d. schwen

Saint Louis has more free activities that any other city in the US, save Washington DC.  While it does not usually rank among the most desirable domestic tourist destinations, it does hold some surprises.  There’s the beer, of course, and sites left over from the early days of the Midwest’s history.  But the real magic can be found in the city’s more modern attractions.  Saint Louis is one of the last remaining cities where zoos and museums are free every day of the year.

Add to this mix of freebies gardens, public art and parties and you can enjoy an exciting vacation without ever having to crack open your wallet.

Here are ten great activities in Saint Louis that won’t cost you a penny.
1. The Saint Louis Zoo is recognized as one of the premiere zoos in the US.  There are more than 5,000 animals on display, representing 700-plus species.  It is, arguably, the best zoo in the country that doesn’t charge admission (though the adjoining Children’s Zoo is $4 per person).  Popular residents include elephants, lions, primates, penguins and butterflies.

2. The Muny Outdoor Theater is a summertime institution in Saint Louis.  It bills itself as the largest and oldest outdoor theater in the United States.  Broadway shows are the most common type of performance, with Cats, Titanic – the Musical, Beauty and the Beast, and Damn Yankees among the 2010 offerings.  There are 1,500 free seats for each performance.  They are awarded on a first come, first served basis (doors open at seven p.m., but it is best to get in line earlier to assure yourself of a seat).  Hate standing in line more than spending money? Tickets are for sale on the Muny web site.

3. The un-ignorable Gateway Arch is the most prominent piece of public art in Saint Louis, but it is not the only one.  The Saint Louis Public Art Consortium maintains a list and map of the best public art installations in Saint Louis.  Bronze statues can be found at University Park and the Saint Louis University, and more modern sculptures and art installations are located in other public places around the city (including the metro transit stations).

4. Few people outside of the Saint Louis area know that it hosts the second largest Mardi Gras party in the US, after New Orleans, of course.  The festivities are centered in the Soulard area, just outside of Downtown Saint Louis.  There are plenty of different parades that take place in the days leading up to Fat Tuesday.  These range from kid-friendly events with floats and prizes to more fleshly bead tossing bacchanals that are strictly adults only.  Mardi Gras makes Saint Louis a good late-winter destination.

5.  Budweiser might be the king of beers, but beer enthusiasts always seek more flavorful options.  There are other breweries in the city besides the one producing “the king of beers.”  Schlafly Brewery makes a popular line of micro-brews and, better yet, offers free tours of their facility that culminate in the sampling of several of their most popular beers.  Tours take place hourly between 12 and 5 p.m. every weekend afternoon.

6. The Saint Louis Museum of Art is another high-brow attraction that does not charge admission.  The rather imposing building and the grounds, with statues and fountains, are as impressive as the galleries.  The highlights of the exhibit halls include Egyptian artifacts, a collection of impressionist paintings and a collection of historic African and Native American art.  Admission is free, but there is a charge to enter some featured exhibits.  However, all exhibits are free each Friday.

7.  Despite what you might think of its flavor (or lack thereof) Budweiser is the most famous beer in the US.  Even non-beer-drinkers can appreciate the Anheuser-Busch brewery tours because of the architecture and history of the brewery compound.  Yes, the tour even passes through the famous stables where the Budweiser Clydesdales are kept.  Of-age tourists can sample the famous breweries products at the end of the tour.  Tours are offered seven days a week.

8. Union Station in Saint Louis is worth a visit even if you do not plan to take a train.  Built in 1890, its vaulted ceilings and the intricate decorations that adorn the walls are stunning, even by today’ standards.  There is also stained glass, a clock tower and an expansive train shed.  The station is definitely a place to bring your camera.

9. The general exhibit hall at the Saint Louis Science Center is free (though there are numerous additional attractions, such as a Lego exhibit and an OmniMax Theater, that charge admission).  The most popular features include dinosaurs, a hands-on/high-tech “Cyberville” exhibit and activities that explore engineering and flight.

10. Laumeier Sculpture Park offers visitors a chance to see some of the best outdoor art in the city without having to travel from site to site (see #3 above).   Aside from works made from metal or stone, there are other media represented as well.

The larger of Minnesota’s Twin Cities is known for its cold winters. But there is more to Minneapolis than ice and snow: an energetic theater scene (the city is second only to New York when it comes to number of theater seats per capita), plenty of art on display and an impressive menu of public places to enjoy the urban outdoors. And it’s not cold year round. Swimming and sun-tanning are as much a part of the Minneapolis experience as skating and skiing.

Like many of its Midwest peers, Minneapolis is a cheap travel destination compared to cities on the coasts. With plenty of outdoor options, year round festivities and public art, Minneapolis is also a great place to find free attractions.

