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!

Wallace Falls State Park

Interesting terrain like this, is a must for an excellent vacation!

The Wallace Falls State Park is located in Gold Bar, Washington and is about 45 miles from Seattle.

The park features a 265 foot waterfall and is on the west side of the Cascade Mountains.  The park is 4,735 acres and full of rock cliffs, numerous waterfalls and wildlife.

Hiking trails in the park range from easy to experienced, and there is also a 5 mile bike trail.  In addition there is also a rock climbing wall in the park.

Animals in the park range from harmless animals like rabbits, squirrels and ducks to the more dangerous fox and coyote.  You might also see hawks, eagles, deer, elk and many more!

Onsite:

• camping
• snowshoeing
• rock climbing
• kayaking
• mountain biking
• hiking
• boating
• fishing

Nearby:

• Seattle
• Big Eddy County Park
• Space Needle

What's Free to See!
Stanwood Area History Museum & D.O. Pearson House
MILW Skykomish River Covered Bridge
Cascade Mountains

Free to See Washington D.C.

Washington D.C., our nation's capitol, is full of many things that are free to see.

If you are looking for an outdoor stroll, check out the Landmarks along The National Mall and Washington D.C. Monuments:

• The Jefferson Memorial
• The Lincoln Memorial
• World War II Memorial
• Korean War Memorial
• Vietnam Memorial Wall
• Grant Memorial
• the Washington Monument
• and the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Or how about the Smithsonian's National Zoo!  Set on 163 acres, the zoo features 2,000 animals of 400 different species and is open 364 days a year!  And did I mention, admission is FREE!

Any visit to Washington D.C. would be amiss, without a trip to The Smithsonian Institution.  The complex includes 19 museums and galleries, all of which offer free admission.  Don't forget to visit The Smithsonian Gardens, while you're there.

A number of Washington D.C.'s other attractions are also free to see:

• The White House
• National Archives
• Library of Congress
• Arlington National Cemetery
• The National Portrait Gallery
• National Postal Museum
• The Old Stone House in Rock Creek Park
• National Air and Space Museum
• Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens 

If you enjoy theater and the arts, a few places in D.C. offer free entertainment:

• The Kennedy Center - free performances every evening at 6 o'clock
• The National Theatre - free family-oriented shows Saturday mornings
• National Art Gallery - free gallery admission and concerts Sundays at 6:30pm
• George Washington University's Orchestra - free concerts
• The Phillips Collection Modern Art Museum - free admission Tues - Fri

Meridian Park has a thirteen-basin cascade fountain and a number of finely crafted statues and memorials.  In addition, it is the home of the famous drum circle every Sunday from 3 to 9 pm.

Ford's Theatre and the Petersen House offer free admission as well, however, you'll need to plan your visit in advance as they do require a timed entry ticket.

Washington DC has a number of free festivals throughout the year, including:

• the National Cherry Blossom Festival
• the Source Festival
• and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Visit Washington DC's Visitor Resource Center to find what's free to see during your visit!

Check out the Washington Metro for transportation costs.  It may be cheaper to put a Smartrip card into your travel budget, rather than paying for parking and taxi fares.


View Free Travel Washington D.C. in a larger map


Take note, if you are planning a trip to Washington DC, expect to spend a lot of time, or to take more than one trip if you would like to see all there is to see.  One could easily spend a full day in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, alone!

Cartersville, Georgia

Planning my trip to Atlanta, Georgia this winter, just got a little bit more interesting when I added Cartersville to my agenda!

Recognized as one of the top Friendliest Towns, Cartersville, Georgia is in Bartow County and located less than 45 miles northwest of Atlanta.

This friendly town has a population of just under 20,000 people. 

The average temperature reaches the high 80s during the summer and the low is just below freezing in the winter.

Some famous people from Bartow County include:  Gangster Pretty Boy Floyd, Rudy York, and Bill Arp.

Things to See for Free:
Euharlee Covered Bridge and the Euharlee History Museum - free admission
Cooper's Furnace - the only remains of Mark A. Cooper's Iron Empire and the town of Etowah, destroyed in 1864 during the Civil War.
World's First Coca-Cola Wall Sign - 2 West Main Street
Cassville Confederate Cemetery
Noble Hill-Wheeler Memorial Center - free admission


What to See Nearby on a Budget:
Allatoona Pass Battlefield in Red Top Mountain State Park - $5 vehicle fee
Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site - admission $5.50
Bartow History Museum - admission $5.50


View Atlanta, Georgia Free to See in a larger map

What's Nearby:
Atlanta, GA

Euharlee Covered Bridge

The Euharlee Covered Bridge is located at 118 Covered Bridge Rd, Euharlee GA 30120 in Bartow County, Georgia.

This covered bridge was built in 1886 and is of a town lattice through truss design.

The bridge is currently open to pedestrians only.

