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25 Best U.S. Vacation Cities On the Cheap
Kayla Baxter, Alice Handley and Jill Hare
June 02, 2009
#22: Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is a great city year-round, but it’s even better in the summer. When there’s no snow to shovel, the Chicago streets are fabulous for walking. Head to Millennium Park, a beautiful landscape sandwiched between skyscrapers and Lake Michigan. Take a blanket and sit on the huge lawn and enjoy many of the free concerts offered in the summer. Walk around and enjoy the outdoor art sculptures, including Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor, a 110-ton elliptical sculpture with a seamless series of highly polished stainless steel plates that reflect Chicago’s skyline.
If you get hot, head over to the Crown Fountain, pictured above. Designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, the Crown Fountain showcases images of Chicago’s residents while water flows out from their open mouths. If you want some adventure by the lake, walk down to Navy Pier and ride the Ferris Wheel or just sit on the dock and enjoy the spectacular view.Don’t Miss: Garfield Park Conservatory. There’s free parking and free admission, and you can waste hours with kids, a sweetheart, or with yourself in a blissfully beautiful nature experience. A great hidden gem!
beckettispissah
4 months ago
2 comments
I found the best hotel deal in Orlando! Use this link www.orlandohotels4less.com/35. You can get a room for $9.99 the first night and $35.00 all the rest of your stay. The Quality Inn Plaza is awesome. I always stay there! But you have to make your reservation by July 15th.
Account Removed
4 months ago
You forgot New Orleans, dahling
DawnOfTheUndead
5 months ago
4 comments
OK seriously, the cities on here that I have visited are not cheap. But I gotta say I did grow up just outside Boston and they forgot to mention a few things that are worth seeing there. You have the Museum of Science which has some pretty cool lightning shows an Omni Theater and the Hayden Planetarium, or you can visit the USS Constitution. And if you get too tired from walking the Freedom Trail and are still feeling touristy you can always hop on the trolley or go ride on the swan boats. And don't forget fireworks on the 4th.
sbempowerment
5 months ago
4 comments
Hey I love Austin. It is awesome. Visit.
ashupimp
5 months ago
2 comments
not bad...but vegas is the best...
gallerr
5 months ago
2 comments
This list, at least for the Dallas entry, is very dated...While Deep Ellum still provides local music, it has not been a hot spot in Dallas for years....Trees is now defunct, as I believe Club Clearview is as well.
pdnellis
5 months ago
2 comments
I like the list and have visited several of the cities and would agree. However, Nashville no longer has an amusement park and hasn't had one for at least a decade. This makes me wonder what other inaccuracies are in the list.
djt198889
5 months ago
2 comments
defintely denver is one of the best i lived there and if you go to the 16th dtreet mall dont always stay on the mall venture over a few blocks either way or even on broadway or lincoln you will find alot of great food and inexpensive stores or go up colfax headed in the direction of colorado boulevard theres alot of great stores and unique shops that way also
TaniaK
5 months ago
10 comments
Love the extra tips! Thanks for this. :)
TallAnna
5 months ago
44 comments
Wow. Great list! So thoroughly researched (even tips from locals ... can't get much better than that!), and I love how you list places all over the country and that you provide unbiased, honest details about what to do in each spot ... even for various traveling budgets. Thanks for this!
becky_regan
5 months ago
12 comments
rdearie40, what are you talking about? The article recommends places like free museums and hot dog stands. How much more accessible can you get? I think a lot of these places sound fun!
rdearie40
5 months ago
2 comments
absolutely ridiculous ... these destinations are not for the regular "Joe Six Pack." This journalist is too caught up in traveling to report honestly.