2015's Top Ten Summer Travel Destinations

Travel and Leisure has chosen this year's Top Ten Summer Travel Destinations, as follows:

Number 10 - Rome, Italy

With their free museums, fountains, and The Pantheon, Rome has a number of free things to see while traveling to the ancient city.

9. Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Playa del Carmen has beautiful white sand beaches that offer free admission

8. London, England

London has more museums than most any city, and the majority of them offer free admission.

7. New York City, New York

The first time you step into New York City the sight alone is breathtaking! Some amazing free things to see include the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Times Square and much more!

6. Paris, France

Although there's a fee to climb to the top, you can a view of the Eiffel Tower is free.

5. Punta Cana, Domican Replublic

4. Cancun, Mexico

3. Orlando, Florida

2. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Plan your trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina around one of their free festivals, the city has almost 50!  The Annual Cruise to the Coast Car Show is one of my favorites.

1. Las Vegas, Nevada

Ranked #1 in TravelandLeisure.com's Listing, Las Vegas has a number of free things to do and see!

Feel free to list your favorite vacation destinations and where you'll be traveling this year in the comments below.

FREE to See Virginia Beach

Interesting fact about Virginia Beach: The Guinness Book of Records lists Virginia Beach as having the longest pleasure beach on the planet.

Virginia Beach is also the largest city in Virginia.

FREE Music Festivals:

• PANorama Carribean Music Festival
• SonRise Music Festival
• Last Night on the Town
• Salute to Summer

Cape Henry Lighthouse

The Cape Henry Lighthouse at Fort Story is free to see, however they do charge admission if you want to go inside and climb to the top. One thing to keep in mind, since it is inside of a military base, be prepared for a complete vehicle inspection upon arrival and have photo id, vehicle registration and proof of auto insurance with you.

Museums and More offering free admission:

• Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum - located inside the 1895 De Witt Cottage
• Edgar Cayce's Association for Research and Enlightenment
• Beachstreet USA - free entertainment during the summer

Virginia Legends Walk

What else is FREE to See:

• Virginia Legends Walk
• Grommet Island
• 14 miles of Free public beaches
• King Neptune Statue - intersection of the Virginia Beach Boardwalk and 31st Street

Budget Travel in Virginia Beach:

• Old Coast Guard Station - Adults $4/Children $2
• Ferry Plantation House(1740) - Adults $5/Children free
• Adam Thoroughgood House (1680) - Adults $4/Children $2
• Lynnhaven House(1725) - Adults $4/Children $2
• Francis Land House(late 1700s) - Adults $4/Children $2 

Other Attractions:

• Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
• Military Aviation Museum
• False Cape State Park
• Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
• First Landing State Park

Free to See Richmond, Virginia

Interesting fact about Richmond, it is one of 38 Virginia cities that are considered to be independent, and not located within a county.

Monument Avenue is a must see Richmond, Virginia. Monuments include:

• Robert E. Lee
• J.E.B. Stuart
• Jefferson Davis
• "Stonewall" Jackson
• Matthew Fontaine Maury
• Arthur Ashe

Monument Avenue is the only street in the U.S. to be designated a National Historic Landmark.  Visit Branch House and the other mansions on Monument Avenue from Birch Street to Roseneath Rd.

Visit the Federal Reserve Bank for The Fed Experience, an educational tour which includes simulations and interactive exhibits.  Admission is free.

Tour Virginia's 18th Century Historic Capitol Building.

Hollywood Cemetery is the resting place of over 18,000 confederate soldiers, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, President James Monroe, President John Tyler and several Virginia Governors.

Pedestrian Bridge to Belle Isle

What else is FREE to SEE:

• Canal Walk
• Browns Island
• Belle Isle
• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts  - includes a sculpture garden
• Virginia Historical Society
• Maymont - 100 acres of gardens, a wildlife exhibit, and more

Festivals:

• Richmond Bluegrass Jam
• Annual Mardi Gras Parade
• Innsbrook's St. Paddy's Palooza
• Richmond Jazz Festival
• Richmond Folk Festival

Budget Travel Nearby:

• New Kent Winery - $8 Tasting and Tours
• Chesterfield County Museum and Old Jail - Admission only $3
• Fort Stevens Park - The Second Battle of Drewry's Bluff
• Chesterfield Virginia is full of historic places to visit, a number of them are free to see!

