Free things to do with your family this summer in Florida

Summer is coming. While entertaining a family can be an expensive endeavor, it does not have to be. Here are some free and entertaining activities across the state of Florida.

Take a tour of the State Capitol

The Florida Capitol in Tallahassee is open for self-guided tours weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Complimentary guided tours are available for groups of 15 to 50 people, but must be booked at least 15 working days in advance. www.floridacapitol.myflorida.com 

Splash and play

Volusia County’s Sun Splash Park, located in Daytona Beach, offers accessible playgrounds, beach access, and a freshwater splash pad. Splash pad hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. www.volusia.org/services/public-works/coastal-division/coastal-parks/sun-splash-park.stml 

In Lakeland, Bonnet Springs Park offers 168 acres of playgrounds, scenic trails, and gardens. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. bonnetspringspark.com 

Enjoy nature

The Florida Botanical Gardens in Pinellas County is a 100-acre park full of fauna and flora and is home to the Majeed Discovery Garden, an accessible children’s garden. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. flbgfoundation.org 

The Nature Conservancy’s Disney Wilderness Preserve in Kissimmee invites visitors to hike and bird-watch. This 11,500-acre preserve is home to 3,500 acres of restored wetlands and more than 1,000 plant and animal species. Open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/the-disney-wilderness-preserve 

Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center in Key West, operated by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, allows visitors to discover the sanctuary through an immersive experience. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. floridakeys.noaa.gov/eco_discovery.html  

Prefer to stay in your vehicle? The Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is an 11-mile drive in Lake and Orange Counties. Visitors may see plant life, birds, bobcats, armadillos, amphibians, and alligators. Open Fridays through Sundays, between sunrise and sunset. www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/lake-apopka/wildlife-drive/ 

Enjoy the sunset

Every night, the sun sets on Key West over the Gulf of Mexico. And every day, starting two hours before sunset, Mallory Square celebrates the moment with its Key West Sunset Celebration, featuring live shows by musicians, comedians, and stunt performers.

www.mallorysquare.com/sunset-celebration 

Explore a 1742 fort

Fort Matanzas National Monument is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The site is reachable by a passenger ferry, available Thursdays through Mondays, with free boarding passes available at the park visitor center. www.nps.gov/foma 

Enjoy the arts

The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida in Gainesville showcases various forms of art, including sculptures, paintings, and beadwork. The museum focuses on African, Asian, modern and contemporary art. Half of the exhibits are closed for renovation through April 15. Open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; free tickets can be reserved online. harn.ufl.edu 

The Frost Art Museum at Florida International University in Miami hosts exhibitions of the works of artists in many genres. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. frost.fiu.edu