A trip to Cleveland doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg, in fact Cleveland can be a fairly inexpensive vacation as there are a lot of free things to do in the Cleveland area.

Photo credit: Dabbler

thinking up a storm-Dabbler818

The Cleveland Museum of Art features a permanent collection of more than 43,000 artworks and general admission to these permanent galleries is free to the public. There are 19 permanent galleries available to the public and several other special displays that are available with an admission fee. The museum divides its artwork into 15 different areas and holds work by such noted artists as Caravaggio, El Greco, Goya, Dali, Renoir, Monet, van Gogh, Picasso and many, many more. There is even a fairly substantial collection of late 20^th century art from known artists like Warhol, Pollock, LeWitt and others. The Cleveland Museum of Art has been undergoing a major renovation since 2005 and is on scheduled to be completed in 2012.

Nature Center at Shaker Heights

The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes was founded in 1966 and sprung out of the community’s resistance to the parklands being destroyed for a new freeway. The Nature Center currently serves to keep the public educated about the importance of the natural habitats of the area. The parklands are registered as a National Historic Site. There are all sorts of programs happening at the Nature Center so check the website to see if one particularly appeals to you.

Photo credit: Penalty Box Photography

Week #40: Great Lakes Brewing Co - Edmund Fitzgerald Porter-Penalty Box Photography908

The Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland began in1988 with two brothers and beery dreams. It was the first microbrewery in the entire state of Ohio at the time and today is the most celebrated and award-winning brewer in the region. Free brewery tours are offered at the Great Lakes Brewing Company at the top of the hour between 5pm and 9pm on Fridays and 1pm and 9pm on Saturdays. You can also schedule a private tour for your group if you call in advance. While you’re at the brewery, make sure you stop in at the Taproom for a taste but also to view the Tiger Mahogany Bar, the oldest in Cleveland and one riddled with bullet holes attributed to Eliot Ness.

NASA Glenn Research Center Visitors Center

The NASA Glenn Research Center works with a variety of institutions to develop critical systems technologies and capabilities through world class research and technology for exploring the solar system and beyond. The facility’s main responsibility is the support all NASA missions and major programs. The Visitor Center at NASA Glenn Research Center features 6,000 square feet of interactive exhibits and is completely free of charge. In the Visitors Center you can explore the Aero Adventure which includes a flight simulator, learn about the John Glenn: Tribute to an American Hero exhibits, rediscover the Apollo Era, take a closer look at Space Flight, learn about the Solar System, listen to Space Communications, and settle in to the Auditorium for regularly scheduled videos and NASA programs.

The Money Museum

At the Cleveland Federal Reserve you’ll find the Money Museum a free look behind the scenes look at how money is made. Trained docents take tours through 25 hands on exhibits which lead to a greater understanding of the history and purpose of the financial system in the United States. The museum is open from Monday through Thursday except on holidays.

Cleveland Institute of Music

The Cleveland Institute of Music was founded in 1920 as a school of music where every student could find opportunity for the best musical education. Concerts at the Cleveland Institute of Music are free unless otherwise noted and seating is on a first come basis so be sure to get there early. If a capacity attendance is expected you can get seating passes in advance, these passes are available one week prior to the show. The performances at the Cleveland Institute of Music are the perfect way to wind down after an active day exploring the city of Cleveland.

International Women’s Air and Space Museum

The International Women’s Air and Space Museum is located in the Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland and is free to the public. At the museum you’ll be able to learn more about the contributions women have made to the fields of aviation and space exploration. Discover how women joined the space program, helped get the first airplanes off the ground, contributed to the war effort and served as barnstormers during the golden era of the 1920s and 1930s. The field of aviation has always had strong and important women leaders who are often largely ignored by history, take a moment to learn the roles they played and appreciate their contributions.

National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame

Forget about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, take your family to the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame. Cleveland-style polka comes from Slovenian folk music so if you or your children are interested in music and dance, why not explore an entirely different form of dance. The museum is located is open five days a week and free to the public.

Hungarian Heritage Museum

The Hungarian Heritage Museum seeks to preserve and represent the Hungarian culture of northeast Ohio. In addition to a number of small and large scale exhibits the museum often schedules presentations and lectures that further understanding of Hungary and the immigrants that moved here.

