Making memories in Harrisburg and the West Shore doesn't have to break the bank. In today's social media world it seems like everyone is going on flashy vacations but the truth is the best-summer-ever is going to be measured in hugs and giggles and time together, not in dollars and cents. It can take a bit of planning, but I've done the legwork for you and present you with a full week of family fun on a shoestring budget, all right here in the Cumberland Valley and Capital region.
This guide to the ultimate week in the Harrisburg and West Shore area was designed for a caregiver and two school aged children, but all the activities were chosen with an extra adult or an extra kid or two in mind and larger families shouldn’t break the bank. This guide does not account for food and gas, and we tend to pack lunches to enjoy on our adventures.
| 1. Monday at the Movies with an Afternoon in Nature Monday: Sleep in and hit the movies at AMC’s movie summer camp for kids at 11:00. This will cost just $3 per ticket. After watching a favorite animated movie from the last few years, spend the afternoon exploring Wildwood Park and Olwine Nature Center. You spent $9 today and the kids are gonna sleep great! Kids are morning people and you don't remember the last time you slept in? That's ok, our area boasts some pretty amazing playgrounds. We love Winding Hill and Adams Ricci on the West shore or the Shoots and Ladders Playground at Reservoir Park in Harrisburg. |  |
 | 2. Tuesday on the Farm Tuesday: Bring your books to Paulus Farm Market for Read to the Animals Day. Kids get in free with a paying adult when they bring a book to share! After you’ve had your fill of all the farm park offers, hit the ice cream shop and ask for the “Cow lick size” and enjoy a miniature ice-cream treat for just a dollar. The whole fun day will cost just $8.50 or splurge and get an animal feed bag for just $4.25 more! (Adults $5.50, kids free with adult when they bring a book, ice cream $1 each) Let’s say you splurged and spent a whopping $12.75.Add that to the $9 from yesterday and let’s round it on up to $22. |
| 3. West Shore Wednesday Wednesday: Every Wednesday throughout the summer, you can catch a family friendly show at the Community Center in Mechanicsburg hosted by Simpson Library for FREE! Comedy, magic, music, and more. Check the calendar to see exactly what’s in store. After the show, we’re heading to the beach! Laurel Lake beach is one of our favorite spots for free summer fun. Today was totally free, but the memories will be worth a million bucks. Our one week tally stays the same at $22. If the weather's not beach friendly, swap it out and hit up the Army Heritage Museum and trail in Carlisle - totally free and the trail is a unique experience my kids love! |  |
 | 4. Thursday at Little Buffalo Thursday: We’re heading to Little Buffalo for one of my favorite free secrets in the entire Cumberland Valley. The Fossil Pit at Little Buffalo is an absolute blast and can be found by following signs for the campground and then entering the "extra vehicle parking lot." The overflow parking area is on Blackhill Road, behind the woodshed. You'll see the shale mound! Let your kids pack a small kit - we usually bring a tooth brush, paint brush, screwdriver, hammer, and goggles/eye protection. Please remember to leave no trace - nothing of significant historical of monetary value should be taken from the park; but if you're lucky you may catch a ranger who will allow you to take one small fossil home (smaller than your hand is what we were told). When it starts getting hot head on over to the pool and water park where you can splash and slide all day for just $6 per person. Kids under 42” get in free, so that means most kids 5 and under, unless they’re beanpoles like my crew. We’ll call today $18 but if you’ve got shorties it might be less. $40 total for the week and one whole day of big fun left! |
| 5. Friday Downtown Friday we’re hitting the town! We’re heading to the State Museum of PA. At $7 for adults and just $5 for kids, you’ll be out $17 for several hours of fun. You’re little kids will love the curiosity connection play area and your bigs will love hands on activities in the nature lab. The whole family will love the impressive Mammal Hall and the immersive Carboniferous Forest Trail. Splurge and add a planetarium show for just $3 per person. After that, head over to Fort Hunter where you're whole family can relax and unwind after this busy week with a free movie or concert under the stars. You can see the line up here. That was one full week and you may need the weekend to recuperate, but it only cost about $57 and guaranteed it’s a week your kids will talk about forever! |  |
If any of these ideas don't work for you, there is so much more to do in our area for free or cheap. Check out our monthly calendar HERE where most of the events listed are free or budget friendly to fill the gaps
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Harrisburg & West Shore Macaroni Kid helps families find family fun in Harrisburg, Linglestown, Dauphin, Colonial Park, Marysville, Wormleysburg, Enola, West Fairview, Lemoyne, Camp Hill, New Cumberland, Steelton, Mechanicsburg & New Kingstown.
