Photo: irene.

Even if you’re not in France on July 14, you can still celebrate the French national holiday with other Francophiles at one of many events around the world.

London

Across the Channel in London, Bastille Day will be commemorated at events throughout the city. On July 12, Battersea Park will host the Bastille Day Garden Party, one of the biggest celebrations outside France.

In addition to a picnic, the party includes a pétanque tournament, a French market, an open-air cinema, and a chance to win prizes such as cooking classes at the Alain Ducasse school in Paris.

New York

Each year, the Alliance Française puts on a large celebration on 60th Street between Fifth and Lexington Avenues. It goes down July 12 this year, with market stalls, music, dance, and food. Among the prizes being raffled off are trips to Paris and French language lessons at the Alliance Française.

The Committee of French Speaking Societies also holds its annual Bastille Day Ball on July 13, with this year’s theme being Les Années Folles, or the Roaring Twenties.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia goes all out with a 4-day celebration at the Eastern State Penitentiary beginning July 9.

The throwing of the Tastykake / Photo: thatpicturetaker

On July 11, revelers are invited to take part in a storming of the Bastille, with Marie Antoinette escorted by armed troops as she shouts “let them eat Tastykake,” throwing the locally-produced pastries from the prison tower.

She’s then presented to the audience, who decide her fate as she stands next to an executioner and real guillotine. French Revolutionaries, played by members of the Old Fort Mifflin Historical Society, also make appearances.

Milwaukee

For the past 28 years, Milwaukee has put its predominantly German heritage aside for 4 days in mid-July by staging the Bastille Days festival at Cathedral Square Park downtown, complete with a 43-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower, street performers, minstrels, and music.

The festival begins with a Storming of the Bastille on the first night. Visitors can also participate in free French lessons, observe a traditional French Mass, and have their caricatures drawn. Genealogists are on hand to trace the roots of anyone with French heritage.

Seattle

On July 11, Seattle’s celebration begins with a Bal des Pompiers, or Firemen’s Ball, which traditionally takes place in every French town and city the night of July 13 or 14. This year, the event features a Moroccan menu, recognizing the popularity of the cuisine in France.

On July 12, a day of free events is held at the Seattle Center with food, live music, painting workshops, theater, and cooking demonstrations.

Franschhoek, South Africa

Photo: Julien Carnot

Meaning “French Corner,” this town in the Western Cape province was originally settled by French Huguenot refugees in the 17th century. Each year, Franschhoek enthusiastically celebrates the French national holiday with a weekend festival.

A masked ball begins the festivities on July 10. This year’s event features a food and wine marquee, film festival, game of pétanque, and a chefs and waiters race.

Budapest

The French Institute in Budapest and French Trade Office throw their Bastille Day celebration on the Buda side of the Danube on July 11, with food, wine from the regions of Aquitaine, Bordeaux, and Champagne-Ardennes, and music from French and Hungarian bands.

Fireworks cap off the festivities, just as they do in France.

*Feature photo: Cyril Plapied

Community Connection

If you’re lucky enough to be in France this time of year, check out these Matador titles for travel advice and anecdotes:

How to Enjoy Paris for Free

Top 10 Free Things to Do in Paris

Beyond Paris: 5 Other Places to Experience La Belle France

Losing My Travel Virginity: Homeless in Paris

How to Move to Paris with No Money

Photo: geoftheref

I gazed out the bus window last Sunday afternoon to see…well, nothing.

No jagged mountains or endless pampas as I’d imagined. Instead, a solid sheet of white hung like TV static out the slowly progressing bus window. Blizzard-like conditions were slamming Patagonia’s Route 40.

This was the first time I saw it snow during my now six months in South America. And I was just as shocked as I had been back in January, flying out of snowy Boston to arrive in the humid, hazy summer of Lima. How amazing that it’s possible to switch seasons in a day simply by hopping a plane.

Photo: lepiaf.geo

However strange it may feel, I’m ready to take advantage of what Patagonia’s throwing at me.

Over the next month or so that I’ll be here in Esquel, Argentina, volunteering with Asociación MAPU (which just so happens to be a Matador member organization), I should have a couple days free to hit the local ski mountain, La Hoya.

And if I were to venture a bit farther north, I could sample a couple of the 5 Best Southern Hemisphere Ski Resorts that Trips profiled earlier this year.

The other three are in Australia/New Zealand.