1. The Walker Art Center is a modern art museum with galleries that go well beyond the usual array of paintings and sculptures offerings at traditional museums. The exhibit halls host everything from photography to prints to multimedia art. There are also special performances and events. Locally-based corporation Target sponsors Free Thursday Nights.  Anyone can enter the museum between 5 and 9 p.m. on Thursday without having to pay an admission fee.

2. Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Many of these waterways sit in the rural portion of the state, but there are several urban lakes that attract thousands of locals (and tourists) daily. The paved pathways around Lake Harriet, Cedar Lake, and Lake Calhoun are filled with joggers, walkers, bikers and rollerbladers on most summer evenings. The lakes have beaches and picnic areas as well.

3. The Saint Paul Winter Carnival, held in late January and early February, is a popular festival that takes place in the smaller of the Twin Cities. Popular events include ice and snow sculptures (on display in Downtown Saint Paul), a torch-light parade, and plenty of offbeat characters.  Downtown Saint Paul is only 15-20 minutes from central Minneapolis by car.

4. Cinco de Mayo is another Saint Paul event worth crossing the river for. Usually held on the weekend closest to May 5th, the event is held in District del Sol, on Saint Paul’s West Side, the city’s Mexican enclave. Attractions include a parade, live music and a car show.  There are lots of food vendors and places to eat in the District del Sol area.  These are not free, but quite cheap, all things considered.

5. Minneapolis parks roll out the entertainment during the summer.  Places like the Lake Harriet Bandshell (see #2) host free concerts and free movies are screened at dusk at parks around the city.  There are even outdoor theater performances, ranging from comedy improvisation to Shakespeare plays.

6. The Minneapolis Institute of Art, in South Minneapolis, offers free admission every day of the year. The museum has an interesting collection of ethnic art and artifacts, as well as paintings, sculptures and modern art installations.   The museum is funded by members.  Current exhibits include a photography show featuring Czech photographers and a collection of Sub-Saharan folk art.

7. Minneapolis does not rival Portland, Oregon in terms of micro-breweries, but there are several regional beer-makers in town who are well-known for producing quality suds. Some offer free tours of their facilities that culminate in free beer tastings. Summit Brewery is arguably the most famous. It offers free brewery tours. The tours only last about 45 minutes, but there is a chance for of-age tourists to sample the company’s products at the end of the tour.

8. The Minneapolis Aquatennial is a 10 day celebration of summer held near Downtown Minneapolis in late July. Aquatennial events include parades, plenty of food, and live music. The most popular feature of the summertime revelry is the nightly fireworks show. In terms of scale, the pyrotechnics at the Aquatennial rival those of any cities’ 4th of July celebrations.

9.  Surdyks is known for being one of the largest liquor stores in town.  It claims to be the largest in the Upper Midwest.  While that fact might be arguable, it is one of the oldest, having been in operation since the early 1930s.  They often put on free wine tastings and it is always fun to simply window shop through the unusual bottles that are found in the isles.

10. The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is located on the outskirts of Downtown Minneapolis. It is adjacent to Loring Park (Minneapolis’ Downtown green space) and the Walker Art Center (see #1). Whereas the Walker is free only on Thursday evenings, the Sculpture Garden (most known for the iconic cherry on a spoon installation that sits over a pond) is always free.  Though it is arguably more pleasant to stroll the gardens during the summer, it is possible to visit any day of the year.

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Ithaca, a college town in upstate New York, is known for its educated population.  There are several universities in the area (most notably Cornell University), meaning that there is a high concentration of PhDs.  It is no surprise,  then, that even the town’s festivities are center around intellectual and educational themes.

From January 21st to January 24th, A Light in Winter, Ithaca’s festival of science and the arts, will take place at venues throughout town.  Many of the more than 2 dozen events will center around the science of creative endeavors.

The highlight will come on the final day of the festival when celeb chef Tammy Travis will run a seminar about the science (and practice) of using chocolate in cooking and baking.  Local Cornell faculty members will also be a part of the presentation, offering nutritional and cultural insight into the phenomenon of cocoa.  Tickets to this event cost $15 and seating is limited.

Visitors can also get their nerd on at lectures like the Calculus of Friendship and the Physics of Juggling.  Less-math-centered events like dance and music performances and a beer-themed lecture are also on the agenda.  A complete list of events can be found on the Light in Winter calendar page.

As with many college towns, there are plenty of places to stay in Ithaca.  The Hilton Garden Inn is offering a discounted rate of $119 per night during the late January festivities.  Would-be guests who want to take advantage of this offer need to use the promo code LIW1 when booking at 607-277-8900.

The Statler Hotel is offering a $125 per night rate to festival attendees who book two nights.  Details for the Statler’s promotion and other accommodation options can be found via the Light in Winter web site.