Becoming a local tourist, vol. 1: History

Whether or not you find yourself with bored youngsters or need an interesting place to bring a date (on a budget), consider researching your local historical associations. The maintenance of age-old properties often offers you the chance to learn more about your city or town.

The Milwaukee County Historical Society operates several properties, including a farm, that brings the past back to life for those who visit. Their main center also offers periodic exhibits to the public (not currently due to renovations that will end in August 2010). Surrounding counties, like Washington, Waukesha, and Racine counties, also have museums and other properties of note operating most if not all year, giving you the opportunity to expand knowledge of the area.

Milwaukee is also home to the Northpoint Lighthouse, a fixture in the city since the 1870's after it replaced the original lighthouse built two decades before.

My mother was born and raised in Mower County, Minnesota. Though not nearly as populated as the city she currently lives in, the area is still rich with history, including a GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Hall built in 1891 for use by the fraternal order made up of sixteen Civil War veterans and the Women's Relief Corps. This is one of only two still in existence in Minnesota. Spring Valley, in neighboring Fillmore County is home to the Wilder homestead, the family of Laura Ingalls Wilder's husband, Almanzo.

From somewhere else? Consider Googling your county or parish's history and see if they have a historical society and what they might have to offer.

Admissions tend to be on the cheaper end of the scale, less than the cost of a movie, if not being free altogether.

A Learning Experience

A friend of mine invited me to visit the Haggerty Museum of Art at Marquette University a few weeks ago to see an interesting exhibit of Thomas Woodruff's Freak Parade. This particular museum is free to the public and is a great way to spend some time on a lazy afternoon. You can free your wallet of a few bucks by offering a donation in the name of art at the door, but this isn't required (much like Como Park Zoo and Conservatory).

It turns out that there are a number of universities around the country that also feature museums on a variety of subjects, from science to culture. Not all of these museums are free, but admissions tend to be less than other larger or more well known museums in your area. Furthermore, you're contributing to the advancement of that particular museum through your donations.

To get more information about these types of museums, consider Googling universities in your area. Another way to find these museums is to visit the Association of College & University Museums & Galleries website and then Googling a particular museum (unfortunately there are no direct links from this website).

A Unique Concert Experience

Many cities offer a plethora of music experiences on the cheap, including jazz in the parks and local band gigs. But if you are looking for something a little different, consider attending an exhibition by a drum and bugle corps or going to a high school marching band competition.

These experiences are highly entertaining. And the tickets are going to be a lot cheaper than attending the concert of a major act.

Drum Corps International's site offers the schedule of events. Many of these will have seperate websites to purchase tickets to local events. These tickets may range from $10 up to $35 per person depending on the event.

Illinois Marching Online has a comprehensive schedule of events with links to the corresponding websites. So does Marching.com. Depending on the event, tickets will probably range from $10 up to over $100. I'd say that anything that costs over $20 per ticket, save your money. But many of the local events will be cheaper, so this makes it totally feasible.

Also, try googling "marching band competitions" or "marching band championships" with your state to find out more information about events in your locale.

These exhibitions and competitions will be a great addition to your cheap entertainment repertoire. And something that is great to expose your children to.

Movies on the cheap

So, I am one of those people who loves-loves-loves going to the movies. The smell of popcorn, the fading of the lights as the trailers start, the amplified sounds of the digital surround. All these things are a part of the experience that makes one wonder what could be better.

I don't know the theater chains in everyone's location, but I do know of some things around here that can help the movie-phile. It might also give others something to look into in the theater chains in their locations.

Marcus Theatres is a pretty big chain, so if you have one near you, consider this: every Wednesday and Thursday, they have what's called Spotlight Movies. Sign up to their club, and you'll receive coupons via email for four films. Bring your friends along! All of you can get into any of the four for only $5 each, whether matinee or evening shows. Marcus also has $2 Tuesdays - get $2 popcorn or soft drinks. And they also have the Kids Rule Summer Films series - only $3 and includes popcorn.

AMC Theatres has A.M. Cinema on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Any film before noon is only $5. This is good because around here, even the matinees are $7.50. They do have a summer movie camp for kids too, and concession discounts.

The budget cinemas around here have $1 Tuesdays. Look into those around you. Not first run, but these usually haven't reached DVD yet.

Most theaters will have pretty good senior discounts. Some theaters offer special discounted weekdays, especially during the school year.

Even with the rising prices, movie-going is still one of the best and most economical entertainment choices. Admittedly most people know this, but not everyone looks into the added values and discount choices available to them.

Couchsurfing

So, I'd heard of this before, but I myself have never done this. I have another source of frugal travel. Still, the idea intrigues me, and the internet has made this more possible than ever.

I read about couchsurfing in a blogpost about green traveling. I guess I hadn't really thought of it in that light, but I thought that some people may find this concept right up their alley.

Forget about paying for hotels. Couchsurfing is sleeping on someone's couch. You get to travel and sightsee and surf and do all those things you wanted to do, while spending your nights sleeping on someone's couch. This also makes it a good way to meet people and learn about a place from the locals. The website is also very concerned about safety. There is a verification and vouching system that they utilize, as well as giving advice to travelers and hosts.

Interested? Click here to check the website.

Surveys for free magazines

I joined e-Rewards a while ago on the promise of receiving freebies (why else do some surveys?). They don't have a lot of magazines subscriptions, nor a lot of rewards, but it's worth it for the selection they do have.

I'm currently getting Smithsonian, Travel & Leisure, and Paste. They also have rewards in a variety of other categories including: movies (get free Blockbuster rentals), food and dining (mainly zagat.com memberships and Omaha Steaks), and gifts (get $25 off FTD.com).

Worth the small amount of effort every once in a while. The e-rewards bucks add up quick, and then you can redeem them for the prize you want.

By the way, if you get a Paste magazine subscription, every issue they give you a sampler of free new music. A great way to keep up with the new stuff.

Sign up for your e-Rewards account here.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory

So, we were up in the Twin Cities a couple weekends ago, and we took in Como Zoo, mainly because it's free.

I have to note some hints for taking this place in and keeping it cheap.

1. The conservatory and zoo itself are free - Como Town and the carousel aren't. The carousel is only $1.50 per ticket, unless you are there during one of their free days (there are only five this year). For more info on the prices of tickets and activities at Como Town, click here.
   
2. Feel free to pay the donation of $2 per adult and $1 per child - not required, but still relatively cheap for a neat recreational activity.
3. Bring your own food! I cannot stress this enough. We blew any budget in the cafeteria. For a veggie sandwich and icee I paid over $9! And then we saw these slick families dragging around coolers. These were not for show. Save money and bring your own food and water. Especially if you're there on a hot day like we were. (Granted, paying that much for a meal is helping to keep the zoo cheap, but if you're rocking a tight budget, bring your own food. If you do decide to get a water or soda from one of the vendors throughout the zoo, you'll pay about $2.50 a bottle.)
4. Consider going during the week and not on major school vacations. Granted, we went on a Saturday at the start of the summer break. It wasn't overly crowded, but everyone had their kids along, so there was a lot of crying and whining. Most families won't mind this, but singles and older adults might want to try an alternate time to go.

To see more details on the park, zoo, or conservatory, click here.