Lake Erie Nature and Science Center

The Lake Erie Nature and Science Center is a great place for families, especially children. Founded in 1950 the center was originally founded by Dr. Elberta W. Fleming. She actually began five years prior in her backyard, teaching local children about the world around her through small animals. With the new facility Dr. Fleming was able to reach more people and incorporate more exhibits. The museum currently hosts more than 190,000 visitors each year in its 22,500 square foot facility. Admission is free and the center is open seven days a week.
Photo credit: OhioJ

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Despite the recession we still hope to get some good rest this summer. And enjoyable one, of course. What we don’t want though is to think only about the money when go traveling. So let’s have a look at a few fun ways to save money while traveling and avoid going too far into budgeting:

1. Find travel deals

The Internet offers plenty of ways to spot a timely travel deal. Best Travel Deals is one of the options to consider. I chose this site for two reasons:

• It is community-based: find deals shared and recommended by real people like you;
• It is regularly updated and a pleasure to browse!

2. Do it yourself

Alright, probably you are more used to package-tour groups where you just go where the guide wants you to and everything is planned and scheduled for you. But traveling by yourself is fun too and more money-saving either! Just grab a map and plan your own trip!

3. Rent cars away from the airport

A car rented nearby the airport (as well as a taxi) is most often too expensive. Car sharing is another way to save some money – it involves paying lower rates when you only need the car for a short time.

4. Pre-pay for meals

There are a number of web sites allowing to plan and pre-pay for meals worldwide. Restaurant.com is the best-known website for ding that. Just enter the zip codes for the places you plan to visit, and plan your meals beforehand.

5. Get flexible

Very often we are ready to pay extra money only for the sake of sticking to the initial plan. Changing your plans is both fun and can save you a fortune!

photo credit: Martin Kingsley

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Are you the type of person who enjoys natures and scenic car rides? If so, you will want to spend some traveling through the Blue Ridge. The North Carolina Mountains are full of scenic roads that take you through National Parks, National forests, valleys, farmlands and much more. Along the way you can take in breathtaking views of mountains, hills, and waterfalls while also stopping at many small towns that are full of history and rich in culture. Of course, you don’t want to miss out on the many historical landmarks that are also located throughout the Blue Ridge.

Traveling from Black Mountain to Golden Valley is a great place to start. Black Mountain is located only 20 minutes away from Asheville. This scenic road is known as the Black Mountain Rag. There are many stops that you will definitely want to make while traveling this byway.

• The Swannanoa Valley Museum – The history of the Blue Ridge region is well documented through both artifacts and pictures. The museum is located in the former Black Mountain Fire House which offers plenty of history of its own. To make things even better, you don’t have to pay a dime to visit this attraction.
• The Black Mountain Center for the Arts. This attraction is also free, and features local art exhibits while also offering classes and workshops. If you stop by the Black Mountain Center for the Arts at the right time you may even be able to take in a theatre production.
• Another popular scenic byway in the area is known as Drovers Road. This road got its name because it was once used by settlers who herded livestock, also known as drovers. This route will take you through Hickory Nut Gorge, Chimney Rock Park, and Lake Lure.
• If you are interested in nature, the Drovers Road route is perfect for you. You will definitely enjoy your time at the Rocky Broad River Walk, the Lake Lure Town Center Walkway and Park, and the Donald Ross Nature Trail Park.

The Blue Ridge area of North Carolina is perfect for anybody who loves nature, history, and scenic drives.

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Philadelphia is a great city to visit on a vacation, even for the budget conscious. Not only is Philly a beautiful city full of public recreation areas and parks but there are also many historical, entertaining and educational activities that are free. That’s right, absolutely free, don’t cost a dime.

Now more than ever, taking advantage of bargains is an important way to stretch the slim dollar a little bit further. The bargains below simply can’t be beat for tourists and locals alike because they’re absolutely free.

photo credit: Kevin.Ward

Independence Hall Philadelphia

Independence Hall

Independence Hall, one of the most historic buildings in the United States, is a great place to go for a day of entertainment and education and a trip through our country’s past. Originally built in 1732 the then known Pennsylvania State House was seen as a very ambitious building, so much so that it took 21 years of piecemeal work to complete. But it’s obviously not the building itself which draws so much attention, its because the building housed this country’s founding father as they adopted the Declaration of Independence and then penned the U.S. Constitution, the oldest federal constitution in existence. Tickets for the Independence Hall are required and are used on a timed basis, you can get them free on the date of your visit at the Hall or you can reserve them in advance for only $1.50 a ticket.

