It’s one of the most expensive places in the world to live, but it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune to hangout in New York City. Spend your visit trolling the free sites and you’ll come home with just as many photos, memories, and blisters as the next guy – but more money in your pocket. Here’s some great things to see that won’t cost you a dime.

1. City Hall Park

Often filled with public art and always offering a place to sit around a pretty waterfall in the middle of the Financial District, City Hall park is a free spot to relax downtown.

2. St Paul’s Chapel

Across the street from the World Trade Center, the “Ground Zero Church” is free to visit but does accept donations to help support the memorials and exhibits honoring the victims, survivors, and rescue workers of 9/11. Read More »

Four Peaks Mountain at high noon.

Four Peaks, part of the Mazatzal Mountains and located in the Tonto National Forest of Arizona, is a friendly and familiar sight to those of us living in the Phoenix valley. On clear days the peaks can be seen for miles, and they shine like a beacon after a snow fall (its highest point is at 7657 feet). They’re also the source for some mighty fine off-road recreation, if one is fortunate enough to have access to the appropriate four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Generally, my husband and I do not have access to such a vehicle. But last weekend we had to drop off our truck (a low-slung Trailblazer SS NOT fit for rough roads) at the dealership for repair, and the only rental vehicle available at the time was a four-wheel-drive Jeep Wrangler.

BINGO.

Read More »

Chicago Jazz Festival in Grant Park

Chicago enjoys a long association with jazz, blues and gospel music and one of the Windy City’s premier events is the annual Chicago Jazz Festival on Labor Day weekend.  Originally started as a tribute to Duke Ellington shortly after his death in 1974, the festival has grown to the city’s longest running lakefront music festivals.  Attracting thousands of fans from all over the world, the Chicago Jazz Festival has expanded into the world’s most extensive free jazz festival. Read More »

Free Family Movies

I know a few people who go to the movies when they are traveling.  Me?  You’d never catch me in a movie theater while I was out of town because I’m a stickler about avoiding things you can do anytime while on vacation.  But…

I will admit that having young children bouncing around a hotel room while you’re waiting for a theme park, museum, or other local attraction to open is not good.  For anyone.  I also believe that a happy family vacation – emphasis on the word happy – requires a little down time. And what’s more down than a cool, dark theater on a summer day?  So, I may be able to be talked into taking my kids to a movie during a summer vacation.

Especially if it’s free.

Regal Entertainment Group offers free admission for select G and PG movies on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings during June, July and August.  And Regal is a good sized company, so your odds of finding a theater in your destination city are pretty good (unless you’re spending your family vacation (budget) in Iowa, in which case, this is just one more reason to ask yourself WHY YOU ARE SPENDING YOUR FAMILY VACATION (budget) IN IOWA*.)

For the most part, the movies being shown are not new releases.  But again, it’s a great way to get free down time before you whisk everyone off to the next item on your itinerary.

Visit the Regal Free Family Film Festival website for movies and showtimes in your area.

*In case you missed it, I’m spending a full week of vacation (budget) in Iowa this summer.  Visiting my family.  But I’m not bitter, because I love my family.  I just think it would be fabulous if airlines and rental cars were less expensive when you’re visiting Iowa than when you’re visiting, say, somewhere awesome.

Photo by hoyasmeg on Flickr.