We get it. Planning activities that are fun for the whole family can sometimes feel like quite a challenge. And planning fun activities that keep every family member entertained, without making a serious dent in your wallet? Well, that can feel nearly impossible. Fortunately, the Cedar Park area is home to a wide range of super fun, totally free activities you’re sure to enjoy with the kids. Crème de la Crème of Cedar Park (Lakeline Blvd.) put together this list of free things to do close to home that you just have to check out.

Indulge in Nature on Brushy Creek Trail

“William cycling through sunbeams early one morning” licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr by Graham Perks

If you’re craving some fun, family-friendly, and totally free outdoor activity, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Brushy Creek Trail. The majority of the trail winds through Cedar Park, though parts of the trail are in Round Rock as well.

Whether your family is into walking or biking, you’re sure to enjoy the time you spend on this trail. You can easily just do portions of the trail or spend a whole day out exploring the full trail, stopping along any of the six parks you’ll find as you go to have even more fun outdoors close to home.

Enjoy the Water (and Beyond!) at Brushy Creek Lake Park

Brushy Creek Lake Park is one of those six awesome parks you can access while walking along Brushy Creek Trail. You might also simply want to make this park the main event of your free day out and about with your family! This 90-acre park is chock full of active and nature-based activities, including a nature trail, hike and bike trail, playground, and water playscape. Meet up with loved ones for a lunch at the picnic tables that you cook using the barbecue grills, or enjoy the fishing pier and canoe and kayak launch on the water.

A 38-acre lake, constructed in 1965, highlights Brushy Creek Lake Park. Whether you plan a day there for the fishing, non-motorized boating, or wildlife observation, you’re sure to enjoy everything this lake has to offer. Speaking of water, kiddos will also love the water playscape in Brushy Creek Lake Park, which is open daily from May through August and on weekends in September. The park itself is open every day from a half-hour before sunrise until 10 p.m.

Dig for Dinos at Champion Park

Then there’s Champion Park, another Cedar Park spot you can access from Brushy Creek Trail as part of a long day outdoors or on its own for a fun family adventure. The children’s play area here boasts castings of dinosaur bones ready for kids to discover. Bring shovels and brushes to enjoy this unique outdoor activity.

You’ll also find a playscape, swings, and boulders designed for climbing in this park. Over the summer, kids can enjoy a small splash pad area here, too.

Get Inspired at Cedar Park Sculpture Garden

Cedar Park’s very own Cedar Park Sculpture Garden is sure to delight kids and adults alike. You’ll find this local outdoor sculpture showcase by following along the walking trail at the Cedar Park Recreation Center. Located beside the recreation center, the sculpture garden boasts an annual rotating display of sculptures crafted by different artists. So, whether you have a kid that’s super into art or you just want to fun, free way to spend an afternoon, Cedar Park has the perfect activity for you.

You’ll discover sculptures made from materials ranging from aluminum to brass to limestone to steel, making for an intriguing array of artwork. Although three sculptures are a part of our city’s permanent art collection, all other artworks on are loan from the artists and on display for a year. That means you’ll have plenty of excuses to stop by this site for public art time and time again!

Attend One of Elizabeth Milburn Park’s Many Free Events

Elizabeth Milburn Park doesn’t just offer several playgrounds, a hike and bike path, sand volleyball courts, a public pool, and more, though any of those amenities would make it a must-see Cedar Park location. This park in our hometown also hosts an assortment of free events throughout the year. You’ll want to check out the list of upcoming events at Elizabeth Milburn Park, because there’s truly something for everyone.

Whether you want to watch a movie outside or take in an outdoor concert, Elizabeth Milburn Park is the place to go. They also feature various holiday events, such as fireworks for the Fourth of July, an Easter egg hunt, and a Christmas tree lighting. All in all, if you need some inspiration for fun and free things to do, check out what’s on tap at this park to find the perfect activity for your family.

Stock Up on Local Goods at Texas Farmers Market at Lakeline

Full disclosure: You’ll probably be tempted to spring for some of the goodies available at Texas Farmers Market at Lakeline. That said, this weekly farmers market is free to enter and explore, so you can easily make visiting this Cedar Park staple a family routine.

In fact, you’ll find tons of family entertainment here. Whether that’s live music, balloon animals, or a host of other fun activities, spending your Saturday morning at Texas Farmers Market at Lakeline is sure to pack in plenty of fun. The market is open every Saturday throughout the year, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can stock up on fresh groceries like veggies, eggs, and meats for the week while keeping the kids entertained, so this free-to-enter market should definitely make an appearance on your list of Cedar Park places to visit.

That wraps up the list from Crème de la Crème of Cedar Park (Lakeline Blvd.) of six fun things to do close to home. We hope you’re feeling inspired to enjoy some affordable family time, without traveling far at all. Do you have a family-friendly, free activity you just can’t get enough of in our area that we missed? If you do, drop us a line! We’d love to check out your go-to place or activity and add it to our roundup.