6 Ways to Find Cheap or Free Things to Do on Vacation
I am what you might call a cheapskate. Actually, those of us in the business prefer the term "frugal" because it just has a somewhat better connotation. Part of that comes from having a large family. Multiplying even a small price tag times eight turns into some serious money pretty fast!
We use miles and points as much as we can to offset our travel costs, but there are still a lot of expenses for activities once we get to our destination. Because we try to keep our total costs as low as possible, we've come up with a few strategies to find cheap or free things to do while on vacation. Here are a few of our tips.
Use Reciprocal Memberships
We love using our local museum and zoo memberships to visit similar places in our destination cities. Our local museum (Cincinnati Museum Center) belongs to the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC), the Time Travelers network and the Association of Children's Museums (ACM). So, for our $130 annual membership fee that gives us free admission at our local museum, we also get free (or sometimes discounted) admission to every museum in each of those networks. Last year, we used this benefit for eight free tickets to the Pacific Science Center (pictured below) when our family visited Seattle.
Here's a pro tip (that we personally have not done): Nothing says that you have to be a member of a museum near where you live. Consider looking for an ASTC or ACM museum or zoo that has a cheap membership fee and then use your reciprocal benefits — even in your hometown. Of course, supporting your local zoo or museum has other benefits as well, so do whatever works for your family.
If your family has a Bank of America debit or credit card, you can also use that on the first weekend of each month to access hundreds of museums and attractions around the country for free.
Look To Parks, Historic Sites And Points of Interest
For free and cheap pastimes, look for parks, historic sites and other points of interest. Many times, these are great spots to stop and break up a long road trip. And, they are usually either free or very cheap spots to visit. Depending on the location, it could work as a quick pit stop to stretch the legs, or a fun activity for an entire afternoon. Often, these types of places have plaques, signs or other historical information that can spark interesting conversation, like when our family went to the Geographical Center of the United States in South Dakota.
If you have a fourth-grade student (with six kids, of course I have one!), you are likely eligible for the Every Kid in a Park program, which provides families of fourth-graders (all kids under 16 and up to three adults) with free entry to most national parks. The only thing that you have to watch out for is parking fees at some locations, as our family found out at Mount Rushmore a few years ago. "Entrance" to Mount Rushmore is free, but if you want to park (instead of hiking 2 miles up-mountain), you have to fork over $11 per car.
Use Discounts: Child, Senior, Military Or Other
Another thing to keep in mind is that many attractions offer discounts for different groups. The most popular discounts are for children, students and seniors, but it's worth checking out all the options. Since we have a large family, we typically look for attractions that either price per family or per vehicle (instead of per individual), since that is usually cheaper for us.
Also remember to check for coupon codes, discount codes and Groupon deals online before forking over the stated cost of admission.
Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Because I am a "list-checker-off-er," I like to track the different places I've been. I am at 49 out of 50 states, and I'm also trying to visit all 3,143 counties in the United States. I'm about 61% of the way there.
I also track the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites that I've been to (37 as of this writing). If you're not familiar with the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, they are sites of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of great importance to humanity. Not all of them are free to visit, but I've found they tend to be cheaper in price than comparable tourist sights.
Two good examples of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the United States with no admission fees are the San Antonio Missions in Texas and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Both are under the care of the National Park Service.
Consider Roadtrippers And Atlas Obscura
Roadtrippers.com and Atlas Obscura are two websites I've used to find free or cheap activities. Both of these sites catalog "weird" places that might be slightly off the beaten path. If we're visiting or road-tripping to or through an area, I usually plug our destination into these sites to see if there is anything nearby that we'd be interested in.
On a recent road trip to Texas and Louisiana, we found a grave in the middle of the road, located just three minutes from our destination. This may not scream "family vacation fun" in the same way as a ride at Disney World, but it is a free and educational way to spend time exploring and learning throughout the country.
The Bonnie and Clyde museum was also just a few minutes off the Interstate (though we lengthened our stay by driving 10 extra miles to see where they were ambushed).
Just Google It
My final suggestion may seem obvious to some (most?) but just Google it. If you search for "free things to do in [city]," you'll almost always find several articles with ideas on free or cheap things to do where you're going. I usually look at a couple of those articles and note any of the suggestions that seem interesting.
Bottom Line
With a bit of advance research and planning, you should be able to find plenty of inexpensive things to do while on vacation just about anywhere. Now it's your turn. What are your best tips for finding free or cheap things to do on vacation?
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.