You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a good time when traveling. Every city has free things to do and interesting sites to see to keep the entire family entertained for days.
Here’s just some of what you can see or do for free in America with no out of the pocket expense.
1. Los Angeles – Stargaze at Griffith Observatory
Explore the heavens at this famous observatory in the Hollywood Hills. A famous setting for movies and television, the Griffith Observatory offers excellent views of the Hollywood sign and downtown Los Angeles and out to the Pacific Ocean on a clear day.
2. Attend a live TV show taping
Attend a live taping of a TV show in Los Angeles or New York. Game shows, talk shows, and even TV sitcoms regularly feature a live studio audience. Who knows which celebrities you’ll see! Your favourite show needs tickets organised in advance, and often can usually be booked months ahead.
3. Portland – Take a hike
One of the most walkable U.S. cities, Portland offers over 100-miles of nature trails and paths. Forest Park, Tryon Creek State Park and Columbia River Gorge are just some of the gorgeous places you can see on foot.
4. Los Angeles – Stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Take a stroll along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street where you can see the monuments to Hollywood’s most celebrated stars. There are plenty of shops to visit along the route too.
5. New York City – Ride Staten Island ferry past Statue of Liberty
A ride on the Staten Island Ferry is a tradition for first-time visitors to New York. The 5-mile ride across New York harbour provides excellent views of Lady Liberty too. Once on Staten Island, visit the many historic sites and parklands.
6. Las Vegas – Famed Vegas Strip
Nothing says Vegas like the bright neon lights of the Vegas Strip. Even if you’re not a gambler, watching the excitement on the floor of these world-famous casinos is entertainment enough with many free options offered to entice you in.
7. Nashville – Honkey-Tonk in a country music bar
Nashville’s Broadway and Second Avenue are filled with the sounds of Country Music and Honky Tonk. Listen to music to your heart’s content! If the mood strikes, you might even want to dance along to the beat.
8. Miami – South Beach
One of America’s most famous beaches, South Beach near Miami offers plenty of space to soak in the sun or go for a swim. Bordering the beach is the famous Art Deco Historic District where you can cool off in one of the many restaurants, bars, clubs and lounges.
9. New York City – Cross the Brooklyn Bridge
Walk or bike across one of the world’s most historic bridges. The famous span between Manhattan Island and Brooklyn offers a wide pedestrian thoroughfare for excellent New York views. A slow, relaxed walk will take up to an hour. The quaint Brooklyn neighbourhoods offer lots in the way of restaurants, cafes, shops and parklands.
10. San Francisco – Visit the sea lions at Pier 39
A must when visiting San Francisco, a visit to Pier 39 is the perfect introduction to the city’s long and picturesque harbour. Home to a population of adorable sea lions, Pier 39 offers an up-close view. Once there, try a piping hot bowl of clam chowder soup – best served in a sourdough bread bowl.
11. Las Vegas – Watch the fountain show at Bellagio
One of the most spectacular shows in Vegas is the outdoor fountain show at Bellagio. The magical fountains dance and spray to the soaring music and bright lights several times each evening.
12. Oahu Hawaii – Climb Diamond Head
Striking a dramatic pose when viewed from Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head is one of Oahu’s most spectacular natural wonders. The giant volcano cone can be explored on walking trails that offer excellent views of Oahu and the Honolulu, Hawaii skyline.
13. Washington DC – Free monument tour
Washington D.C. is filled with monuments and museums. The best part is, nearly all of these iconic landmarks are free, including the National Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian and the National Museum of the American Indian.
14. Washington DC – Guided tour of The White House
While White House tours are free, tickets must be requested at least three weeks in advance. Residents of countries outside the U.S. must request tickets through their embassy in Washington D.C.
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15. New York City – Walk the High-Line
A historic section of what was once train tracks through New York City, this elevated thoroughfare is now a tree-lined walkway with seating areas, city viewing spots, and of course shops and cafes. The High Line runs through the famous Chelsea Market Building.
16. Nashville – Tennessee State Museum
Nashville is about more than just Country Music. The city is filled with history, and the Tennessee State Museum provides an insight into everything from 17th and 18th Century frontier life to the American Civil War – a large part of Tennessee history.
17. Tour any of the 50 State Capitols
Each of the fifty state capitol buildings provide a fascinating glimpse into the history and architecture of the U.S. Guided tours are provided in many of these magnificent buildings. Each are special and unique, but some of the most beautiful can be found in Madison (Wisconsin), Harrisburg (Pennsylvania), Des Moines (Iowa), Richmond (Virginia), St. Paul (Minnesota) and Denver (Colorado).
18. Chicago – Visit America’s only free zoo in Lincoln Park
The gorgeous Lincoln Park neighbourhood of Chicago is home to not only a historic park, but also the fully-fledged Lincoln Park Zoo. With nearly 200 species of animals, seasonal activities and a petting farm, Lincoln Park Zoo will provide hours of entertainment for the entire family – for free!
19. Wyoming – Find Yogi at Yellowstone National Park
No matter what season you visit, Yellowstone provides some of the most stunning natural views anywhere. While entry has a small cost attached, the pass lasts for seven days and can be used to see countless famous sights for free such as Old Faithful Geyser, hundreds of animal species and rugged mountain views. Days can be spent camping, hiking, fishing and in the winter, snowmobiling. Read Scott Moses’ insiders guide to Yellowstone and other National Parks here.
20. Grand Canyon – Marvel at the grandeur of this natural wonder
Like Yellowstone, there is a fee to enter Grand Canyon National Park, but once there, the number of activities on offer are endless. Come and go on the 7-day pass, or stay and explore on a camping or hiking holiday. In some cases, overnight permits may be required.
21. Boston – Free guided tour of The Freedom Trail
Colonial and American Revolutionary history abound on Boston’s Freedom Trail. The self-guided tour follows a 2.5-mile red line trail that showcases some of the most famous sites in American history, starting at Boston State House. An audio tour is also available for download.
22. San Francisco – Cable Car Museum
Located in historic Nob Hill, the Cable Car Museum houses a collection of historic cable cars and artefacts from the earliest days of the public transport system in the 1870s.
23. New Orleans – Free French Quarter walking tour
The French Quarter – or Vieux Carré – is a National Historic Landmark district filled with 18th and 19th-century buildings. Beautiful Jackson Square is one of the must-see highlights, among many more laneways, alleyways and green spaces.
24. Miami – Tour the city on the free Metromover
Glide above Miami on the four-and-a-half-mile route for the Metromover monorail. Linking popular spots around Miami, this free people-mover is easy and convenient to use.
25. Chicago – Reflect at The Bean in Millennium Park
One of Chicago’s most famous landmarks, ‘The Bean’ or Cloud Gate’ as it’s officially known, is a shiny stainless steel sculpture that casts beautiful reflections of the city and visiting crowds. Located in the lovely setting of Millenium Park, the sculpture is one of the City’s several well-known centrepieces.
26. Boston – Visit the USS Constitution Museum
This museum takes visitors on a journey dating back over 200 years, to a time when the USS Constitution was one of just a handful of ships that made up the first naval fleet. Known as ‘Old Ironsides,’ the ship is still an officially commissioned U.S. Navy vessel and is moored nearby. Both the museum and ship tours are free.
27. Seattle – Theatrics of Pike Place Market
Overlooking Elliot Bay, Pike Place Market is part fish market, part farmer’s market, and restaurant, bar, and shopping location, all rolled into one exciting Seattle entertainment venue. With a history dating back to 1907, Pike Place is one of the oldest continuously operating farmer’s markets in the country.