What about my fellow Southern Hemisphereans? What are your plans for enjoying the winter of 2009 while our cousins up north steam and sweat? Let me know in the comments.

Community Connection

To connect with other Matador members stationed below the belt, search the community destination pages.

Photo: aaronbflickr

Most visitors to northern Chile make a beeline to the small inland town of San Pedro de Atacama and never look back. Yet, the best combination of the region’s two most rewarding natural resources — the desert and the coast — is found a few hundred miles to the southwest.

Natural diversity: from desert, to beaches, to penguins

Pan de Azucar National Park occupies over 43,000 hectares, straddling the border of Chile’s Regions II and III. There’s a thin strip of coastal paradise, flanked by miles and miles of desert stretching away from the shore.

Photo: ^riza^

Beach camping is what’s on tap. Wake up to an ocean sunrise, join the seagulls and sandpipers for a quick dip in the sea, and then relax on the sand.

Once you’ve had your fill of beach soccer, surfing, and sunbathing, take a hike to the top of the Mirador for an excellent view of the stark Atacama landscape. Ask the park rangers for more information on the Mirador walk, along with other hiking opportunities.

And don’t forget the penguins! Boats depart from Caleta for tours around Isla Pan de Azucar. There you’ll see sealions laze and bark and Humboldt penguins chatter amongst themselves on the shore.

How to get there

The park lies 800 km north of Santiago and just 30 km from Chañaral. Renting a car, which can be done in Antofagasta or Copiapó, is the most convenient way to reach Pan de Azucar. Hitchhiking is also possible, helped by the fact that Chile is probably South America’s safest country.

A third option is to take a bus to Chañaral, conveniently located on the Pan-American Highway, and then hop a minibus or collectivo to the park.

Where to stay

The four campgrounds (Caleta Pan de Azucar, Piqueros, Soldado, and Piqueros Norte) sit on long strips of white-sand beach, ten minutes from the park entrance.

Photo: ~chicchun~

Soldado and Piqueros Norte are group areas — Soldado mainly sees families, while Piqueros Norte is where young singles flock.

These two campgrounds are the best; the sites are located farther apart from each other for more privacy, and they offer the best views of the ocean. They come with a canopy, campfire ring, and table and chairs. Nearby are bathrooms and cold-water showers, plus sinks for washing dishes.

Also available are a few “fully equipped” beach cabanas, each sleeping six.

Caleta and Piqueros are less expensive but sites are cramped — your view may very well consist of the back of another tent.

Sign up for a campsite at the administration station, which is open from 8:30-12:30am and 2-6pm.

Costs

Photo: law_keven

Beach cabanas: $20,000-$40,000 CLP per night, depending on the season
Campsite at Piqueros Norte or Soldado: $3500 CLP per person, per night
Campsite at Caleta or Piqueros: $2000 CLP per person, per night
Park entrance fee: $3500 CLP per person ($1500 CLP for children)
Boatride to Isla Pan de Azucar: $5000 CLP per person

Special tip: The budget-conscious can try talking to the rangers about a “servicio.” Depending on their mood, you might be able to convince them to let you pick up litter on the beach or empty the garbage bins in the bathrooms in exchange for a night’s stay.

Additional tips

* Though Caleta has a small store, its prices are exorbitant and its selection meager. Buy food and supplies before arriving. There are also vendors who come through in the afternoon with empanadas and sweets, but you shouldn’t rely on them either.

* Pack a flashlight, matches, a knife, plastic bags for trash, sunblock, and sunglasses. These are must-haves for camping in Pan de Azucar.

* A visit in spring (October, November, and December) will give you a look at the blossoming of exotic desert plants and families of guanacos (related to llamas).

* Despite the ocean’s tempering influence, this is still the desert — it gets cold at night, so bring a good jacket and a hat to stay warm.

*If you love the night sky, you’ll love Pan de Azucar. Pack your star map for some serious star gazing.

Community Connection

Matador is the place to read up on Chile! Relevant titles include:

Destinations

Community Connection to Chile

Chile’s Best Coast Towns (which, incidentally, happens to feature Pan de Azucar)

8 Natural Wonders of Chile

10 Reasons to Base Your Study Abroad Experience in Chile

7 Reasons to Learn Spanish in Chile

What People Are Listening to in Chile

Trekking Torres Del Paines, Patagonia, Chile

Parc du Mont-Megantic, Quebec

As a Canadian, I find it pretty sad that this part of the world is just as unknown and foreign to me as Africa or Antarctica (apart from the national love of hockey and beer, that is), so I just might be taking up my own advice and reaching out to Eva for some tips on the eastern end of the Great White North.