New Hall Military Museum

For military buffs the New Hall Military Museum is a great way to examine early military history and get an in depth look at the army, navy and the marines. The first floor of this two floor museum has a historical look at the history of the marines from 1775 to 1781, right before the Declaration of Independence was signed. The displays include many well preserved artifacts. The second floor of the New Hall Military Museum is dedicated to the Navy and the Army with a larger portion of the displays focused on Navy history.

photo credit: basykes

Liberty bell

Liberty Bell

Every child learns about the chime of a bell which signified a phenomenal change that would lead to the birth of the United States of America on July 8, 1776. It was with the bell toll that the locals knew to gather at Independence Hall for the first official reading of the Declaration of Independence. But it’s quite possibly a flaw in the Liberty Bell which makes it most recognizable. On the anniversary of Washington’s Birthday in 1846 the bell was so cracked that it was no longer ringable, but the Liberty Bell actually had problems with cracks for years with several of them being repaired throughout time.

U.S. Mint

There’s just something fascinating about money, especially for those penny pinchers out there, so where else would you go but the U.S. Mint. The Philadelphia branch of the mint is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Tours are free and self guided and you don’t need to make a reservation. A standard tour takes approximately 45 minutes. The highlight of the tour is you can actually view coin production from start to finish.

Gazela and Jupiter

The Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild has vowed to preserve the historic ships of Philadelphia, the tall ship Gazela and the tugboat Jupiter. Join the crew every Saturday from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm to learn more about the ships and to help with the preservation efforts in any way you can. It’s a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with this historic links to Philadelphia’s aquatic past. Check the website for upcoming events as there are several throughout the year and it would be a shame to miss one if your trip coincides.

photo credit: Kent Wang

The Burghers of Calais

The Rodin Museum

Most people are familiar with Rodin’s great sculpture The Thinker but the artist created so many wonderful works of art that The Rodin Museum is a wonderful and enlightening place to spend an afternoon. Movie theater magnate Jules Mastbaum was a great fan of Rodin and in 1923, three years before his death, he decided to begin his Rodin collection in the hopes of one day establishing a museum for all to enjoy. In the three short years before his demise he had amassed so many works by the sculptor that he owns the largest collection outside of Paris. In 1926 he commissioned the builders but he did not live to see the museum’s fruition, it was through the efforts of his widow that the city received this fantastic gift of art from Jules Mastbaum and Auguste Rodin.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

One of the largest art museums in the United States, the Philadelphia Museum of Art hosts more than 25 exhibits each year. The exhibits continually rotate and feature some of the museum’s collections and works of art on loan from museums and collectors throughout the world. The permanent collection includes more than 225,000 objects collected from the first century AD to the third millennium BC. Exhibits provide thorough introspection of American art, Asian art, and European art in addition to many other displays. Please note that the museum does charge for entrance every day of the week except Sundays, on Sundays you are asked to make a donation of any amount you wish.

Martin Park Nature Center

Get out and enjoy the day in the best way possible, for free. Martin Park Nature Center is different from your traditional park because it has a much higher purpose, the 140 acre park is not only a recreational are but also a wildlife sanctuary and educational facility. Spent the day enjoying the weather and cataloguing the flora and fauna.

Awbury Arboretum

The Awbury Arboretum is a true delight in the hustle and bustle of big city life. In 1852 Henry Cope built this patch of land for his family as his extended family has already built homes on adjacent parcels of land. At the time this area was not annexed into the city of Philadelphia. More Cope family members followed suit and a small family suburb was established. These grounds and the remaining homes on them form a perfect natural preserve where both historical buildings and plants can thrive and entertain guests from all over. The arboretum is open from sunrise to sunset everyday and is always free to the public.
photo credit: Paul J Everett

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Dallas, like everything in Texas, is larger than life and loaded with activities for you and your family to enjoy. The only problem is that Dallas can also have a whopping big price tag attached to it too for visitors to the area. To combat this, we’ve collected a list of free things to do in the Dallas area so you can still enjoy the sites and have an eventful trip to Dallas without spending a lot.

photo credit: JVanT

Cattle drive sculpture in Dallas

Pioneer Plaza Cattle Drive

Unfortunately Pioneer Plaza Cattle Drive is not actually real, rather it’s a collection of amazing sculptured by Robert Summers. In combination they are believed to be the largest (it is Texas) bronze sculpture of its kind.  The bronze cattle drive is designed to honor the famed cowboys of Dallas. In addition to its artistic merits, Pioneer Plaza also features native landscaping and a beautiful stream and waterfall. This large park is a great place to take a walk and get some photo memories of your trip to Texas.