Nearby:
Cartersville, Georgia

Free to See Atlanta

When most Americans think of Atlanta, they think of the top U.S. cities.  However, as of July 2012, it was ranked only 40th in population, with less than half a million people.  Although, a drive through Atlanta during traffic hour, will make it feel like it is definitely in the top 10!

Regardless of size, Atlanta is definitely on the Top 10 list of Cities to Travel in the U.S.

Here are some free things to see as you travel to Atlanta.

Central Park in Atlantic Station has a free concert series on Friday nights, once a month.

Centennial Olympic Park has regularly scheduled free concerts, free family activities and features the world's largest interactive fountain.  The park was originally built for the 1996 Olympic games and has since been the site for anything from a 8 ton ice sculpture to a picnic for Barnum and Bailey elephants.

Other parks in Atlanta include Piedmont Park, Grant Park and Chastain Park. Each with their own unique free entertainment throughout the year.

Two miles east of downtown Atlanta, take a walking tour of the Inman Park neighborhood.  This neighborhood was home to some of Atlanta's most prominent citizens in the 19th century.  If you happen to be in Atlanta in the Spring, some will open their doors for tours.

Some of Atlanta's museums and sites offer free admission:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Birthplace
• Ebenezer Baptist Church
• Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
• Oakland Cemetery established in 1850
• Atlanta Contemporary Art Center - free on Thursdays

Just outside the city, is Stone Mountain, one of the area's best attractions.  Admission is free with a daily parking pass.


This photo of Stone Mountain is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is a definite must see for any history buff.  There are three Civil War battlefield areas at the park.  Admission is free.

You might like to visit Underground Atlanta while you are there.  View art displays, historic sites and take in a little shopping too.  If you are in Atlanta over New Year's Eve, you can watch the 800 lb. Peach Drop!

Don't forget to visit the Georgia State Capitol and Museum.  Admission is free and exhibits date back to the early 1800's!

Interesting fact about Atlanta's Asa Candler, who is credited with marketing and expanding the Coca-Cola soda pop, Candler had so much faith in the product, he spent his life savings on a brass pot, a paddle for stirring and the recipe for Coca-Cola.

Here's a map of things to see and do in Atlanta, on any budget!

View Atlanta, Georgia Free to See in a larger map

What's Nearby:
Cartersville, Georgia

Free to See Chicago

Budget Travel to Chicago

 

As of July, 2012, Chicago had a population of over 2.7 million people. The third largest city in the United States.

 

Some famous people born in Chicago include: Ray Kroc, Walt Disney, Hillary Clinton and Bill Murray.

 

Chicago is known as the Windy City, and rightfully so.  If you plan your trip from late Autumn to mid Spring, you'll see why!

 

While in Chicago, you’ll pay enough for hotel accommodations and parking, so why not visit some of the city’s attractions that are free to see!

 

Three of the city’s top attractions offer free admission. Click on the link to visit their web site.

 

Lincoln Park Zoo - The zoo has special activities surrounding each holiday, including Trick or Treating close to Halloween, and ZooLights before and after Christmas.  If you drive around a little, you can also find free parking nearby. 

 

Millennium Park - Don't forget to take a classic photo in the reflection of Cloud Gate, also known as "The Bean".  Check their schedule for free Concerts in the Park and shows.

 

Navy Pier - The Crystal Gardens and Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows are just two of the free and unique sites you can see at Navy Pier.  Also, check out the free entertainment  in the Family Pavilion or the Bud Light Stage.

 

This is a list of Chicago's sites and museums, which also offer free admission.  Put one or more of these museums on your list when planning your vacation.

 

• Busy Beaver Button Co. Museum
• Chicago Architecture Foundation
• Chicago Cultural Center
• Chicago Sports Museum
• City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower
• DePaul Art Museum
• Eden Place Nature Center
• Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Money Museum
• Hyde Park Art Center
• Museum of Contemporary Photography
• National Museum of Mexican Art
• Oriental Institute Museum
• Smart Museum of Art

If you are an Illinois Resident, you can receive Free or Discounted admission to the following museums on their Illinois Resident Discount Days.

• Adler Museum
• Art Institute of Chicago
• Museum of Science and Industry
• Shedd Aquarium

For free transportation in Chicago, check out the Navy Pier free trolley.  The trolley goes to:

• State Street
• Rush Street
• Michigan Avenue
• St. Clair Street
• Columbus Drive
• McClury Court
• Pesttigo Court
• and Navy Pier

Chicago has a number of festivals which offer free admission. 

• The Chicago Blues Festival is the largest free blues festival in the world.
• The Taste of Chicago, in Grant Park, is the nation's premier outdoor food festival.
• The Chicago Jazz Festival is held in Millennium Park each Labor Day.

Check out Chicago's Calendar of Events Page to find what's free to see during your vacation in Chicago!