Frugal Travel Destinations: Free Attractions Exist to Help Vacation Budgets
Photo Credit: TripAdvisor.com; The Bellagio
Photo Credit: TripAdvisor.com; The Pantheon
During a time of continued economic turmoil and with personal budgets being reduced a few luxury items such as vacations might be reduced or even eliminated. There are attractions and things people can do on their travels for free to help supplement the vacation experience.
Across the country there are free attractions available to not only make travel more cost effective, but by providing unique opportunities that travelers might not normally think of. From Seattle to Las Vegas and from Chicago to New York City, there are opportunities to help extend a vacation budget.
Karla Slate takes advantage of taking her nieces to Seattle, Washington often and purposely engages them in free activities. On her last trip, Slate embarked upon Pike Place Market. “The Market is great because it is free to enter and enjoy the sights, smells and random entertainment from fish throwing to street performers throughout the market. And best of all, we get to visit vendor booths and talk to crafters that make their own wares,” Slate explains. “It is fun for the kids to watch them in action sewing or weaving. The only cost is buying souvenirs and parking, if you can’t find free street parking (which is rare).”
A free Seattle adventure for Slate and her nieces also included a visit to what is known to locals as the Ballard Locks (official name is the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks) and to the Freemont Troll, which lives under Seattle’s Aurora Bridge. “It is a gigantic cement sculpture of a troll (about 18 ft. tall) that has a Volkswagen Beetle in his left hand,” according to Slate. “The kids can climb on it for a photo opportunity, or sometimes they just like to wave as we drive by.”
For Slate, these free Seattle-based attractions were a great way for her to “save money and be able to have more to spend on souvenirs and dining out. With the economy the way it is, I will still do these things with my nieces by likely packing a lunch or scouting out a cheap dining option to pair with it, so we can save a little more,” she adds.
Zoos often top the top travel favorite list for many when traveling. Deb Howes from Dubuque, Iowa says her family visited the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin. “This is a great zoo and offers free admission. We spent at least a half day here. There is a remodeled children’s zoo, a park next to it and a public beach across the street on the lake.”
Another famous U.S. attraction that extends free and unique opportunities is the breathtaking National Park system. But, beyond the vistas and Old Faithful, Barbara Heller from Afton, New York, discovered an enriching experience during her six month road trip.
Photo Credit: www.nps.gov
“The best free attractions are at National Parks…Yosemite especially. With the usual free guided hikes with park rangers to a free-two hour morning photography class led by a photographer from the Ansel Adams gallery, we so enjoyed free art classes at the art association there,” Heller says.
Yet, even big cities have bargain travel attractions. Anna Fader, from New York and editor of MommyPoppins.com, says “People have this perception that NYC has to be really expensive, but it’s really not true. New York has amazing opportunities that are completely free, like taking world-class art classes at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You couldn’t pay any amount of money in another town to be able to do all the amazing things you can do for free in NYC. The only trick is to know about them.”
One New York City resident, Lisa Hanock-Jasie, says her family and friends always visit attractions (be they historic, cultural, or entertaining) on ”free admission” days/evenings. ”In these challenging times the total admission for an entire family is often cost-prohibitive,” she adds.
Some NYC freebies Hanock-Jasie advocates for frugal travelers with children include:
- Bronx Zoo - Free Wednesdays (normally $15)
- Museum of Modern Art - Free Fridays 4:00pm-8:00pm (normally $20)
- Brooklyn Children’s Museum - Free Saturdays to families 10:00-11:00am (normally $7.50)
With some advance planning and preparation, traveling to top U.S. destinations such as New York can be enhanced with free attractions.
Hilary, editor of Less Than a Shoestring who resides in Berlin, Germany, says “I will be traveling to NYC over New Year’s and will visit the major museums for free, simply by planning my visits for when they have their free days. Armed with a solid guidebook and the Internet, there is no reason why travelers shouldn’t be able to take advantage of similar offers in their destinations of choice.”
New York is not the only city to offer free admission to its awe-inspiring museums. Zachary Morrison, Chicago, Illinois, says “With some of the most influential pieces known to the art community, many of Chicago’s museums have free days…you just need to know where to look.”
For example, Morrison points out that The Art Institute of Chicago, renowned for its extensive collection of Impressionist and American art, is free on Thursdays from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Additionally, the Museum of Contemporary Art is free all day on Tuesdays.
To help travelers plan out a budget-friendly trip, TripAdvisor®, has announced the top 10 free attractions in the U.S. and Europe, according to traveler popularity and TripAdvisor editors.
Top 10 Free U.S. Attractions
- Bellagio Fountains, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
- Waimea Canyon, Waimea, Hawaii
- Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
- Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park, Utah
- U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Pacific Coast Highway, Route 1, California
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, D.C.
- Freedom Trail, Boston, Massachusetts
- Central Park, New York, New York
Top 10 Free European Attractions
- Pantheon, Rome, Italy
- National Gallery, London, England
- Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, England
- Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France
- St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral, Brussels, Belgium
- Duomo - Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy
- Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain
- Westminster Abbey, London, England
- St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice, Italy
- Giant’s Causeway, Bushmills, Northern Ireland
What is your favorite FREE travel attraction? Do you plan on experiencing more free attractions in 2009 due to the economy?
In this tough economy, I’ve found that I’ve got a new perspective on tourist attractions. For example, the Eiffel Tower is an incredible attraction even if you don’t climb to the top — and the amazing view from below is free! Many monuments (not to mention unbelievable landscapes/views) can be experienced for free, even if an up-close-and-personal look (which often means crowds and distractions anyways) is not always. Thanks for keeping us thinking about great ways to continue traveling , even as financial times are tight.
This is a great offer especially to those looking for new destination but having limited budget, you will be able to experience a new escapade which will help you with your limited budget.
This is really a helpful article for people who travel a lot and would want to explore different places. This is what can help you save on your traveling but experience the same fun and excitement.