Outdoor Sculpture Tour and Art Garden

As long as you’re spending a day looking at art, why not take a walk through the downtown area where more than 30 distinctive sculptures and works of art are scattered along the sidewalks. Or head over to the base of Trammell Crow Center and take in sculpture garden where more than 20 statues from noted French masters are featured.

West End Historic District

A Mecca of shopping and dining options, Dallas’s West End Historic District is great for deal hunters because at night it’s a hot bed of activity and entertainment. Quite often when it’s nice out you can catch a free musical performance or two and if you’re looking for a dinner deal, many of the restaurants there are reasonably priced.

photo credit: TXZeiss

Observation Station

Observation Station

Observation Station is located at Founders Plaza at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. This very busy airport typically sees move than 2,000 takeoffs and landings a day. From the Observation Station you can watch the air traffic above and use the binoculars provided to get a better view. The graph board and control tower audio let you in on the action.

Dallas Farmers Market

The Dallas Farmers Market started in 1941 and is one of the largest in the country. Take advantage of the local harvest by purchasing your own treats and goodies for a special picnic or bring some treats home as an inexpensive souvenir.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents free summer concerts at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center and at local parks and recreation areas. Check the website to see if you’re going to be in town during one of these performances as it’s a great and inexpensive way to spend an evening.

photo credit: Kumar Appaiah

Fountain Place building in downtown Dallas

Fountain Place

Maybe not as dramatic as the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas, but still an impressive sight to see, Fountain Place in Dallas features a sculpted 1.2 million square foot office tower covered in reflective glass, surrounded at its base by a tree lined water garden and waterfalls. 172 fountains surround the gardens with the center one drawing all the attention with 360 computer driven jets.

Retail Tale

Shoppers will like this destination, the downtown Dallas Neiman Marcus store features Retail Tale on the fifth floor, which is a museum focused on this history of this retail giant. Interesting to note, the first Neiman Marcus store was opened in 1907 in downtown Dallas.

Crow Collection of Asian Art

Art is a permanent set of galleries dedicated to preserving and displaying the art and culture of China, Japan, India and Southeast Asia. If you’d like to learn a little more, free guided tours are offered every Thursday at 6:30 pm or Saturdays at 1:00 pm. And on Sundays at 1:00 pm there is a guided tour of the Trammell Crow European Sculpture Garden.

Dallas Nature Center

The Dallas Nature Center is a 633 acre preserve and one of the only natural areas in the entire county. Included on the property are over 10 miles of hiking trails, a native plant nursery, butterfly gardens, picnic spots and educational areas. It’s a peaceful way to explore the way this region once looked.

Dallas Public Library

The Dallas Public Library is obviously free as most public libraries are, but what makes this one special is a couple of the permanent collection displays. One of the displays which draws a crowd is the libraries original copy of the Declaration of Independence. The other noted work is William Shakespeare’s First Folio of Comedies, Histories & Tragedies.

African American Museum

The African American Museum in Dallas is the only museum in the Southwest centered on African American history, culture and art. They hold one of the country’s largest collections of African American folk art. This cultural eye opener has been open to the public for more than 25 years, teaching people about what the African American culture was like, is like now and what contributions they have made.

M-Line Streetcar

Dallas’s historic M-Line Streetcar is a great way to take in some of the sights of the Dallas area, rest your feet and have a free little excursion. The M-Line was revived in 1989 by the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority and it connects with the DART rail system, so for a rather inexpensive fee you can purchase a DART rail pass and travel all around town.

Dallas Museum of Art

Yes, typically the Dallas Museum of Art is not a free attraction but if you come Thursday nights from 5:00 to 9:00 pm or the first Tuesday of each month the admission is free, although some special exhibits may be exempt. The museum has a huge array of exhibits, the highlights including African, American, Ancient American, Ancient Mediterranean, Asian, Contemporary, Decorative Arts, European, Pacific Islands, Provenance and the Reves Collection.