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is named for Ebenezer Bryce, who was said to have remarked "It's a hell of a place to lose a cow", upon showing the canyon to visitors.

The night sky at Bryce Canyon is so dark 7500 stars can be seen on a moonless night.  The best time to see it is during the week of the new moon or the week prior to the new moon.

Hikes: Easy to Moderate

• Mossy Cave: .8 mile streamside walk up to a mossy overhang and small waterfall, which flows May to October.
• Rim Trail: 5.5 miles one way from Fairyland to Bryce Point. Several steep elevation changes. *Note: Section between Sunrise and Sunset Points is considered an "easy" hike with minor elevation changes, and only .9 miles.
• Bristlecone Loop: 1 mile loop Bristlecone Pines up to 1800 years-old, blue spruce, douglas firs, and white fir.

Queen's Garden

Queen's Garden can be seen from Sunrise or Sunset Point.  Best viewed at sunrise, as the hoodoo-laden cliffs of the Clarion Formation face eastward.

Hoodoo was the name 19th century explorers gave to the odd looking rock formations. These rocks seemed to cast spells of enchantment over those who gazed upon them.

The hoodoos are formed by the more than 200 freeze-thaw cycles that occur annually. 

Thor's Hammer is probably the most famous of Bryce Canyon's hoodoos.

What's Nearby:

• Capitol Reef National Park
• Kodachrome Basin State Park
• Grand Staircase -  Escalante National Monument
• Scenic Byway 143 
• Anasazi State Park Museum
• Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
• Scenic Byway 12

Tunnel on Scenic Byway 12

FREE to See Green Bay, Wisconsin

When we think of Green Bay, Wisconsin, football fans most often think of the Green Bay Packers. As a matter of fact, Green Bay is the smallest city to host a NFL team.

However, there is a lot more to see and do in Green Bay, than just football, even on a budget!

Fun fact about Green Bay: The world's first slinter-free toilet paper was invented in Green Bay in the early 1900's.

What's FREE to See:

• Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary
• Oneida Nation Museum 
• Historic Washington House - ice cream sundae invented here in 1881
• Cofrin Memorial Arboretum 

FREE Tours and Trails:

• Historic Broadway District
• The Walk of Legends
• Packers Heritage Trail
• Fox River State Recreational Trail - 25 mile bike trail
• Mountain Bay Trail - 83 mile bike trail

FREE Festivals and entertainment of Green Bay:

• Artstreet - held in August every year
• Waterboard Warriors Ski Show - throughout the summer on Fox River
• Friday Night entertainment on CityDeck
• Fire over the Fox - Festival and Free Fireworks display

Things to Do and See on a Budget:

• NEW Zoo -  admission is only $7 adults/$5 children
• Neville Public Museum - $5 adults/$3 children
• Lambeau Field Stadium Tours - $11adults/$10 youth

Of course, you can't visit Wisconsin without some type of cheese experience. Here are the cheeses of Green Bay:

• BelGioioso Cheese
• Renard's Cheese
• Scray Cheese
• and Nala's fromagerie - gourmet cheese shop

What Else to See and Do:

• Bay Beach Amusement Park
• Comedy City
• Green Bay Botanical Garden
• National Railroad Museum

Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier is an active volcano, ascending 14,410 feet above sea level.  Mount Rainier National Park was established by Congress in 1899. Although the park appears close in distance from Seattle, allow a couple of hours driving time.

Myrtle Falls at Mt. Rainier

The Mount Rainier National Park has a number of hiking trails, ranging from less than one mile to the 93-mile Wonderland Trail.
Short trails include:

• Emmons Vista Trail - .5 miles round trip
• Trail of the Shadows - .7 mile round trip trail
• Nisqually Vista Trail - 1.2 mile loop
• Grove of the Patriarchs Trail - 1.5 miles round trip
• Kautz Creek Trail - 2-miles round trip

Michelle on the Grove of the Patriarchs Trail

If you are interested in climbing above 10,000 feet or on glaciers, you are required to register and pay a fee. Ask at visitor centers for more information.