Eva has an MA in History and her writing on topics as diverse as travel, indie movies, music and books can be found in a number of Canadian publications, World Hum, Not Coming to a Theater Near You, and, of course, right here on the Matador Network.

Her M.O. is backpacking alone, staying in hostels and catering for herself (though she is quick to point out that she doesn’t think this lifestyle is superior to any others). She quotes Ferris Bueller and Stevie Wonder et elle parle du français aussi.

More on Eva:

I’ve lived in Ottawa, Halifax, Saskatoon and Toronto, and traveled to all ten provinces at one point or another (plus one territory - Yukon and Nunavut await!). The areas I know best are Ontario (especially the south east), the Atlantic Provinces (especially Nova Scotia), and parts of Quebec.

I’d be happy to help out with some off-the-beaten-path suggestions (smaller towns, outdoor areas), logistics of transport, and specific dining/nightlife recs for Ottawa, Kingston, and Halifax. But feel free to send any question you like - even if it’s not my area of expertise I’ll do my best to help you figure it out!

Places I want to go: These days I’m jonesing to head to South Africa, the Yukon, back to New Orleans, back to California, Cuba, India (ideally for a solid six months or more), back to my old stomping grounds in the UK.

There’s still a ton of the ol’ US of A to see, and one of these days I’d really love to take the train across Canada. I’d also like to go back to Italy, this time with my mom. I just want to go EVERYWHERE, really!

Sports I do: rugby, rowing, hockey

I felt the most immersed in a foreign culture when: When I visited my dad while he was living in Kuala Lumpur, and I was away from all the touristy stuff and just spent my days wandering around the suburban malls and people-watching.

Also anytime we went to the pub while I was living in England, or when we just sat around the house watching Eurovision or the World Cup or Celebrity X-Factor.

Before I die I’d like to: See all 1000 places in that book?? Nah…

To find out more about Eva and to barrage her with your questions, find her at her Matador profile (deva). Be sure to pop by her website too!

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

If you aren’t part of the Matador Community yet, sign up to join the growing number of travelers, writers, photographers, and all-round good people.

1. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
The largest salt flat in the world reflects the sky during the wet season (above). In the dry winter months, it becomes a mosaic of salt tiles (below).
Photographer: Luca Galuzzi

Photographer: Sergio Pessolano

2. Antarctica
Icebergs drift in dark Antarctic waters.
Photographer: winkyintheuk

3. The Richat Structure, near Ouadane, Mauritania
A circular feature, 50 km across, in the middle of the otherwise featureless Mauritanian Sahara. Picture courtesy of NASA.
Photographer: trodel_wiki

4. Alvord Playa, southeastern Oregon, USA
You might not expect to find a desert in the Pacific Northwest, but this dry lake bed averages only 180 mm of rain a year.
Photographer: rasone

5. Cappadocia, Turkey
Fairy chimneys dominate the landscape between Cavusin and Zelve.
Photographer: Timothy Neesam

6. Socotra Island, Yemen
Socotra’s isolation in the Indian Ocean has given rise to plant life you won’t see anywhere else. Behold the dragon’s blood tree.
Photographer: Sotti

7. Black Rock Desert, Nevada, USA
Best known as the staging grounds for Burning Man, the Black Rock Desert is also home to alien features such as the Fly Geyser.
Photographer: Stephen Oachs

8. Black and White Deserts, Egypt
Egypt’s deserts come in many colors, including Black (above) and White (below).
Photographer: Gekko82

Photographer: tronics

9. Kauai, Hawaii
Seaside lava ledges make for otherworldly experiences on this often-overlooked Hawaiian island.
Photographer: PatrickSmithPhotography

10. Namib Desert, Namibia
Sand rarely gets as red as it does in the deserts of Namibia.
Photographer: Brian Preen

11. Torres del Paine, Chile
The most alien of the 8 Natural Wonders of Chile, Torres del Paine’s mountain spires cut into the blue sky.
Photographer: winkyintheuk

12. Dead Sea, Israel/Jordan
Lowest point on Earth, deepest salt lake in the world, saltier than the ocean…the list of the Dead Sea’s bizarreness is a long one.
Photographer: Pennina Neumann

13. Strokkur Geyser, southwestern Iceland
Visitors to the Strokkur Geyser are rewarded with this display every five minutes or so.
Photographer: exfordy