Texas Discovery Gardens/Dallas Horticulture Center

The Texas Discovery Gardens or Dallas Horticulture Center is seven acres of landscaped gardens including a conservatory, antique rose garden, and a particularly interesting section with medicinal and culinary plants and herbs. Make sure to take note of the irises as the center boasts more than 300 different varieties.

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This post originally came from Kathika Travel Blog. Stop by and read our most popular travel blog posts.

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A trip to Baltimore, Maryland is an exciting vacation for someone traveling solo or an entire family. Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland and was founded way back in 1729. Known for the role it played in the forming of the United States, Baltimore is probably best remembered for the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812 when U.S. militia protected the harbor from the invading British, this battle is memorialized in the famous Star Spangled Banner by a witness to the event, Francis Scott Key. Many more battles would follow as the harbor city was a key entrance to the powerful east central United States, but eventually the harbor would almost fall to ruin, it’s not until recently that its value has once again been realized and a revitalization effort has begun.

In addition to Baltimore’s historical significance, it’s also a great town for sports fans as it is home to both a noted professional baseball team and football team, in addition to other, not so popular, professional sports.

If you’re thinking about taking a trip to Baltimore, Maryland, pack your wallet and make sure you’ve got room on that credit card as Baltimore can be a pricey city to visit. If you’d like to see the sites and take the tours but you’re on a budget, use the following guide of free things to do in Baltimore, Maryland to help you find the best deals on free tourism activities.

photo credit: gavinmusic

Washington Monument at Mount Vernon

Washington Monument and Museum

In the heart of Baltimore is an area known as Mount Vernon Place and jutting into the sky is the first large-scale monument built to George Washington. The monument is a 178 foot Doric column designed by Robert Mills and built in 1829. Originally the design was meant to be much more elaborate that its current presentation, but financial restrictions and many years or work forced Mills to scale down his grand design. If you’re up for the challenge, you can climb the 228 steps to the top for what is unfortunately an obscured view of the four parks that surround the monument. For those less inclined to climb, the base of the column features a small museum with some interesting photos and etchings. If you’re looking for an additional activity in the area, take the time to explore the four surrounding parks and enjoy a picnic or a game of Frisbee.

photo credit: sherseydc (steve)

USS Constellation in Baltimore Inner Harbor

One of the United State’s oldest harbors, Inner Harbor has been in operation since the 1600’s. As of late, the harbor has found a niche in the modern world as modern travelers are using it as a port of entry. There is a lot to see around the harbor and it’s easy to spend a day wandering around and taking in the sights. If you plan on going into any of the attractions at Inner Harbor you’ll be paying a bit more than you would outside of this area as it’s a heavily trafficked tourist destination. But for nothing at all you can soak up all the sights and sounds while wandering through the harbor. Be prepared, part of the rejuvenation of the harbor was the installation of simply divine shopping options, so if you have a shopper in tow they’re bound to find something to take home.

Federal Hill Park

Speaking of the War of 1812, Federal Hill played an important part in that war as the lookout point over Inner Harbor. Noted early settler, Captain John Smith was one of the first people to make note of Federal Hill and it was originally referred to as John Smith’s Hill by the first Baltimore settlers. The name changed, oddly enough, after a great party and some riled up partygoers absconded with a ship. The party started as a celebration of the ratification of the United States Constitution organized by a naval hero of the Revolutionary War, Commodore Joshua Barney. A 15 foot replica of the Federalist was paraded through town and left atop the famed hill, but after much food was consumed and much beer and hard cider was drunk, Commodore Barney and his cohorts decided to take the Federalist for a little jaunt and they rolled it down the hill, launched it from Inner Harbor and sailed to Annapolis. With this colorful story it’s easy to see why the name suddenly changed names. Now the hill is much more tame as it serves mainly as a park to visitors, but it still provides an incredible view of the city and the harbor.

