When we travel, researching and planning are vital. If we don’t have a plan or if we don’t know what is available in the city, then it leads to a more stressful trip. Although we usually don’t have a complete timed itinerary, we do try to have a list of things to see, places to eat, as well as events and activities. The first thing that I do when I begin my research is to search for free things to do. Traveling is very expensive, so if we can see and do things that are free, then it can help with our budget. It is as easy as searching the web for “Free things to do in Chicago”. This search will give you results such as the Lincoln Park Zoo or the Chicago Cultural Center, as well as other parks, gardens, and beaches. You might find other museums with free days or even concerts in the park. It is a great place to start your search. When we visited Philadelphia, a search for free things to do led me to find out about the free costumed storytellers<\/a> in the historic district. We spent the day exploring the historic district and planned time to hear many of the storytellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n