Visitor Centers in the park include:

• Longmire
• Paradise 
• Ohanapecosh
• and Sunrise

Two of the best views of Mount Rainier can be seen at the Paradise and Sunrise locations in the Mount Rainier National Park. Paradise is the most heavily visited area in the park. Sunrise is only open from July to late September.

Wildlife that can be seen in the Mount Rainier National Park include:

• chipmunks
• squirrels
• marmots
• pikas
• Steller's jays
• Clark's nutcrackers
• gray jays
• ravens
• black-tailed deer
• black bears
• mountain goats
• and elk

For more information on Mount Rainier National Park, visit the National Park Service's web page for Mount Rainier!

Buffalo Trace

The Buffalo Trace distillery sits on over 200 acres in between Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky, in Frankfort. The address is 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY 40601.

This distillery has been in business for over 200 years, and offers something for everyone! Each tour lasts about 1 hour and includes a complementary tasting.

Buffalo Trace Distillery offers five different tours:

The Trace Tour:
Monday through Saturday: 9am - 4pm
Sunday (April through October only): 12pm-3pm

Bourbon Barrel Tour:
Monday through Friday:9:30am
Reservations Required

Hard Hat Tour:
Monday through Friday:10:30am - 1:30 pm
Saturday: 10:30am
Reservations Required

National Historic Landmark Tour:
Monday through Friday: 11:30am
Reservations Required

Ghost Tour:
Thursday through Saturday: 7pm
Reservations Required

For more information about Buffalo Trace Distillery Tours, visit their web site at www.BuffaloTrace.com or call 1-800-654-8471 or 502-696-5926.

Free to See Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Searching for something that's free to see as you travel to Lake Havasu City, Arizona?  Search no more.  Moore Free Travel has researched and found these free things to do and see for your budget travel to Lake Havasu City and nearby!

You'll most definitely want to visit the London Bridge!  And the information center doubles as a museum with artifacts, pictures, and even blueprints of how the bridge was moved from London, England to Lake Havasu.  Best of all, admission is free!

Free souvenirs in the desert...or as the locals might call it 'rockhounding'. Collect gems as you wonder around the desert.  We found lots of turquoise during our visit!

A number of people like to hike the desert, and it's easy to find a trail.  Here's a list of some of the best trails.  If you would prefer hiking with someone who is experienced, contact one of the popular hiking clubs in the area.

One rare find in Lake Havasu City is 23 lighthouses. Each lighthouse is a 1/3 replica of a famous lighthouse on the West Coast, East Coast or the Great Lakes.

Annual FREE Events:

• Check out the Havasu Balloon Festival - January
• Buses by the Bridge - VW Bus Festival - January
• Annual Winterfest - February
• London Bridge Model Boat Race - February
• Annual Geocache Desert Bash - March
• Desert Storm Street Party/Poker Run - April
• July 4th Fireworks Show
• Relics & Rods Run to the Sun - October
• Main Street Halloween Fright Night
• Veterans Day Parade
• Boat Parade of Lights - December
• Festival of Lights November - January

Free parks, beaches and fishing docks:

• Rotary Park
• London Bridge Beach
• Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge
• Havasu National Wildlife Refuge/Catfish Pardise
• Havasu Springs
• Mesquite Bay
• Site Six
• Natical Beachfront Resort: Pool is free, non-guests must be 21+

What's close by:

• Visit Oatman, Arizona on Route 66.  Watch as the wild burrows wonder the streets and see a live gunfight.
• Parker Dam 
• Havasu Landing Resort and Casino
• Historic Route 66 Museum -Kingman, AZ 

Free to See in New York City

New York City, ah, The Big Apple!  What an exciting place to visit.  And even though you know you're going to want to pay a few bucks to visit those must see places like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, there are a number of things that are still free to see!

FREE to See:
St. Patrick's Cathedral - on 5th Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets

In the fall, check out the leaf foliage in one of the city's renowned parks:

• Central
• Prospect
• Van Cortlandt
• or Alley Pond!

If you're in the city on Halloween, be sure and check out the Halloween Parade!

New York City is amazing at Christmas time. FREE Things to see include:

• The Tree at Rockefeller Center
• Channel Gardens - between the Empire State Building and Maison Française
• Saks Fifth Avenue - whole first floor is transformed into a Winter Wonderland
• Window Shopping - at Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, Fendi, Escada, Henri Bendel, The Disney Store, Godiva, Gucci, Fortunoff and more all within 10 blocks of Rockefeller Center.

