Fun and Cheap Things to Do for February Vacation Week

By Kate • February 16, 2019

Happy February Vacation Week! If you are looking for something fun to do for yourself, kids, and/or family without spending too much money, I compiled a few ideas to share!

Below are a list of suggestions for budget-friendly things to during February Vacation week in Boston and Massachusetts:

Ice Skate for Free at Boston Common Frog Pond from February 19-22, 2019 with Winter Camp 2019
Head to Faneuil Hall for their free Marketplace Movie Nights from February 18-21, 2019 to catch a free movie
Check out the Children’s Winter Festival on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 on Boston Common with some fun and free winter activities
All DCR-Owned Ice Rinks are free (just pay for rentals if need) and here’s where you can find Free Ice Skating in Boston at arenas & more
Check out the Lego Maritime Festival from February 16-24, 2019 at the USS Constitution Museum!
The MFA is free during all Boston Public School Holidays for youth (and free with suggestion donation on Wednesday nights after 4pm)
Free Admission to the ICA on Monday for President’s Day (timed tickets required) and on Thursday nights from 5-9pm and always free for youth 17 and under
Free admission to the Mary Eddy Baker Library & Mapparium from Feb 19-22
On Fridays from 5-9pm the Boston Children’s Museum has $1 admission!
Reserve free or discount passes to many Boston attractions through the Boston Public Library
Head to a local library and check out all the amazing free programs during February Vacation Week
Head to the Prudential Center to get a Pruferred Card for discounts on retail, food and more!
Stop by the Boston Public Market for free activities during February Vacation Week!
Use Liftopia to score discount lift tickets to local ski mountains
Check out Goldstar Boston for complimentary and discount event tickets during February break!
Head to TD Garden for Disney on Ice all week and find discount tickets to Disney on Ice

What are you doing February Vacation Week? Any fun and free things that I may have missed?

Free Admission at JFK Library This Week

By Kate • January 29, 2019

The JFK Library is opening its doors for free through February 2, 2019 as a thank you to Boston organizations who helped our furloughed workers during the difficult government shutdown. We hope many can come and enjoy our Museum which honors President Kennedy’s life and legacy. pic.twitter.com/W63weAsljC
— JFK Library (@JFKLibrary) January 29, 2019

The JFK Library is offering free admission through Saturday as a thank you to the Boston community for supporting furloughed workers during the government shutdown.

For more information, please head here.

Promo Codes and Discounts for The Boston Globe Travel Show

By Kate • January 7, 2019

Are you looking for promo codes for discount or free tickets to the 2019 Boston Globe Travel Show?

The Annual Boston Globe Travel Show is returning to the Seaport World Trade Center a little earlier this year– January 18-20, 2019.

Tickets for the Boston Globe Travel Show are $10 online or $15 at the door. Kids 16 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.

However, there’s usually promo codes available to make discount and/or free tickets for the travel Show.

Keep in mind that promo codes could be limited and end at anytime, but here’s a few to try on the promo code line to purchase tickets for the 2019 Travel Show:

EXHIBFREE19: Free Ticket
Cruise19: Free Ticket
2TICKETS: Buy 1 ticket, get 1 free

Also, if you can’t score free tickets with the promo codes above, you may want to head over to Goldstar Boston because they have comp tickets available for the Boston Globe Travel Show, but you do need to pay a $3.75 service fee.

Goldstar Boston also has discounted tickets available for $20 to the Northeast Craft Pavilion at the Travel Show if you were looking to take a break from vacation planning.

Let me know in the comments below if you know any other promo codes or deals that may be working!

To purchase tickets to the Boston Globe Travel Show or to enter a promo code, please head here.

Have you been to the travel show before? Will you be going this year? Were you able to get free tickets with the promo codes above?

Black Friday Weekend and Cyber Monday Holiday Deals!

By Kate • November 26, 2018

black friday deals boston This extra long weekend is a great time to get great deals on Holiday shopping and more!

I’ll be updating this post all weekend and on Cyber Monday so make sure to check back again! Happy shopping!

*This post contains some affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy if you have any questions.