Battle Creek Cypress Swamp

This 100 acre sanctuary gives visitors an idea of what the region would have looked like more than 100,000 years ago when cypress swamps were common across the southern parts of the United States and wooly mammoths roamed the land. The quarter mile boardwalk is a fairly easy walk for all people and gives an excellent glimpse of what the world once was. In fact, cypress trees can live to be more than a 1,000 years old, so some of the giants you’re walking under have been in place since before the United States saw it’s first ship in the harbor. Once you’ve finished the walk, take time to tour the nature center to learn even more about what the region of Baltimore was before it was Baltimore. Check their schedule as the Calvert County Natural Resources Division provides several special programs throughout the year.

The Baltimore Basilica

The Baltimore Basilica was built between 1806 and 1821 and earned the honor of being the first cathedral built in the United States. The building itself is a true testament to neoclassical architecture and music lovers will thrill at the sights and sounds of the 17^th century organ. Free tours are offered daily, Monday through Saturday and visitors will get to explore all areas of the cathedral, including the undercroft and the crypt.

In addition to the highlights mentioned above there are a number of free attractions to visit in Baltimore, Maryland that are free to the public. Some of these include; Edgar Allen Poe Gravesite and Memorial, Sherwood Gardens, Harmony Hall, Patapsco Valley State Park, the Holocaust Memorial and Sculpture, the Baltimore Basilica and many more. Take the time to explore the free attractions in Baltimore and you’ll be glad you did.

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Las Vegas may have a reputation of being a place where money flows freely, but the city actually offers a large number of things to see and do without spending a dime. Below are just a few free ideas:

Watch the free casino shows. Most of the major casinos offer some sort of entertainment for free. This being Vegas, many of these are quite spectacular. There’s the Bellagio Fountains, probably the most popular free attraction in Las Vegas. This extravaganza features 1200 nozzles and 4500 lights as the music “dances” to music as it shoots 240 feet in the air. The Rio features a Carnivale parade in their Masquerade shopping village with larger-than-life characters high above the crowd. There are live circus acts at Circus Circus, and the huge volcano in front of the Mirage erupts every hour to the delight of spectators.

Experience “Old Las Vegas.” Downtown Las Vegas, centered around Fremont Street has its own free attractions. Each hour from dusk until midnight, the four-block pedestrian district of Fremont Street erupts in a combination of sound, light, and motion. Just around the corner is Las Vegas’ neon museum, which houses a collection of retired neon signs, such as the original lamp from the Aladdin Hotel. The self-guided tour is free.

Go Shopping. Shopping in Las Vegas is different from any other place in the world. Where else can you strolls the streets of Paris, visit ancient Egypt, and barter for goods in New York City–all within a one-block radius? The merchants of Las Vegas strive to intice casino winners to spend their bounty in Vegas and thus offer a dazzling array of goods, from art work to designer clothing to fun Vegas kitsch. Buying can be expensive, but looking is free.

Sample Chocolates. Just outside of Las Vegas is the Ethel M Chocolate factory. This luxury candy manufacturer is located in Henderson, just 15 minutes from the Strip and offers self-guided tours daily from 830am to 7pm. Of course, each tour ends with a few samples.

photo credit: Zesmerelda

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A shot of downtown Montreal Canada

Montreal, founded in 1642, is one of the oldest cities in North America. The French-Canadian city of over 1.6 million residents combines a Gallic flair and history with modern conveniences and style. French is the official language there, making it the second largest French-speaking city in the world (behind Paris, of course). Don’t worry that they won’t understand you. Virtually all citizens are bilingual.

Montreal is a fun and compact city to explore. It also offers a number of things to do without spending any money. Just a few of these are listed below:

Montreal Museum of Fine Arts – The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, located near McGill University on Sherbrooke Street, features a diverse permanent collection of European and Canadian Art. Among the museum’s holdings are paintings by Picasso, Munch, and Miro. Admission to the permanent collection is free.

An interior shot of the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal Canada

Notre Dame Basilica – This lovely neo-Gothic church sits at the edge of Montreal’s Old Town and features an elaborate altar and side chapels. The church charges for a tour and its “Sound and Light” presentation, but you can attend services for free. What better way to get a feel for the city?

Parc la Fontaine – Locate atop Mont Royal, LaFontaine park is a lovely oasis in the center of the city. The park has ponds, hiking and biking trails, and playgrounds.

