14 No-Spend Vacation Activities To Save Money While Traveling This Summer

Ahh, summertime. We’re all a little more relaxed and carefree, and that’s due in part to the fact that summertime = vacation time! Summer is the most popular time of year to take that much-needed vacation away from work and obligations and explore someplace new! 

There are so many positives to vacation: You get to make memories with your loved ones, learn about a new place, and let a little loose. The biggest downside, however, is that traveling is pretty expensive – especially if you’re traveling with kids. 

The plane tickets, meals out, and entertainment quickly add up, and if you’re not careful, it’s extremely easy to go over budget. While it’s fun to splurge on vacation every once in a while, life is all about balance, and a great way to stay on track with your budget while traveling is to balance expensive activities out with free ones. Whether you’re headed somewhere abroad or sticking stateside this summer, here’s a list of activities you can do that won’t break the bank. 

Take a Dip

If you’re traveling somewhere with access to a beach or lake, then this one might seem obvious, but swimming is typically a free activity, and it’s also the perfect way to cool off on those hot summer days! Even if you’re not vacationing at a watery destination, see if there’s a small local lake or riverfront nearby where you and your travel buddies can take a dip. A lot of cities (even landlocked ones) have a riverfront where locals and tourists alike can beat the heat. 

Go for a Bike Ride

If you’re vacationing somewhere within driving distance, then bring your bike along for the ride! Biking is one of the best ways to explore a new place because you can cover a lot of ground in less time than walking, but you still get some exercise and you’re not trapped on a tour bus or awkward Uber ride. Plus, biking gives you the opportunity to pull off quickly for photo ops or to explore any cool spots you come across. If you’re flying and can’t bring your bike with you, then it’s usually still pretty cheap to rent bikes for the day.

Have a Picnic Lunch

You have to eat lunch anyway, so why not make an event out of it? Find a scenic spot in whatever city or town you’re vacationing in and pack up a picnic lunch for the afternoon. It will likely be much cheaper than dining out at a restaurant, plus you’re guaranteed to have the best spot in the house. Search around for a nice park or scenic overlook, pack some sandwiches from a local shop, and enjoy!

Go on a Walking Tour

Every city typically has a selection of inexpensive paid walking tours, but you can also create your own walking tour for free! Simply do a little bit of research online, find some local spots and landmarks you’d like to see, and head out! If you’re the spontaneous type however, then you can even get away with not doing any research beforehand and simply wandering around and seeing where the day takes you! Walking around a new place with no itinerary or idea where you’re going is one of the best ways to stumble across new things you’d never discover otherwise. Maybe you’ll find a delicious, hole-in-the-wall restaurant or an adorable local bookshop, which brings us to our next activity…

Explore Local Bookshops and Libraries

I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite weekend activities is browsing at the library or hitting up a cute local bookstore. There’s no reason you can’t recreate this same free activity when you’re traveling! Take a break from all of the tourists and find a local bookshop or library to post up in while you’re on vacation. A lot of cities have beautiful downtown libraries with interesting architecture that’s always fun to see. Plus, local libraries often have posters and flyers listing free events that are going on, so it’s a great way to find even more no-spend activities.