14. Lake Turkana, Kenya
Lake Turkana lies in Africa’s Great Rift Valley. Its salty waters comprise the world’s largest desert lake.
Photographer: Yannick Garcin

15. Four Corners region, USA
The Colorado Plateau gets funky at the Arizona-Utah border. That’s where you’ll find Vermilion Cliffs National Monument (above) and Monument Valley (below).
Photographer: gregmote

Photographer: Wolfgang Staudt

16. Chocolate Hills, Bohol, Philippines
Over 1,700 naturally formed mounds (covered with chocolate brown grass in the dry season) dot the center of the island of Bohol.
Photographer: Lemuel Montejo

17. The Sahara
The world’s largest hot desert is as big as the entire U.S. Get stranded out here and you’ll wish you really were on an alien world.
Photographer: Jay Brezinsky

“Tunisian Sahara: Desert Stop!”
Photographer: andzer

Community Connection

As most travelers know, you don’t have to be in an alien landscape to experience the surreal. Matador contributing editor Christine Garvin wants to know, What Is Your Most Surreal Travel Experience?

For more photo-inspired gawking (with a bit of vertigo tossed in), check out Photo Essay: 13 Places to Get Close to the EDGE.

Photo: versageek

The brief northern summer is when these islands, shuttered up tight three seasons of the year, open their doors, set out the lawn furniture, and throw a rope to the ferries bringing in visitors by the hundreds.

Here are six New England island locales you’ll want to hop a ferry and see, whether you’re day tripping or settling in for a longer stay.

Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

Not far off the southern coast of Cape Cod, the Vineyard is 100 square miles of intriguing towns, forested countryside, and postcard beaches.

Photo: jlrotner

From bustling Oak Bluffs to upscale Edgartown, from the crashing waves of the Atlantic at Katama Beach to the lapping waters on the shores of the tiny fishing village Menemsha, you’ll find each of the island’s six towns has a different personality, and every beach a different atmosphere.

A campground and a hostel stand in the woods in the middle of the island, if you don’t feel like staying at one of the many B&Bs or inns. Bike and moped rentals, as well as the extensive shuttle bus system, make exploration of the island super convenient.

Don’t forget to take the two-minute ferry trip to the Vineyard’s neighboring island of Chappaquiddick. This quiet, purely residential speck of land is perfect for a day’s bike ride.

Nantucket, Massachusetts

With exclusive galleries, upscale shops, and fine dining, Nantucket is an island with a standing invitation to the wealthy. It keeps its accommodations pricey…but the beaches are free! A shuttle bus system will chauffeur you around if you don’t want to ride a bike.

Photo: Paul Keleher

In between beach basking and checking out the towns of Nantucket and ‘Sconset (short for Siasconset), you’ll find in addition to high-end attractions there are plenty of casual restaurants and shops to patronize.

Block Island, Rhode Island

They often party even during daylight hours on Block Island. Walk off the ferry and you’ll be in the middle of the action, as the majority of the clubs, restaurants, and shops are found nearby.

Although it’s loaded with B&Bs, inns, and hotels, you don’t have to stay the night to get a good feel for this 10-square-mile island. Biking or moped-ing around will let you see all the sights and soak up the atmosphere on a day trip.

Cuttyhunk, Massachusetts

Cuttyhunk is one of only two of the private Elizabeth Islands — owned by the Forbes family — that’s open to the public.

Home to about 50 year-round residents, its population “swells” to 400 in the summertime. Small, peaceful, and isolated, this is a place to escape to if you’re craving solitude.

There’s a B&B, inn, and, for those traveling in a group, cottage and house rentals.

Fishers Island, New York

Utilized during the Spanish American War to protect New York City, Fishers Island has a year-round population today that’s not much different than it was back in 1898: 300.

Photo: -= Bruce Berrien =-

This is one nearly deserted island, with long country roads, the occasional public beach, and a just few places to eat.

The Pequot Inn, the only accommodation on the island, is a big part of summer life, throwing parties that stretch into the morning hours.

Explore during the day and you’ll find this island has one of the friendliest attitudes of any on the East Coast, with locals waving out their car windows to you as they drive by.

Visitors are welcome to ferry their cars ashore from Connecticut, or you can rent a bicycle once you arrive.

Thimble Islands, Connecticut

This archipelago in the Long Island Sound just off the shore of Connecticut consists of 100 to 365 tiny islands — depending on the tide and on how big a rock has to be before you can call it an island.