Old Montreal – Old Montreal is the original part of this historic city and abuts the Saint Lawrence River. Many of the buildings here date back to the 17th century. You’ll find more than a little bit of France here, too, with sidewalk cafes, stone townhouses, and the walls of the old fortified city.

photo credit: doctorwho, juanm

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San Antonio has temperate weather year-round, is easy to navigate, is steeped in history, and offers a number of free things to do–including two of the city’s top attractions. Below are just a few of the many free things to do in San Antonio.

Alamo. The Mission San Antonio de Valero, better known as the Alamo, is best remembered as the site of the valiant effort in 1836 by a handful of Texans, including Davy Crockett, to defend the city from the Mexican army. Today, the site, in the heart of downtown, is open to the public every day except for Christmas Eve and Christmas. Admission is free.

La Villita. The “Little Village” is located along the banks of the San Antonio River. This artist market is filled with art galleries, artisan workshops, restaurants, and colorful displays. It’s a great place for an afternoon walk.

Strolling the Riverwalk. Dining and shopping in the stylish Riverwalk restaurants and boutiques may not be free, but walking along the historic promenade in the center of downtown doesn’t cost a dime.

McNay Art Museum. The McNay Art Museum, located in upscale Alamo Heights, is set on 23 acres of manicured grounds. The museum specializes in 19th and 20th century American and European art. Admission is free.

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Sure, Orlando has the Disney theme parks and Universal Studios and a dozen or so lesser theme parks, but the city also has a surprising number of things to do without spending a dime.

• Morse Museum of American Art – One doesn’t usually equate Orlando with art museums, but the city boasts an example facility in the Morse Museum of American Art. Among other things, the museum is home to the world’s largest collection of early 20th century glass art by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Admission is free to all on Fridays from 4pm to 8pm.
• Lake Eola – Located in the heart of Orlando, this 23-acre park is a relaxing oasis in the midst of the city. The park is known for its fountain in the middle of the lake and its many events, including the city’s 4th of July fireworks display. There’s also a band shell, a children’s playground, and live swans.
• Celebration – Celebration is the town that Disney created. It might seem a little too perfect to some, with a bizarre Stepford-Wife-type feel, but there’s no denying that the homes and gardens in this town of 2700 residents are showplaces and interesting to look at. Celebration, located adjacent to the Walt Disney World parks, hosts a number of free festivals throughout the year, or just stroll along the town’s well-manicured paths.

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Tucked between the Magnolia and Palm golf courses, very close to the great mouse’s home, Magic Kingdom, rests a resort dedicated to hosting America’s military.

Florida’s Shades of Green was originally built as a luxury resort known as the Disney Inn. In 1994 the Department of Defense leased the property and turned it into an exclusive oasis for retired and active military personnel, Defense Department civilians and their families. The name Shades of Green is meant as a nod to the well-recognized camouflage colors of the military and serves to encompass all branches of the armed forces.

Ticket discounts vary and can be as little as 6.5 percent and as much as 30 percent. If you’re looking for the best deal and the best discount, more is usually better. Look for passes that cover several days and several parks. The Park Hopper and Magic Your Way tickets seem to offer the best deals all around.

To purchase your discounted military tickets for Disney, check with your local MWR office, get a quote from them and keep shopping. It is not uncommon for prices to vary from base to base. If you’re already in Orlando, check their local Navy Exchange which has a small ITT/MWR base near the airport. Or, those last minute people can pick up their park passes at the Shades of Green resort, but remember this means you won’t get to do any additional discount shopping.

If you’re thinking about a group vacation, your military discount will count for the entire group as long as 50 percent of the people are qualified to receive military benefits. Active and retired armed forces members as well as their dependents qualify.

California’s Disneyland doesn’t have a hotel dedicated to the military, but the Disneyland Resort does offer military personnel a discount. A word of advice here, book early as this hotel fills up quickly. Ticket discounts are still available in California and checking with your local MWR is the easiest way to determine the rates.

If you’re thinking about a vacation that’s a little more exotic, consider a Disney Cruise. The mouse gives some good discounts on their cruises but they’re based on availability and some restrictions may apply. Check dates with Disney Cruise lines to find the best time to cash in on your discount and then research some other specials, the military deals might not always be the best.

