Kids take to the waters for free

IT'S A FREE WORLD:IF YOU WOULD like to try canoeing en famille GoWithTheFlow.ie is offering free places for children aged six to 13 when accompanied by an adult during the Halloween break.

The company specialises in canoe adventure trips on the rivers Barrow and Nore and, according to Charlie Horan of GoWithTheFlow.ie, the River Barrow is a “very safe river” where you can bypass whitewater using a system of locks. The company provides two and three-person canoes, and expert instruction from beginners upwards.

Catch:it costs €49 for adults but you get two-and-a-half hours on the water for that.

Take note:wetsuits are provided but if you don't like the idea of wearing one, you need to bring a change of clothes, just make sure they're not made of cotton.

AMSTERDAM’S cultural season runs until next June and a highlight is free lunchtime concerts. On Tuesdays the Boekmanzaal auditorium, a part of Amsterdam City Hall, hosts free performances by the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, the Choir of the Netherlands Opera and the Netherlands Ballet Orchestra. Every Wednesday until June the Concertgebouw concert hall treats visitors to a 30-minute free concert, which is often a rehearsal for evening concerts (muziektheater.nl).

Catch:so many free things to do and so little time. To name but a few: the ferry ride from Central Station to Buiksloterweg; the Rijksmuseum Gardens (rijksmuseum.nl); and the famous Begijnhof secret garden (begijnhofamsterdam.nl) surrounded by 14th century townhouses.

Take note: for more free activities see amsterdamtips.com.

ONE OF the few zoos that doesn’t charge admission, the 49-acre Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, is open all year round (see lpzoo.com). The zoo recently announced a “Nature Board Walk” at Lincoln Park Zoo, which is around an urban pond ecosystem in the heart of Chicago.

You could also visit the Lincoln Park Conservatory – a popular attraction for plant enthusiasts. Its collections include a palm house, fern room and orchid room (chicagoparkdistrict.com).

Catch:if you're bringing kids to the zoo expect to pay for the carousel ride (featuring endangered species) and the children's train ride.

Take note: the US National Park Service waives its entrance fees several times throughout the year. The next fee-free day is November 11th.

* Found a freebie on holidays? Email the details to emorgan@irishtimes.com