Photo: author

Many are so tiny they hold just one home, and on one there’s nothing more than a gazebo. The most populated, Money Island, hosts 32 houses.

These dots of land are private, which means you can only go ashore if you know a local. However, there’s nothing stopping you from enjoying the islands on a kayak or boat tour.

Once back in the adjacent mainland town of Stony Creek, hang out for a while on the beach, walk around the relaxed residential streets, grab a bite to eat, and you’ve got yourself a unique day trip.

Community Connection

Sabina also happens to be Matador’s destination expert for Martha’s Vineyard — she’s the one to turn to if you have any questions at all on this iconic New England island. To get in touch, click over to her Matador profile, where she goes by the name Travellohr.

Have a favorite New England island that didn’t make the list? Sound off in the comments!

Photo above: gruntzooki, Feature photo: mborowick

Beirut

Did you know Democrats Abroad had a branch in Lebanon? Neither did we, but the Bekaa Valley Wine Tour they have planned for Independence Day sounds pretty sweet.

Tickets are $65 in advance or $75 day of, and naturally, all proceeds benefit Democrats Abroad Lebanon.

The American touch in Milan / Photo: Tavallai

Milan

Visiting Milan? You’re invited to a red, white, and blue event at the design museum La Triennale di Milano, taking place from 4-10pm on the Fourth.

We’re talking hamburgers and beer combined with a free English-language museum tour and children’s workshops, topped off with an American Airlines ticket giveaway.

Doors are open to all, and admission is free. For more info, click here.

Photo: laura padgett

Shanghai

Shanghai is home to a large expat population, and the local American Chamber of Commerce is putting on a July 4th shindig at the 5-star Le Meridien She Shan resort. Family activities, catered food, and live music and dancing will be on offer.

You can view the event flyer here.

The Netherlands

Seems like America’s political parties are competing for the hearts and minds of U.S. expats in Holland.

This July 4th, you can choose between a Democrats Abroad picnic in Amsterdam’s Vondelpark or a BBQ in Rotterdam organized by their counterparts at Republicans Abroad. How to decide!?

London

Fireworks fans, this one’s for you. In addition to “upscale and affordable BBQ” and “two fully stocked bars,” this event in Battersea Park features pyrotechnics.

Over 900 partiers were in attendance last year, and more than half that number have already RSVP-ed for this Saturday’s event. No charge for admission.

Singapore

Bouncy castles, soccer and tennis schools, and live music are just some of what’s going on at the strangely named Terror Club Sports Complex in Singapore this July 4th.

Admission is free — just remember to bring ID. And, as in London, the sky will be lit up with an Independence Day fireworks display.

Tokyo Disneyland / Photo: gwaar

Click here for details.

Prague

A lot of little celebrations are slated for Eastern Europe’s U.S. expat capital. Any place where Americans typically congregate will likely have something going on.

This page lists three options to check out.

Japan

Democrats Abroad is throwing down some Fourth love all over Japan.

There’s the “Barack BBQ” in Osaka’s Ogimachi Park, a celebration at the Pink Cow art bar in Tokyo, and a beach party in Kanagawa.

For info on these three events, click here.

Community Connection

Do you have info on a Fourth of July event taking place in a different corner of the world? Share it with your fellow travelers by leaving a comment.

For all you American expats out there, Brave New Traveler has some reading material you might find of interest. Check out What Can Travel Teach You About The American Dream? and How I Made Peace With My American Identity.

Staying closer to home this Saturday? Don’t miss Fourth of July Events around the U.S.

Photo above: iChaz, Feature photo: Bondseye

Go 4th on the River, New Orleans

Celebrate the Stars and Stripes in Dixie. The Big Easy puts on quite the show along the banks of the Mississippi, including a generous offering of free events and — naturally — lots of great music.

The finale comes at 9pm with the Dueling Barges Fireworks Extravaganza. Twin river barges shoot off an insane amount of firepower in one of the country’s best displays.

Details: www.go4thontheriver.com

Taste of Chicago

The Windy City’s biggest festival is about a lot more than patriotism.

Photo: spatulated

Every year, Taste of Chicago draws loads of food vendors serving up the best of classic Chicago cuisine (think deep-dish pizza, Polish sausage, and BBQ) and crowds numbering in the millions.

The best part? You don’t have to wait — the festivities have already begun, and they’ll last until July 5.

Make sure to catch the superb pyrotechnics that’ll light up the shores of Lake Michigan at 9pm, July 3.

