Times are tough, and I know I'm not alone when I say that when I'm out exploring, I (unfortunately!) have to try to stick to a budget. It can be tough to find free or cheap things to do, whether I'm in my local area or straying far from home. One wonderful option for affordable fun at any time of year is to spend time outdoors. Connecticut is an amazingly beautiful place with so much diverse scenery. From our hilly areas to our sandy shoreline, there's endless adventure waiting to be had outside - and much of it is free or very cheap. One of our favorite free things to do in Meriden, CT is to pay a visit to the magnificent Hubbard Park. The annual Christmas light show here is a huge hit, but the park is wonderful at any time of year and features some of the Nutmeg State's best views.

The 1,800-acre park is made up of 51 parcels of land. Much of the land's interesting topography was formed by volcanic eruptions that occurred more than 200 million years ago. Over time, the sediment has worn away to form cliffs, valleys, and other unique features.

There's no shortage of trails here, and colored blazes allow you to follow your intended trail without getting lost. Experienced hikers will adore the difficult 4.4-mile Mirror Lake, Castle Craig, and Merimere Reservoir Loop, which offers up some of the park's most incredible views. If you're not up for a challenge, there are some great shorter trails, too.

One of the park's most notable features is the beautiful Castle Craig Tower. This 32-foot-tall observation tower was constructed in 1900 and sits atop the 976-foot East Peak. All that altitude means the top of the tower is more than 1,000 feet above sea level.

Climb the stairs here and you'll have access to an observation deck that has some really remarkable views. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Berkshires of Southern Massachusetts and the Long Island Sound.

This is such a beautiful area to explore the outdoors, whether you're heading out solo, with the entire family, or on a romantic date for two. The lack of entrance fee means the only cost you'll incur is the gas to get here.

Looking for more information about Hubbard Park? Check out the City of Meriden website or our friends at AllTrails. If you're a regular hiker in Connecticut, you don't want to miss out on a free trial of AllTrails+. Even the free accounts are an invaluable resource for nature lovers, but the affordable subscription allows you to enjoy live-sharing of activities, turn-by-turn directions, and even 3D flyover maps.