Low- and no-cost adventures was the topic of an article I wrote for Escapees Magazine. But I know not everyone is a member and, therefore, wouldn’t have access to it. Plus, since it was an article, I kept my personal chatter out of it. But I like to include my yakety-yak when talking about adventures. Plus, I had more to say than the word count allowed. So, now that a respectable amount of time has passed, I decided to write on a similar topic as a blog post. This not only includes no-cost and low-cost adventures but tips for finding other money-saving adventures.

Finding Low-Cost, No-Cost, Good Deals and Money-Saving Adventures

Let’s state the obvious to start. A simple Google search, “free things to do in XYZ town” may yield some results. But that certainly doesn’t mean you’ll get an all-inclusive list. Most places that invest in internet ads or that have awesome, well-ranking websites are places expecting to turn a profit. Also, you could miss the many low-cost adventures since those generally don’t come up as their own category.

Tips

So, here are a few tips designed to help you find the gems. First, always be on the lookout. Have you ever purchased a car, a new coat, whatever and then suddenly start noticing how many other people have the exact item? This, even though you have no recollection of ever seeing one before your purchase? The same principle holds true for finding low-cost, no-cost, good deals and money-saving adventures. You have to bring the idea of being on the lookout for them to the forefront of you mind so your brain will actively look and see them.

My second tip on the subject is to search for money-saving adventures in places besides internet. I cannot emphasize this one enough. Of course, the internet is great but you will miss so much and so many discounts by relying on it alone.

Check out the racks at the RV park. You’ll find brochures and rack cards. But some rack cards will include a coupon as part of the card or stapled on the bottom.

Talk to people. Locals on the street. Others in the campground. I always go with the assumption that you just never know where awesome ideas might come from.

At a new location, stop in at the Visitors’ Center (if the town has one). Most states have rich statewide Visitors’ Centers along the major roads. If you plan to be a while in that state, stop at the statewide Visitors’ Center and then again at the one in the town you are visiting.

Since they are staffed by locals, they have the best recommendations (and, if you build a rapport, they can also steer you away from the duds). They know if there are any good coupons out there. Or, if there is a trick to getting a discount at the place you want to visit. They may even have coupons to offer you.  

Cautionary Tale

Even though I know to visit a Visitors’ Center first, I made the mistake of visiting the Huntsville Museum of Art and then heading over to the Visitors’ Center. Guess what? The staff person told me she could’ve given me a coupon for 20% off my museum visit. Dang. They had 20% off coupons to a dozen of the most popular attractions around Huntsville. (The feature image is a sculpture outside the museum.)

Look for Deals

This first tip in this category is to know that you can find adventure places that team up. Individually they may not offer a discount, but if you purchase a package deal, say, you get both adventures for $5 off.

When I visited Middle Tennessee, I wanted to see both the Carter House Museum and the Carnton Plantation Museum, but at $18 for each and them being less than two miles from each other and highlighting the same Civil War battle, it was hard to justify both. I actually found another solution (see below). However, I could’ve saved a little bit since they offered a package deal for $30. That $6 equaled a 17% savings.  

Similarly, some places offer a couple dollars off if you purchase your tickets in advance online.

Personally, I never got into Groupon, so it doesn’t occur to me to look at Groupon in the locale I’m going. But, no doubt, you might find some real bargains there too.

Discounts and Special Recognition Days

Don’t forget to ask the places you visit if they offer any discounts because of other memberships or affiliations you have such as AARP, military personnel, veteran, senior, student, etc.

Although this post is about adventures, let me pause to say that for RVers, many campgrounds also offer similar discounts based on memberships and affiliations such as AARP, Good Sam, Escapees, etc.

Be sure to ask. Sometimes places offer discounts even if they don’t advertise it. It’s always weird to me when I find a place that offers a discount once I ask but that reference the discount nowhere on their website or menu board. It’s almost like they are begrudgingly giving you the discount. Weird. So, again, be sure to ask.

Similarly, be on the lookout for special recognition days. You might find free entry on a certain day if you are a teacher for Teacher Appreciation Day. I’ve seen Nurses Day, Military Day, Kids Day, etc. Like several of the other ideas offered, you have to hit these just right since most of these types of appreciation days are just once a year. But, hey, you never know when a free day will apply to you on a day you are in the area.

Museum-Specific Money-Saving Adventures and Hacks

In my experience to date, these money-saving adventure hacks apply to museums. I haven’t seen anything similar for other types of adventures. But that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

Free Hours for Super-Duper Money-Saving Adventures

Some museums offer free hours. For example, when I visited the Palm Springs Museum, I went on a Thursday evening because the $14 entry fee is waived every Thursday from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. That’s an amazing money-saving adventure.

Side Note: Although I have mentioned free hours under museums, I wanted to say that I’ve seen free days other places. For example, in Washington, their state parks system waives its fees 12 – 14 days each year. So, if you are hanging out in Washington for several weeks, you could save the day-use fee by visiting on one of the free days. 

Special Events

Special events at museums can come with special prices. When I visited the Kirkman House Museum in Walla Walla, Washington, I planned my visit so I went on the evening of their annual Victorian Christmas. Not only did the special event include hot chocolate, baked goods, holiday carol singing and volunteers dressed in period costumes but the $7 admission fee was waived.