New England Attractions

Edaville: Use promo code CYBER for 50% off Sunday-Thursday date specific tickets, ends 11/26 at 11:49PM
Boston Ballet: Use promo code CYBERMON to save 40% off select tickets to The Nutcracker, promo code ends at midnight 11/26/18.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston: Scratch your offer (I got 50% off 12-month membership in my e-mail)
Southwick’s Zoo (Mendon, MA): 50% off general and combo tickets from 11/23/18 at 1PM to 11/27/18 at 3PM *I did this deal last year– my favorite zoo in MA!
Mass Audubon: Family memberships for $32, through 11/30/18
Canobie Lake Park (Salem, NH): $29 all-day admission tickets, buy online through 12/31/18.
Six Flags: Save up to 65% on tickets to Six Flags
Story Land (Glen, NH): $22.99 for single day tickets, season passes starting at $44.99 per person + free season passes for ages 3-5 with the preschool pass
Water Country (Portsmouth, NH): $29.99 for single day ticket + discount on season passes + free season passes for ages 3-5 with the preschool pass
Lake Compounce (Bristol, CT): $21.99 for one summer operating admission ticket + discounts on season passes + free season tickets for preschoolers with the preschool pass

Amazon Deals

Insignia 24″ Smart LED TV: Amazon has 24″ TVS for $99 + 50″ Toshiba for $299
50% off Croc shoes: Get 50% off select Croc shoes
Nespresso Insissia Espresso Machine: Get an Espresso machine for $59.99
Segway miniLITE: Save on Segways today, miniLITE for $199
Amazon Toys: Save on Hasbro, Playskool, Nerf, and more toys
All-New Echo Dot: Get an Echo Dot (3rd Generation) for $24
Apple iPad 32GB: Apple iPad Wifi 32GB for $249, (AMEX cardholders, check your AMEX for a targeted 20% offer)
American Tourister: Get a 5pc luggage set for $79.99
30% Lego Sets: Get select Lego sets up to 30% off
Amazon Book Deal: $5 off $20 off an Amazon book purchase with promo code NOVBOOK18
Radio Flyer Balance Bike: Get a red Radio Flyer Balance Bike for $34.94
~~40% select toys: Up to 40% on select Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, and more~~
~~Instant Pot LUX80: Get the Instant Pot LUX80 8 qt for $59~~
~~Razor A Kick Scooter: Razor Scooter for $18 in select colors~~
~~Apples to Apples: Apples to Apples Party Box for $5.99~~

Restaurant Deals:

The Cheesecake Factory: Get two slices of cheesecake with every $25 gift card purchase

Even More Deals:

Target: 15% off SITEWIDE (I got Fire Sticks 2 for $50.88)
Fanatics: 30% off with promo code MONDAY (great for Red Sox Champs apparel, Patriots gear, and more)
Google Fi: Moto G6 for $99 (Google Fi is my service provider and pay around $25/month for my phone bill)
Ikea: $25 off $100 purchase at Ikea with coupon
Hulu: .99/a month for a year
Entertainment Book: $19 for 2019 Entertainment Books + Free Shipping with promo code CYBER

Please let me know if I missed any awesome deals in the comments below– especially deals to great local attractions!

Story Land Black Friday Sale and Preschool Pass

By Kate • November 9, 2018

Update: Looks like Story Land dropped their Black Friday sale prices a little lower as the Basic Season pass tickets are now $44.99.

Heads up! If you have young children and plan to do a trip (or two) to Story Land next year, the Story Land Black Friday sale is live!

Single Day tickets are on sale for $22.99 a person and season passes are up to 40% off, with a few different options to choose from!

Even better, Story Land has a Preschool Play Pass that grants a FREE SEASON PASS for children ages 3-5 all season long! This is such a great deal if you have preschool aged children! I signed my son up for it!

Often wonderful free things do have some terms to meet, and the Preschool Play Pass is no exception. Here’s what you need to know in regards to the Preschool Pass:

You must have a 3-5 year old at the time of activation
You must buy a 2019 season pass for a parent at the same time you sign up for the pass
You must register for the Preschool Play Pass (do this soon as I delayed and missed it last year!) and bring a birth certificate or passport at the park upon activation to confirm age
You must bring the pass and your child to Story Land between March 5, 2019 and June 16, 2019 to activate the pass. (The park opens during Memorial Day weekend but you can activate the pass at the office beforehand)

If you think you can meet the requirements for the preschool pass, you may want to sign your child up, especially if you’re going to Story Land more than once in 2019.

I signed my preschooler up and bought two basic season passes at the Black Friday price of $49.99. After tax and fees I ended up paying $105.98 total. This will allow myself, my husband, my preschooler and my youngest to get in free all season long for just over $100.

A regular price ticket to Story Land is $34.99 for ages 3+ and under 3 are free. If we bought tickets at the gate, we would be paying the same price as the season pass.

We actually did the Goldstar deal last year and ended up paying around $90 for our family for a one day visit. As long as I make it to Story Land at the beginning of the season to activate the child pass and visit more than a day and a half, I feel like the season pass will be worth it.