Free Admission to Museums and More:

• The Paley Center
• Forbes Galleries
• National Museum of the American Indian
• Sony Wonder Technology Lab
• Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
• Socrates Sculpture Park
• Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace
• The Federal Reserve Bank
• The Harbor Defense Museum
• The Bronx Museum of the Arts

District Sculptures, please let me know if you are aware of others:

• Diamond District - Two Torches at 47th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues
• Financial District - Wall Street Bull - Bowling Green Park 
• Garment District - Needle threading a Button - Information booth

Something unique to see if you are an art enthusiast is the over 130 bronze sculptures at the 14th Street/Eight Avenue station. The art is part of the Art for Transit program and the artist is Tom Otterness.

Transportation tips:
If you are flying in to the Newark Liberty International Airport, use the AirTrain Newark Monorail system. The system connects the airport with Manhatten (Penn Station) via the New Jersey Transit lines Northeast Corridor (red) and New Jersey Coast Line (blue).  Visit the Penn Station NJT or New Jersey Transit. Fee at the time of writing this is only $5.50.

Here is a map of the Manhattan Districts, that might come in handy.

Check out TimeOut.com's list of Cheap eats NYC. They've broken it down by neighborhood, categories and even a list of free food deals at NYC bars!

Free Festivals and Parades:

• Three Kings Parade  - January
• Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival - February
• Groundhog Day -Staten Island Zoo - February 2nd - free ceremony admission
• New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade - St. Patrick's Day each year since 1762
• Tartan Week - Celebrating Scotland in NYC - April
• Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival
• Earth Day at Union Square
• Brooklyn Zine Fest
• Bike Expo New York - May - Midtown Manhattan
• Dance Parade - May - ends at Dancefest in Tompkins Square Park
• Ninth Avenue International Food Festival - May
• 4Knots Music Festival - July
• India Day Parade - August
• Washington Square Music Festival - September
• Unicycle Festival - September
• Halloween Parade
• Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

More FREE to Do and See:

• Winter Village at Bryant Park - free ice skating
• Fusion Film Festival  - Free admission - New York University's Tisch School of Arts - February
• Macy's Flower Show - Visit The Secret Garden the end of March and beginning of April each year
• Metropolitan Opera in the Park
• Shakespeare in the Park - the Delacorte Theater in Central Park - June
• Feast of O-Bon - July - Riverside Park
• Movies in Central Park - August

More to see:

• Concourse at Rockefeller Center - great underground area to visit, especially if it's cold outside.
• Olympic Tower - waterfall, free Hellenic Art museum, Parthenon Marble Casts Collection
• Abandoned City Hall Subway Station
• FREE New York City Tours 

Where to Eat:
Katz's  Delicatesssen - Established in 1888, located at 205 East Houston Street (corner of Ludlow St.), New York, NY 10002
Grimaldi's Pizza - 1 Front Street, Brooklyn, NY (under the Brooklyn Bridge)
Burger Joint New York, 119 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019

Check out Thrillist.com for information on where to eat for free in NYC!


Visit New York City's Official Web Site and NYCGo.com for more things to see and do during your vacation to New York City!

