Free Vacations Around the Country

Summer time is upon us and, with no remorse for those facing financial hardships, you have probably put annual vacations or the trip you were planning to visit a friend across the country on hold. Fortunately, cities and counties nationwide are recognizing the shortfall of tourism, resulting in new discounted trips and free activities for you and your family.

States throughout the country attract hundreds of thousands of tourists each summer, resulting in millions of dollars to stimulate the local economy. However, as tourism declines, small businesses are on the verge of closing their doors — not just to conserve the cool air, but for good. Bordering Lake Michigan, Benzie County in northern Michigan has created the Passport to Fun, a promotion offering visitors FREE coupons ranging from free slices of cherry pie and root beer floats to bike rentals and kite flying.

St. Louis: The city offers free concerts, including Friday nights at the zoo for the entire family or Sunday evening classical orchestra concerts for the adults of the household.

North Carolina: Capital city Raleigh prides itself as being the "land of the free." Free activities that is. From art and agriculture to Harley-Davidson and history, Raleigh offers something for everyone and most of it is priceless.

Chicago: Notorious for historic museums and attractions, visitors to the city can live large and visit for free. Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum and the Art Institute all offer free days. Check out the cities events calendar for even more free activities, including festivals, music and meals around town.

California: In a state with cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento, the list of free activities appears to be endless. From national park visits to brewery tours, free activities and events are available for the entire family, for the individual or even the young couple.

Arizona: From sprawling national parks to historical museums, visitors to the Grand Canyon State can plan a fun and affordable vacation regardless of which city you plan on visiting.

Memphis: In a town known for its music, Memphis offers biking, entertainment, art and fun. Enjoy a weekend in a town built on tunes.