Free or Low Cost Attractions. Add your fav places to the list
Some of the nicest attractions in America are in our own back yard. Here are a few that are free or the cost is minimal.
[1]The National Rose Garden and Cardens of the American Rose Center in Shreveport, LA. It's an elegant city that has much to see besides the cambling casinos. I believe it is the National Rose Garden that is on Greenwoodl it's accessed off the Interstate near the Texas border. It adds a million lights at Christmas time. The gate fee used to be $3.00 per car.
[2]The Azalea Festival at Honor Park in Muskogee, OK is awesome, It is 10 days in April. No fee. The Five Tribes museum is on there too.
[3]The World's Largest Multiple-Arch Dam is near Disney, OK, at the south end of Grand lake. Tours are Free. Grand Lake is one of the largest man-made lakes in milddle America stretching some 60 miles and takes nearly five hours to drive around.
[3a]White Pelicans visit Grand Lake every year to tank up on Shad before they continue flight in Mexico. They arrive mid-September and leave in November. Hire a lake guide and get close enough for great pictures.
[4] The World's Larges Antique Museum is located on tthe North end of Grand Lake near Grove, OK. It's a fuloly recreated turn of the century 1800'a town built on the shores of Grand Lake. Gate fee.
[5] Japanese Graden repleat with foot bridge, Koi, waterfall and Bonai, Tea House and beautiful plants. Gate fee.
[6] Eureka Springs, Arkansas. A small villlage built into the mountains much like Switerland. It is a toursit trap, but a lovely one with many things to do and see that are free.
[7] Chrismas lights at Carthage, MO. The Brothers at the Catholic Seminary on Grand and Fairview add a million lights that tell the stories from the old told Testament to the birth of Chirst in coloful lights and animation. Open from dusk to 10pm most nights from the weekend before Thanksgiving to New Years. Closed ruting rain or snow. Kids love it; non-offensive. Donations accepted.
[7a] Precious Moments in Carthage lights up too, as does the Romaneaque Courthouse on the square.
[8] Sweetwater Texas lights up from head to toe for Christmas season.
[9] FOLEPI (Festival of Lights, East Peoria, Illnois offers one of the largest nighttime parades and Christmas Displays in America. Begins the Saturday night before Thanksgiving to New Years Day. Some displays are fee driven; most are free.
[10] President Roosevelt called Grandview Drive in Peoria Heights, Illinois "the world's most beautful drive". A spectacular view of the Illinois River Vallley from high in the bluffs that overlook the river.
[11] Dickson Mounds in Lewistown, Illinois, Place of the original discovery of ancient Native American mond builders burial grounds. It is now protected archaelogical dig, but the museum and surrrounding grounds are worth the visit, .No fee.
[12] Hunt, fish or camp in the new and curremtly expanding Illinois Everglades. When finished it will be 14,000 acres in size and include two counties. If there is a fee, it is small.
[13] Spoon River (all-county) Drive in Fulton County. The firrst two weekends in October the county turns back the clock to the 1800s in farming, dress, cooking and activity.
[14] Ocboberfesh in Havana, Ilinois. An old small toiwn festival that is
fun from the kick-off parade to the German Oopa band.to the Brats and Beer.
[15] Marigold Festival in Pekin features the Medallion Hunt that's worth a lot of money in prizes and goodies to one lucky winner. Good food, carnical, parade.. Everything you'd expect for a big weekend of fall fun.
[16] Parks. Central Illinois has parks from a tiny one block square village park to thousonds of acres. The Peoria, Illinois Park District has more than 60 parks, three of which are each 10,000 acreas or more in size. The PPD manages zoo, botanica, marina, seval golf courses, bandshell, free movies on saturday night, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, swimming pools, skating rink and hundred of classes for the public every year. Some items fee driven; some are free.
[16a] State Parks come in every size and flavor from Lincoln's New Salem, Jake Wolfe Fish Hatchery, Dickson Mounds[#11], trail rides, and the obligatory camping, fishing, hunting and hiking. If you want to slleep with the wolves (in complete safety, of course) the Wildlife Park north of Peoria has it all from wildlive tours to food. Fee charged,
How about adding to the list:
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