Festivals and Events in Myrtle Beach, SC

Festivals and Events in Myrtle Beach, SC

January

SOS Mid Winter Event

NMB Winter Run

SCYSA Sub-Regionals

Februrary

We Love Our Snowbirds Reception

March

25th Annual St. Patricks Day Parade & Festival

High Tide Ultimate Frisbee

Fastpitch Dreams Collegiate Softball Spring Training

April

SOS  Spring Safari

American Cancer Society Relay for Life

Hootie & The Blowfish's Monday after the Masters

NMB Easter Egg Hunt

Divas 1/2 Marathon & 5K

Coast FA Spring Classic

May

Mayfest on Main

Sounds of Summer Concert Series

Little River Blue Crab Festival

Taste of the Coast at NMB Park & Sports Complex

June

Sounds of Summer Concert Series

Music on Main

July

Patriotic Cantata

Annual July 4th Fireworks Display

Junior SOS

Sounds of Summer Concert Series

Music on Main

WFC Softball Summer Nationals

August

PGA Tour Superstore World Amateur Championship

Sounds of Summer Concert Series

Music on Main

Dixie Youth Machine/Coach Pitch World Series

September

SOS Fall Migration

Anual SOS Charity Golf Tournament

Irish Italian International Festival

911 Candlelight Memorial Vigil

Sounds of Summer Concert Series

Music on Main

Basils Family Fun Run 2015

October

Little River Shrimp Fest

Annual Cruise to the Coast Car Show

Annual Loris Bog-Off Festival

Endless Summer Festival

Masters National Pro-Mini Golf Championship

Howl-O-Scream

November

Annual Intracoastal Christmas Regatta

Carolina Beach Music Awards

Snowball Drop

December

Annual NMB Christmas Tree Lighting

Annual NMB Christmas Parade

Chirstmas Cantata

North Myrtle Beach Women's Club Tour of Homes

Free To See San Francisco

Most everyone thinks of seeing the Golden Gate Bridge when traveling to San Francisco. I know it's definitely on my bucket list.  However, few know about Fort Point, which is a fort built in 1853 at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge.  The fort is a great location for taking photos of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Fun Fact: The Golden Gate Bridge is continuously painted and repainted all the time. The bridge is so long that by the time the paint crew gets from one end to the other, it’s time to start over again.

Now, for what's Free to See!

• San Francisco City Guides  offers several free tours daily
• San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park
• Ghirardelli's factory tour and free samples
• Cable Car Museum
• San Francisco Railway Museum 

FREE Admission the first Wednesday of each month:

• San Francisco Zoo
• Steinhart Aquarium

FREE Admission the first Tuesday of each month:

• San Francisco Modern Art Museum
• Asian Art Museum
• de Young Museum 
• Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museum 
• Cartoon Art Museum 

FREE Concerts:

• San Francisco Chamber Orchestra
• Chamber concert music at Yerba Buena Gardens on Wednesdays

Check out some of San Francisco's fairs and festivals:

• Stern Grove Festival 
• San Francisco Free Folk Festival
• Jaight Ashbury Street Fair

What's Nearby:

• Alcatraz Island
• The Fillmore Auditorium
• Fisherman's Wharf 
• Yerba Buena Gardens 

FREE to See Smoky Mountains

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States.  It's no surprise there is so much free to see!

Free Live Music Entertainment - Elks Plaza, between traffic lights 8 & 9 in Gatlinburg
Sugarlands Visitor Center - free movie, information on the park, and animal displays
Visit the Tennessee Heritage Arts & Crafts Trail - 8 mile loop, watch artists and craftsmen at work
Sevierville Courthouse - built in 1896

Tour the Rocky Top Wine Trail. The wine trail consists of 5 wineries all within 12 miles:

• Hillside Winery
• Apple Barn Winery
• Mountain Valley Winery
• Sugarland Cellars
• and Eagle Springs Winery.  

All offer free wine tastings and tours.  Explore 3 wineries and get a free glass, tour 5 and receive a bonus gift.

Historic Buildings:

• Cades Cove - 11 mile loop with historic buildings, grist mill and more.
• Cataloochee
• Oconaluftee
• Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Visit 4 area Grist Mills:

• John P. Cable Grist Mill in Cades Cove
• Mingus Mill
• Ogle Mill
• Reagan Mill

Hiking Trails:
Chimney Tops - 4 miles; 1,335' climb; strenuous; winds through a virgin forest to the Chimney Top pinnacles
Abrams Falls - 5 miles; 340' climb; moderate; a relatively flat trail leading to the 20' falls
Arch Rock - 2.5 miles; 400' climb; easy; trail leads to an erosion-created tunnel
Hen Wallow Falls - 4 miles; 520' climb; moderate; good short-day hike to 95' falls
Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail - 3,000' loop paved trail with educational exhibits and communications media
Alum Cave Bluffs - 5 miles; passes through a bald of mountain laurel and rhododendrons
Cades Cove - .5 miles; see how settlers used native plants
Cove Hardwoods - .75 miles; grove of old-growth deciduous trees
Laurel Falls - 2.5 miles; paved trail leads through a pine-oak forest to the falls
Cosby - 1 mile; introduction to the Great Smoky Mountains' natural history