Other special events might include a charity event one night. Yes, you’ll likely pay more (so not exactly money-saving adventures) for the ticket but some portion will be tax-deductible plus you may get food, door prizes, swag bag, entertainment, extra fun, etc. One type of special event I’ve frequently seen is a mystery night where guests work to solve a murder. Again, those tickets cost more than regular admission but if you love intrigue (which I do), you have to consider the value of the experience above and beyond seeing the art.

When I visited the Kansas salt mine tour and museum, I noticed that three times per year they have a Mystery in the Mine event. The timing would have to line up perfectly but if you are on the lookout, it might just happen for you. It hasn’t happened yet for me but it will one day. I’m confident.

Volunteering

Okay, so here was how I was able to visit both Carter House Museum and Carnton Plantation. While doing my research, I discovered that the Carter House Museum was having an event called Park Day. They were looking for volunteers to help with a project of clearing brush, a lot of brush. In exchange for the six hours of labor, I got a t-shirt, lunch and a free admission ticket to Carter House Museum. It was perfect for me because I got to visit both places which I really wanted to do but couldn’t justify paying for both and the bonus was helping a community in which I was staying.

Do the Math

Consider an Annual Pass

Get an annual pass. There are great deals out there provided you are going to utilize the pass in such a way that you are getting a deal. You have to do the math to figure out if an annual pass is a money-saving adventure for you. Lots of places offer annual passes so keep your eye out.

For example, many state parks offer annual day-use passes. When I was in New Mexico I contemplated purchasing a $40 pass. But once I did the math, I realized I wouldn’t use the pass enough for it to be a good deal. The day rate was $5 and I figured, at most, I’d visit six state parks which meant paying $30. Now, I also had to take into account that the annual pass would be good for 12 months. But I didn’t think I’d make it back to the state before it expired.

One more note about annual passes. While the New Mexico pass was good for 12 months from the time of purchase, that isn’t always the case. When I lived in Alaska, I would buy an annual day-pass. However, that pass, regardless of when you purchased it, expired on December 31. That’s true for Oregon as well. It never made a difference to me because I only used the pass for summer day hiking. But it might for you. In other words, in addition to doing the math, be sure to read the fine print.

Reciprocal Memberships

I didn’t include this under the museum tips because the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association is a network of more than 1,100 places. While museum is in the name, its network also includes historical societies, botanical gardens, zoos, planetariums, aquariums and much more.

How it works is that you purchase a membership at a certain level at one of the participating places. It can vary place to place but as near as I can tell, most are at about the $100 level or higher. You need to make sure they know you want to be part of NARM who will then send you a NARM membership card.

Then, show that card to any participating NARM for free admission. Again, you’ll want to do the math and look at the participating places to see how many you’ll likely visit in a year’s time. But a visit to an aquarium can be $20 or more which potentially makes a NARM membership a very thrifty deal. Also note there can be restrictions such as you might get entrance to a museum but if they offer a movie as an add-on that may not be included.

I’m not sure if there are other reciprocal memberships out there. This is the only one I know about. But if you know about ones, please do share in the comments.

One Tip for Your Internet Research

When you are looking online at a museum (or any adventure), be sure to click over to their calendar as well as their events page. Most of the time, nothing useful will be there. But, everyone once in a while, you’ll find a real gem of a deal. Or a super fun event. Whenever this happens, I find myself shaking my head, wondering why the important information isn’t on their home page.

In fact, had I not done that, I never would’ve learned about Park Day at Carter House Museum. Sometimes you can find info on money-saving adventures in the most unlikely places.

Know Places and Activities That Are Almost Always Free

There are some places and adventures that never cost a dime. Talk about money-saving adventures. It’s good to know about those so you can look for them in the area you are visiting. Here are three:

• Self-Guided Walking Tours. I’ve found several of these and have so much fun. They can be like a treasure hunt as you look for the next item on the list. The brochure will come with a tidbit about the building, house, location. So, it’s an educational walk as well.
• Nature Centers. Now these aren’t always free but so far in my travels most of them have been.
• Visitors’ Centers. You might not think of this as an adventure but some are so much more than racks of brochures. They might include a movie, information boards and displays. One trick is to look for Visitors’ Center beyond just the state or the town. What I mean is that some places have their own Visitors’ Center.

For example, I visited the Dewey Short Visitors’ Center in Branson which served the Table Rock Dam. The Center included three floors of museum-like displays, interactive displays, a movie on the making of the dam and regular ranger-led talks. Not to mention, there were windy sidewalks through labeled gardens as well as balconies on every floor looking at the dam. Pretty great adventure. All for free.

Queen of a Good Deal

People are always surprised that I was able to go full-time since I’m not of retirement age and I don’t have a steady, regular remote job. This article, indirectly, is how I did it. For two decades before I hit the road, I used every opportunity I found to save money. Even a dollar saved adds up over 20 years if you can do it once a week.

While I’m happy to pay for things I want to see and do, I can do that because of money I’ve saved at other places.

If you have any tips and tricks for finding money-saving adventures, please share in the comments as I’m sure there are things I haven’t thought of.

Links to Posts Referenced Above:

• Desert Hot Springs
• Two Months in Walla Walla, Part II
• Kansas’s Strataca Salt Mine and Other Slow Travel Adventures
• The American Civil War’s Battle of Franklin
• 5 Free Things to Do in Branson

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