Late spring is a great time to visit Chicago.  Warmer weather has set in and the city kicks off summertime with a handful of spectacular events.  Things get started on Memorial Day weekend with a large parade, some pro sports excitement and plenty of pyrotechnics.  Of course, Memorial Day visitors can still get a taste of the features that make Chicago a year-round tourist destination: the music, the food, the museums and the theaters.

Chicago’s Memorial Day Parade is one of the largest and oldest in the country.  It begins on Chicago’s famed State Street at noon on the Saturday before Memorial Day (May 29th).  Representatives from all branches of the military participate, as do the usual array of parade marchers: high-school bands, prominent organizations and political figures.  A wreath-laying ceremony (at 11 a.m. in Daley Plaza) is the highlight of this at-times somber, at-times entertaining event.

Navy Pier, the long arm that sticks out into Lake Michigan near Downtown Chicago, kicks off its summer fireworks series on the night of the Memorial Day parade.  The first explosion can be heard just after 10 p.m.  Aside from the pyrotechnics display, which is bound to be impressive, the Pier and its environs are a great place to see the skyline of Chicago’s iconic downtown.

The best aspect of both the parade and the fireworks: they are completely free to attend.

For something a bit quieter, try Chicago’s many summertime gardens.  The plants and flowers in the gardens at Chicago’s Grant Park will be in full bloom by Memorial Day.  There are 10 themed gardens in and around Grant Park.  Many of Chicago’s other parks also maintain summertime gardens.

Millennium Park hosts New Music Mondays each week.  Veteran alternative rockers Hum will be taking the stage on May 31st.  Millennium Park is in the vicinity of Downtown Chicago, making it easy to end a day of shopping or hanging out on the lakefront with an outdoor concert.  The concert, like all New Music Monday shows, is free.

In the days leading up to Memorial Day, many Chicago residents will be focused on their pro sports franchises.  The Chicago Blackhawks will be trying to qualify for the NHL’s Stanley Cup Finals on the Thursday before Memorial Day at the United Center.  The ever-popular, hard-luck Chicago Cubs will be playing a series at historic Wrigley Field on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Of course, visitors don’t have to limit themselves to these special events and forget about Chicago’s classic attractions.  The restaurant scene is as lively and exciting as it has always been, with new eateries and established kitchens serving everything from Chicago classics to experimental dishes to international favorites from every corner of the globe.

The Windy City’s theater scene, made famous by talents like David Mamet and the Second City Comedy Troupe, is still worth looking into, even for casual stage enthusiasts.  Plays like Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps (at Bank of America Theater) and Tobacco Road (at Victory Gardens Theater) will be running during Memorial Day weekend.  Cirque Shanghai begins its summer-long run at Navy Pier on May 28th.

Chicago is truly a great summertime destination, and Memorial Day is when all the fun unofficially kicks off. Find great Chicago hotel deals at BestTravelDeals.net.

San Antonio is one of the fastest growing cities in North America.  The famous Alamo, along with several other lesser-known (but equally old) missions, hearken back to the days when Texas was not yet a state.  Some residential neighborhoods, such as the King William District, are more than a century old.

But San Antonio, like any growing metropolis, has plenty of modern features: a vibrant nightlife, cutting edge music and eating scenes and, yes, lots and lots of free attractions.  Perhaps SeaWorld and Six Flags will not be on a budget traveler’s itinerary, but there are more than enough cost-less sights and sounds to fill a trip to this modern city.

Here’s is a list of all things good (and free) in San Antonio.

1. San Antonio’s Japanese Tea Garden recently reopened.  The well-manicured, highly-stylized gardens would not be out of place in Tokyo or Osaka.  This authentic feel makes the garden a great place to explore.  In addition to the trees, rocks and pathways, there are koi ponds and a rather impressive 60-foot waterfall.

2. Fiesta San Antonio, held in April, is the city’s biggest festival.  Actually, with more than two and a half million attendees, it is the largest outdoor festivals in the entire US.  The events take place in mid-April (the 15th to the 25th this year).  This year’s festivities will include parades, outdoor concerts, fireworks, cultural performances and food-related events.  Though not all events are free, most of those that take place in public places do not charge admission.  Others, such as the popular Taste of New Orleans ($10 admission), are reasonably priced.

3. The San Antonio Missions Trail is a 6-mile walkway that runs between four of the area’s historic Spanish-built missions.  Yes, it is one of the better places to walk if you are in search of an urban hiking venue, but the missions, which are part of a national historic park, are the real attraction.  They are among the oldest in North America, dating back to the early 18th Century.  These lesser known missions are a great alternative to often-crowded, more touristy Alamo.

4.  When they return home, San Antonio tourists can expect to repeatedly be asked: “Did you see the Alamo?”  It is hard to pass up the mission, even though it is bound to be crowded (2.5 million people pass through the site each year).  Luckily, it is possible to arrive at early, at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday, to avoid the peak-time crowds.  Also, during summer weekends, the building remains open until 7 p.m.  Of course, it’s free to enter.
5. The Riverwalk is San Antonio’s lengthy entertainment promenade.  The shaded walkways, water and laid-back atmosphere make is a great place for a stroll.  Of course, the restaurants, bars and shops on the riverbanks aren’t free, but Riverwalk is a great place for window-shopping and there are several art galleries and museums in the area.

6. El Mercado is one of the largest Mexican markets north of the border.  Aside from the virtually unlimited amount of goods up for sale, there are musical and cultural performances, kids’ activities, and crafts during Primer Sabado, First Saturday.  The area in and around El Mercado is a great place to get a taste of the Mexican culture that is so much a part of San Antonio’s identity.

7. Art is a major part of San Antonio’s culture.  San Antonio Art Walk is usually held on the first Friday of every month.  It takes place in the Arts District, which is located in the Southtown area of the city. Aside from the art  (and free snacks, if your lucky), there are usually local bands, of all genres, performing.

8. Though they typically charge admission, several San Antonio museums waive entrance fees at certain times during the week.  Chase Bank sponsors a free night at the San Antonio Museum of Art.  It takes place between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. each Tuesday.   The Witte Museum, an exhibit hall featuring the natural history, culture and artifacts of Texas, offers free admission between 3 and 8 on Tuesday evenings.

9. San Antonio Summer Jazz and Art Festival, often shortened to San Antonio Summer Fest (or just SAS Fest) is a three day event that takes place on the first weekend in June.  Though it has not reached to same attendance numbers as springtime’s Fiesta, SAS Fest is worth a visit.  There are a dozen jazz concerts, music workshops, a craft fair and plenty of food.  It’s free to listen to music.

10. San Antonio’s Main Plaza, located in front of the Alamo and near the Riverwalk, is the heart of the city.  There is a series of free concerts held each year.  But it doesn’t stop with music.  There are dances, theater performances, movie screenings and fashion shows.  Most of these events take place during the warmer months, between April and October.

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.