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Mickey salutes the military with discounts

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Sleeping away from home can be a expensive undertaking, so spending each dollar well is an important part of every traveler’s plans. Searching for the absolute best hotel rates is your key to maximizing luxury and minimizing costs, and CNN has come up with tips on how to do just that:

• Start using new search engines: There are plenty of search engines out there specific to travel, and chances are you haven’t tried them all out. Kayak.com, Hotels.com, and Farecast.com are all great places to start, but a quick search will uncover many others as well.
• Play with dates: Rates can differ greatly over just a few days, so use hotel rate calendars to figure out which days will be least expensive.
• Get it guaranteed: Many hotel chains promise to match any rate you can find, and some go beyond to match the rate and provide a discount. Mariott, for example, offers a 25 percent price reduction, Swissotel offers half off of the lower rate for your first night and matches the rate for following nights, and Starwood gives you a 10 percent discount. To lock in these special rates, make sure you file your low rate claim at least 24 hours in advance.
• Call the hotel directly: Instead of calling the generic 800-number, call the hotel directly and speak to one of their employees. Ask about last-minute specials and less expensive nights to stay.

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Barcelona, the capital city of the Spanish province of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain, sits along the Mediterranean coastline. The city is known for its lively atmosphere, Art Deco architecture, and wonderful assortment of restaurants. Barcelona is a popular cruise port and a great starting point for a train journey along the southern coast of Europe. It also offers a surprising number of free attractions.

• Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia: The most famous building in Barcelona, this unique church was commissioned of Antoni Gaudi over 120 years ago and still isn’t finished, although about 90 percent of it is completed. The famous architect died before completion and the city has been struggling to raise the funds for the building ever since. Inside is a museum–or a fee–but the singular structure may be viewed for free from across the street.
• Picasso Museum: Another of Barcelona’s native artists, Picasso always kept Spain foremost in his work and in his heart. The Picasso Museum in Barcelona displays over 3,500 of his works, the largest collection in the world. Admission to the museum is free on the first Sunday of each month.
• Parc Guell: Another Gaudi work, this park was designed to be a residential area for Barcleona’s well-healed citizens, but never sold. Today, the spacious park is dotted with interesting statues, fanciful houses, mosaic murals, and fountains. Admission to the park is free.

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Ireland is one of the loveliest and friendliest destinations in Europe. It’s also generally more affordable than most Northern European countries. Ireland also offers a number of free attractions to help conserve your traveling dollars.

Ireland’s National Parks: Ireland’s national parks are all free to the public, although a few charge a small fee for special attractions. Explore Kilarney National Park in the southeast side of Ireland or the wild and rugged Connemara on the northwest coast. Up north, the woodland park of Glenariff is popular with visitors.

Glendalough: Glendalough Monastic Site is one of the earliest Christian sites in Ireland. Located south of Dublin, Glendalough offers church and monastery ruins to explore, hiking trails, and meadows for picnics.

St. Patrick’s Footsteps: Seemingly every place in Ireland claims some association with the country’s patron saint. However, some attractions are closely connected than others. Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, the two cathedrals of Armaugh, and Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s sacred mountain. All are free.

Kells: Located about an hour outside of Dublin, the Medieval town of Kells is a living museum. The town sports dozens of historic buildings, monuments, and a replica of the “Book of Kells,” the 9th Century illustrated manuscript for which the town is famous.

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New York City is a world-class city and the cultural heart of the United States so who wouldn’t want to jet off here for a long weekend? Unfortunately the hotel deals are few and far between and have the potential to put a damper on this fun idea. It’s disheartening to know that shelling out $200 + per night for a hotel will usually only get you a 2 star hotel or less. However, the Millennium Group of Hotels is offering a special deal through Travelzoo for its Millennium Broadway Hotel, which is located in the heart of Times Square. For select dates July-September, you can book a Superior guestroom as little as $199 per night, and many of the dates that the special is valid are weekend dates. Amazingly enough, these rates are valid Labor Day Weekend too! Additional dates are available for $249 per night. The hotel was recently renovated and is staying in line with the stylish trends that ooze out of the city, but its renovation makes it a viable option for scheduling meetings and events since it houses new-age technology on-site. It’s the perfect choice of hotel if you are planning on ending each night of your trip with a Broadway show. To take advantage of this cheap rate; book online at www.milleniumhotels.com or call (800) 622.5569 and reference the code: ZOO.

This post originally came from Kathika Travel Blog. Stop by and read our most popular travel blog posts.

Millennium Broadway Hotel NYC $199 per night!!!

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