The Blogger Union has partnered with CreativeMornings/Miami for a collaborative storytelling marathon. Tune in to read the story of our city told by local creatives, bloggers and entrepreneurs. Each week, a different member of CreativeMornings will take over to post what inspires them about South Florida. Do you want to take over the CreativeMornings/Miami blog and share your take on our community? Email Paola at info@thebloggerunion and we’ll get working on it!

My name is Teresa Mears  and I will be taking over the CreativeMornings/Miami Blog this week. I’ll be talking about free and cheap ways to enjoy life in Miami, which is important as our city gets more expensive. Luckily, we have many opportunities to free concerts, free movies, free things to do with kids and other free and cheap entertainment in Miami.

This article was adapted from a post at Miami on the Cheap.

People seem to think that dating needs to be expensive. We at Miami on the Cheap don’t agree. Dates (and date nights) can be romantic without being expensive. Here are 10 ideas for free and cheap dates in Miami:

Art

• The Wolfsonian. The Wolfsonian-FIU Museum in Miami Beach has free entry every Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sometimes there are special programs, free films or musical guests.
• Art Walks. Miami has art walks taking place all over the city. In fact, there’s a high chance you’ll find an art event every weekend. Popular art walks include those in Wynwood, Coral Gables and Bird Road Art District.
• Perez Art Museum. PAMM offers free admission every first Thursday and second Saturday of the month. The museum is open late the first Thursday, and there are often special events. The second Saturday free day includes activities for children and families..

Music

• Free jazz at MOCA. The Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami has a free jazz concert every last Friday of the month. Admission to the museum during this event is by donation, and the galleries stay open late.
  
• New World Symphony Free Concert Series. The New World Symphony offers free community concerts during its season, including Wallcast, where the symphony concert is broadcast live on the wall outside the concert hall. The Wallcast concerts are always free, and you can take a picnic or buy food on site. The 2015-2016 season begins Oct. 15. For a full schedule visit the NWS events calendar.
  
• Viernes Culturales. This celebration of Latin culture is 7 to 11 p.m. the last Friday of every month in little festival. The event includes music on multiple stages, as well as art, culture and food.

Parks and Recreation

• Bike Trails. For those who like to engage in physical fitness with friends, Miami-Dade has many free bike trails. You can find bike trails in Oleta State Park, Crandon Park, the Everglades and many more locations.
• Fun with Fido. We’ve heard that dog parks are a great place to meet potential dates who share your love for furry companions. Miami-Dade has more than 25 dog-friendly parks you can visit free.
• Romantic parks. Miami-Dade has many beautiful parks, but one in particular is great for dates: South Pointe Park on Miami Beach. It’s open as late as 2 a.m., has great views (including an observation deck and views of the bay by Fisher Island) and is wonderful for both daytime and nighttime dates.
  
• Walks on the beach. There is a reason walking on the beach is part of every personal ad. Walking on the back with the right person can be very romantic, and walking and talking is a great way to get to know someone. Miami-Dade County has hundreds of miles of coastline, and all you have to pay for is parking.

(Photo by Teresa Mears, all rights reserved)

About Teresa Mears: Teresa Mears is a longtime South Florida journalist. She worked previously as an editor at The Miami Herald, The Tampa Bay Times and The Los Angeles Times. She has also contributed to MSN Money, The New York Times, The Boston Globe and other publications. She has published Miami on the Cheap, Fort Lauderdale on the Cheap, Living on the Cheap and related sites since 2009. In addition to publishing websites, she writes about personal finance for U.S. News & World Report. When she’s not working on the website, she’s polishing her singing and learning to play the guitar. She is a member of Nova Singers, the South Florida Jubilee Chorus and the Broward Folk Club.