Story Land season ticket holders also receive a one day discount to Water Country in Portsmouth, NH and Lake Compounce in CT. It also appears both companies are also offering similar Black Friday ticket deals as well as the preschool pass if your interested.

Don’t forget to check out Story Land’s Black Friday sale on single day tickets and to explore all the season pass options as some of the options have great perks!

And don’t forget to check out ways to save at Story Land to find all the deals and discounts available.

For more information about Story Land’s Black Friday sale or to purchase tickets, please head here.

*I am not an affiliate partner with Story Land and receive no perks if you buy tickets. It just started to feel like a sponsored post when I was reading it back. I just get excited about a good deal, haha. I did put my Goldstar affiliate link in there if you want to check out those deals and you can view my disclosure policy here if you any questions.

Boston Museums with Free Admission Every Day of the Week

By Kate • October 8, 2018

Taking advantage of Museum Free Days is a great way to see and visit Boston on a budget!

I have a page on Boston on Budget that tries to list every discount and deal for every Boston attraction, but I know it can be a little overwhelming especially if you are just looking for a free museum to visit or are looking for plans for a specific day!

This is an old favorite post updated for 2018. Please let me know if I missed any free Museum days in the Greater Boston area!

Here are Boston (and beyond) museums where you can get free admission by each day:

Wednesdays:

The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) is free on Wednesdays after 4pm (suggested donation of $25)
465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115

Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge offers Massachusetts residents free admission every Wednesday from 3-5pm from September to May each year with ID
26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology in Cambridge offers Massachusetts residents free admission every Wednesday from 3-5pm from September to May each year with ID
11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138

Thursdays:

The Institute of Contempory Art (ICA) has Free Admission on Thursday nights from 5-9pm
100 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210

Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA is free on Thursdays from 5-9pm
455 Oak Street, Brockton, MA 02301

Fridays:

Boston Children’s Museum offers $1 admission (almost free!) from 5-9pm every Friday night
308 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210

Boston Fire Museum is free during open hours on Friday from 5-8PM
344 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02110 (*very close to the Children’s Museum if you want to do both)

Saturdays:

Harvard Art Museum in Cambridge is free for Massachusetts residents from 10am to 12pm on Saturdays (Free daily for Cambridge residents!)
32 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

Boston Fire Museum is free during open hours on Saturday from 9:30-4PM
344 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02110

Sundays:

Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge offers Massachusetts residents free admission every Sunday morning from 9am to Noon year-round, excluding commercial groups, with proof of residency
26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology offers Massachusetts residents free admission every Sunday morning from 9am to Noon year-round, excluding commercial groups, with proof of residency
11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138

Worcester Art Museum in Worcester, MA offers free admission on the first Sunday of each month (Saturday too if you are a Bank of America cardholder)
55 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609

MIT Museum in Cambridge offers free admission the last Sunday of every month, September to June
265 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139

Always Free Museums:

U.S.S. Constitution: The U.S.S. Constitution Museum is free (with suggested donation for $10-15 per adult though) and guided tours of the boat are free. *make sure to bring your ID/passport*
Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22, Charlestown, MA 02129

Boston University Art Gallery is free daily (closed on Mondays).
855 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215

Commonwealth Museum is free during open hours Monday-Friday 9-5pm and open seasonally 9-3 on the weekends from May to October, closed on holidays
220 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125

Massachusetts State House: Free walking tours of the building and collections from 10-3:30pm on weekdays

Otis House is free for Boston residents, $10 for adults otherwise
141 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114

Waterworks Museum is free (suggested donation of $5) during open hours which vary depending on season.
2450 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02467

The Art Complex Museum in Duxbury, MA is always free when they are open (Wednesday-Sunday 1-4pm).
189 Alden Street, Duxbury, MA 02331

Also, Boston Library Cardholders can receive discount and free admission to some of Boston’s best museums. For example, BPL cardholders can receive free admission for up to four people for the Museum of Science and New England Aquarium. You do need to make reservations in advance, especially during vacation weeks and other popular times! Any Massachusetts resident can become a Boston Library Cardholder and a reserve a pass, or check with your town library for their museum passes.

Bank of America Cardholders can also receive free admission to many museums like the MFA and MIT Museum the first weekend of every month with Bank of America’s Museums On Us program.

Don’t forget to check out Boston Discount Attractions page for so many other great discounts on Boston Museums, Attractions, Fun, and more!

And please let me know in the comments below if I missed any free museum days in the Greater Boston Area! Thanks!