Picture Opportunities:
Sevier County Courthouse - Statue of Dolly Parton
Pigeon Forge Visitors Center - Old Steam Engine
Smoky Mountains National Park Sign - as you enter the park

More Free to See:

• Rockefeller Memorial - located at Newfoundland Gap
• Evening on the Mountain Farm Museum - Oconaluftee 
• Cataract Falls Walk - Sugarlands Visitor Center
• The Trentham Family Cemetery 

What's Nearby:

• White Water Rafting 
• Smoky Mountain Train Ride 
• Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont 
• Synchronous Fireflies 
• Smoky Mountain Field School 
• Smoky Mountain Ziplines 

FREE to See Lake Geneva

Whether you call it Geneva Lake, or Lake Geneva, the area has a ton of fun things to see and do....a number of which are free to see!  The lake is 8.6 square miles and it is best to visit during the summer months of June, July and August.

Yerkes Observatory, was established in 1897, and is part of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of Chicago.  The Gothic architectural design alone, is worth the trip.  It is staged in a 77 acre park full of flowers and gardens, and houses the world's largest refractor telescope. The observatory opens to the public and  offers free tours at 10am, 11am and noon on Saturday mornings.  Allow about 45 minutes for the tour.

The Venetian Festival takes place the 3rd weekend in August each year, and has a number of free activities and shows.  Entertainment includes a Water Ski Show, free bands (and some with only $5 admission at the time of this article), craft fair, boat parades, fireworks and more!

What's Free to See:
Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy
Flatiron Park - free concerts on Thursdays in July and August, Art in the Park
Geneva Lake Shore Path - 21 miles around Lake Geneva
Appeltreow Winery & Distillery - free tours and tastings


View Lake Geneva Free Things to See in a larger map

What's Nearby:
Big Foot State Park Beach - $7 per vehicle
The Dancing Horses Theatre
Watson's Wild West Museum  - admission $5

Washington D.C. City Apps

Whether it's your first time traveling to Washington D.C., or you've lived there all your life, you'll find these Free Washington D.C. City Apps helpful!

Washington D.C. City Guide  - Android Link
This is a free Washington D.C. City Guide from TripAdvisor.  This app includes restaurants, attractions, hotels and reviews.  And can be used offline.

DC Rider App - Android Link  iPhone Link
Built for Metro-riding in the Washington D.C. area.  Find the nearest station, how long until the next train, advisories and more.

DC Going Out Guide - iPhone Link
Great for locals or travelers.  This app tells what bars and restaurants are in the area, along with what's new, entertainment and reviews.

Washington DC Travel and Photo Guide - iPhone Link
Where and when to go to get the best shots of Washington DC's icons.

Washington DC Map and Walks - iPhone Link
Includes walking tours of monuments and memorials, art walk, gardens walk and many more.

Museums in Washington DC - Android Link
All Smithsonian museums are listed, museum links, maps and more!

Washington DC Free Guide - Android Link
Includes GPS guide, Mobile Reference, attraction articles, verified GPS addresses, restaurants, tips and more!

Download your FREE Washington D.C. Apps today and Visit Free to See Washington D.C. to find what is free to see and do in Washington D.C. during your vacation!

Free to See Seattle

I remember the first time I went to a Sculpture Park, it was in New Orleans.  It was hard to believe such a neat attraction could be free to see....  While you're in Seattle, check out The Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture Park.  It is free to see, and open daily!

Here's an unusual fact about Seattle.  As you probably know, the Boeing Everett Factory is the largest building (by volume) on Earth.  But, did you know, that before air circulation was perfected in the 1960's, clouds used to form inside the plant and at times it would actually rain, indoors!

What's Free to See:

Snoqualmie Falls 

Frye Art Museum   

704 Terry Avenue

Seattle, WA 98104

Gates Foundation Visitor Center

440 Fifth Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109

Free concerts at Benaroya Hall. While there, discover the 26 foot tall, 4,490 pipe Watjen Concert Organ.

See the Fish Ladder at Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, also known as Ballard Locks.  The locks provide a link for boats (and fish) between the salt water of Puget Sound and the fresh water of the Ship Canal.  Free guided tours are given from March 1st thru November 30th.

