Miami’s exotic restaurants, five-star hotels, luxury spas, luxury malls and promotional nightclubs put it on the map as a must-see experience for jet setters and celebrities. But there’s another side of Miami that’s fun, family-oriented, and very affordable: it’s free. From beaches to outdoor yoga in the park to arts and cultural events, you don’t need to break the bank to enjoy what Miami has to offer. In fact, you may not even need to open your wallet. If you’re looking for a frugal vacay family, consider these free and nearly free activities during your stay.

Go to the beach

Miami’s main attraction is its ideal weather, which is always free. And when it comes to seasonal travel, the weather during a Miami winter is all you need to have a good trip. With temperatures between December and March in the ’70s, it’s easy to enjoy the outdoors to the fullest while the rest of the United States dons jackets and throws itself indoors. After all, this is the Sunshine State, which is packed with free beaches. So grab a chair, a cooler and touch the water’s edge.

A good rule of thumb for those looking for a quieter beach experience is, the further north you go, the less populated the beach is. Miami Beach Central  , from Collins Avenue and 21st Street to 46th Street, has an elevated walkway for walking with shoes and no sand. While parking in these areas can be challenging, there is always metered street parking, even if it may take a few laps around the block to find it.

The beaches of Key Biscayne, a residential island far from the Miami mainland, cost a minimal fee, but are guaranteed to be very clean and stunningly beautiful. Crandon Park Beach is a three-mile lagoon-style beach with walking and biking trails, beach volleyball nets, shade shelters, and grills available for the ideal beach day. An even more remote beach in Key Biscayne is at the tip of the island, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park ,  with fishing and a historic lighthouse.

Art Deco Tours

The egg-colored Easter buildings with a defined style, dubbed Art Deco, are what place Miami in the pages of magazines and movies. See these impressive structures in person on an Art Deco tour. Whether you take a self-guided tour or opt for a guided walking tour, learn the details of this ’50s style of architecture, its pastel color palette, and mosaic murals. Miami Design Preservation League the site of MDPL.org .

Art Walk

House of Art Basel Miami Beach  Miami’s art community is rich and diverse, encompassing a variety of collections ranging from avant-garde, contemporary and historic street art by artists from around the world and notable locals. Art walks give guests not only the opportunity to see what Miami has to offer artistically, but also allows them to explore the city. Almost every week there is an art walk somewhere in Miami. Visit ArtCircuits.com for maps and schedules.

The largest and most popular art walk is on the second Saturday of the month in the Wynwood Arts District and Design  District . If you’re not in town for the Wynwood Art Walk, which includes gallery visits and late-night hours for local boutiques, venture there any day of the week to explore the street art museum on a self-guided tour. Colorful murals are painted on the sides of former warehouses converted into studios, there are inspiring messages on the sidewalks, even the crosswalks in Wynwood have an artistic element. Don’t miss Wynwood Walls, home of curated graffiti, which is a great starting point.

Another notable art walk is Viernes Culturales (Cultural Fridays) on Calle Ocho inLittle Havana, where Miami’s colorful Cuban community showcases its exuberant cultural exports in  music, art, and food.  Be sure to add the Coral Gables Art Walk on the first Friday of the month to your list, a quieter, quieter Art Walk in historic downtown Coral Gables.

Free Museum Days

Wishing for more art? Miami has a wealth of museums brimming with art and culture, some of which are free. The Wolfsonian-FIU  Museum, located at 1001 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach, is free every Friday after 6 p.m. and the highly touted Museo de Arte Peréz Miami  (PAMM), located at 1103 Biscayne Blvd., is free on the second Saturday of every month.

Free Yoga

Need to stretch well? Free yoga abounds in Miami. Stop at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. There is also free yoga on Saturday mornings at Coconut Grove in Kennedy Park and on Wednesday and Saturday nights at Margaret Pace Park. And head to Mondrian in South Beach on Sunday mornings for a free class with a beautiful view of the bay. Be sure to bring water and your mat. Namaste.

Free Bootcamp Trainings

Looking for another way to get fit under the Miami sky? Miami-Dade  County Parks and Recreationand Coca-Cola troops for exercise program offers free boot camp classes at six parks throughout the city, each taught by local veterans from the Coast Guard, National Guard, Marine Corps and Navy. Classes are held throughout the week and last between two and three hours. Locations and times are as follows:

    • Gratigny Plateau Park, 885 NW 117 St., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
    • Gwen Cherry Park, 7090 NW 22 Ave., Monday through Friday, 5 to 7 p.m. M.
    • Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40 St., Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 7-9 p.m. M.
    • North Trail Park, 780 NW 127 Ave., Tuesday-Friday, 8-10 a.m.
    • South Dade Park, 28151 SW 164 Ave., Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon
  • Live Like Bella Park, 29305 Illinois Road, Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to noon

Free Metromover

When you’re heading from point A to point B for free fun in Miami, consider the free Metromover. From downtown Brickell to Bayside, this shuttle will take you to the door door of restaurants, shops, and art centers. It runs in loops and is a great way to get around without your own means of transport. Feel free to hop on and off as many times as you need.

Free movies

Do you want to watch a movie with fam? Contact SoundScape at the New World  CenterOn select Wednesday nights to watch free movies on the lawn. Enjoy a classic while enjoying Frank Gehry’s architecture in the 2.5-acre public park. The Soundscape Cinema Series takes place at 8 p.m., rain or shine, at 17th Street and Washington Avenue.

Day in the park

Grab the family and head out for a day in the park to Biscayne National Park Family Fun Fest . Held on the second Sunday of every December through April, the interactive outdoor event includes hands-on activities and interactions with nature. Then, stay in Biscayne National Park and see all that nature has to offer.