing. Sign up early so you’re ready when summer starts.
Sign up free ↗

Strikes, spares, and smiles — all summer long.