The Carl S. English Botanical Gardens is one of Seattle's best kept secrets!  The gardens houses more than 570 species and 1500 different varieties from around the world.

Pioneer Square - historic buildings dating back to 1852

Pike Place Market

The view from the bar at The Edgewater Hotel.

Jimi Hendrix Memorial Site

View Seattle, Washington in a larger map

More to See:

• Seattle Aquarium
• Space Needle
• Argosy Cruise Harbor Tour
• Pacific Science Center
• The Museum of Flight
• Woodland Park Zoo

Getting Around Seattle/Transportation:

• The Seattle StreetCar fares are a mere $2.50 and only $0.75 for Seniors.
• Metro  - fares range from $2.25 to $3.00 and $0.75 for Seniors
• Taxi - $40 flat rate from airport to hotel district. $2.50 meter drop + $2.70 per mile.
• Seattle Monorail  - $2.25 and $1.00 for Seniors
• More Transportation Tips for you! 

What's close by:

• Mount Rainier - an active volcano ascending 14,410 feet above sea level
• Olympic National Park - Mount Olympus is the highest peak in the park at 7,980 feet, and receives over 200 inches of precipitation each year. 
• Bainbridge Island
• Almqist Family Vintners offers free tastings.
• Cascade Tunnel - longest railroad tunnel in the United States at 41,200 feet.



Chicago City Apps

Whether it's your first time traveling to Chicago, or you've lived there all your life, you'll find these Free Chicago City Apps helpful!

Chicago App Brain - Android Link
Chicago city app that provides information to: local news, public transportation, restaurants, weather forecast, bars, pubs, hotels and more!

Chicago Beer Geek - iPhone Link
This app is meant to inform Beer Geeks about the great events and locations around the city and surrounding suburbs.  Find out about tastings, homebrewing classes and festivals.

Chicago Traffic Tracker - on Google Play
Chicago Traffic Tracker - iPhone Link
This is an app from the Chicago Department of Transportation.  The app provides real time traffic conditions, congestion projection, vehicle counts and more!

FasPark  Links for iPhone and Android
The FasPark app navigates drivers to available street and garage parking.  Find free, metered, or permit spots on iPhone or Android in Chicago.

Chicago Transit Tracker CTA - for Android
This app shows estimated arrivals for favorite or nearby bus or train stops, uses device location data, mapping, service alerts, shows time and date.  There is a free and a low cost app available, depending on your needs.

Download your FREE Chicago Apps today and Visit Free to See Chicago to find what is free to see and do in Chicago during your vacation!

O'Bannon Woods State Park

O'Bannon Woods State Park is located at 7234 Old Forest Road SW, Corydon, IN 47112.

The O'Bannon Woods State Park features a Pioneer Village including a 19th century working haypress.

The hiking trails in the park range from .8 miles to 2 miles, and range from easy to rugged.

Onsite:

• firetower
• camping
• boating
• fishing
• hiking

Nearby:
Marengo Cave
Corydon Capitol State Historic Site - Admission $5
Butt Drugs Soda Fountain

What's FREE to See!
Turtle Run Winery - Free tours and tastings
Smith Creek Covered Bridge
Southern Indiana Fiber Arts Festival

Visit the Corydon Calendar of Events to see what's FREE to See during your stay!

Indiana State Parks

Versailles State Park

Versailles State Park is located at 1004 U.S. 50, Versailles, IN 47042. 

With a 230 acre lake, Versailles State Park is the second largest state park in the state of Indiana.

Discover fossils from a time when the area was covered by waters.

Also, investigate the Civil War history that tells when the Confederate Army had control of the town of Versailles and the area that is now Versailles State Park.

Trails in the park range from easy to moderate and are from 1.5 to 2.75 miles in length.

Onsite:

• fishing
• boating
• swimming pool
• camping
• hiking
• bicycling
• horseback riding
• birdwatching

Nearby:

• Bluegrass Festival
• Ripley County Museum
• The Damm Theatre

What's FREE to See!

• Versailles Pumpkin Show
• Busching Covered Bridge and Otter Creek Covered Bridge
• Batesville Area Historical Society
• Powers' Winery

Visit the Ripley County Tourism Calendar of Events to find what's FREE to See during your visit!

Indiana State Parks