Small Town 4th of July, Williams, AZ

America’s small towns know how to throw down just as well as its cities. The highlight of the day in Williams will be the Arizona Skyhawks, a parachuting team that plans to skydive in formation and land smack in the middle of the July 4th parade on Main Street.

Also on the program are a barbecue, corn roast, ice cream social, and the “railhead shooting competition.”

Details: www.williamschamber.com

Boston Harborfest

With over 200 events scheduled between Tuesday, June 30 and Sunday, July 5, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a dull moment at the 2009 Boston Harborfest.

Where else can you hear a reading of the Declaration of Independence, participate in a reenactment of the Boston Tea Party, and be a judge in a chowder competition?

Avery Tomato Festival, Avery, TX

Forget fireworks and freedom. Folks in Avery know what the Fourth is all about: tomatoes.

Photo: The Ewan

Contests seem to be the name of the game at this festival. Standouts include competitions to determine the Best Tomato Hat and Ugliest Tomato, a Horseshoe Tournament, the Tomato Festival Queen Pageant…the list goes on.

And don’t worry, you’ll get your fireworks too.

Details: http://cityofavery.com

Family 4th, Seattle

Seattle does it up right for the kiddos.

Bring your children to Gas Works Park and set them loose in the Playfield, which features giant inflatable slides, kite flying, circus workshops, and something called a “Monkey Motion Quad Pod.” The event website provides lots of safety info as well.

Adults will enjoy the beer garden and pub trivia, and the fireworks encore at 10pm is one of the best in the U.S.

Blueberry Pancake Breakfast, Freeport, ME

Celebrate the Fourth in Freeport, the well-touristed home of L.L. Bean, and you can get in on the fun run, clambake, and 9pm fireworks display.

Photo: rjs1322

But we know what you really came for — the blueberry pancakes. Grab a stack downtown at St. Jude Hall.

Details: www.freeportmaine.com

National Independence Day Parade, Washington, D.C.

Fans of the traditional July 4th parade need look no farther than D.C. The National Independence Day Parade takes place at 11:45am along Constitution Ave. (between the National Mall and the White House).

Marching bands from around the country, decorative floats, military drill teams, and VIP appearances make up this official holiday event.

Community Connection

Planning to spend the Fourth in the Big Apple? You might want to reread this post: Statue of Liberty’s Crown to Reopen.

What are you doing for the Fourth? Trips wants to hear from you — leave a comment!

Photo: th0mi

Here are seven tips on saving cash in the Emerald City:

1. Skip the Space Needle

The Space Needle costs $16 for one adult and, in my opinion, is highly overrated. For $7.50, head up to the observation deck at the Smith Tower in Seattle’s historical Pioneer Square neighborhood instead. You’ll get a great view of Puget Sound, the Cascades, the Olympic Range, Mount Rainier, and downtown Seattle.

For just $5 on weekdays, you can also access the observation deck at Columbia Tower — the tallest building in the Pacific Northwest. There may not be 360-degree views, but it still beats the Needle.

Photo: Foxtongue

2. Travel by bus

With a little extra planning, you can avoid an expensive rental car and exorbitant parking fees. Seattle’s metro buses will get you anywhere you need to go, and they’re (mostly) on time. Prices are $2 for peak hours and $1.75 for other times, although in the downtown core buses are free of charge from 6am to 7pm.

Not sure you can do it? Relax, they’ve made it easy for newbies. First, check out the King County Metro Guide, then use Google Maps or King County’s online Trip Planner to find a route.

You can also use One Bus Away, either online or by phone, to see if your ride is on schedule. Drivers are generally considerate and helpful, so feel free to ask questions or directions.

3. Walk

The best way to save money and get a little exercise is to walk; downtown Seattle is compact and easy to navigate. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes for the hills!

Golden Gardens sunset / Photo: pfly

4. Hike locally

National Parks charge an entrance fee, but Seattle’s urban parks won’t cost you a cent. Puget Sound’s Discovery Park is close to downtown and contains 12 miles of hiking trails, a lighthouse, steep bluffs, beaches, mountain views, sand dunes, forest, streams, and meadows.

If you’re looking for a lazy way to spend a sunset, try Golden Gardens’ beach with views of the Olympics, or Kerry Park’s postcard view of downtown and Mt. Rainier. Buses run regularly to each of the parks.

5. Eat in the International District

For under $10 (and sometimes under $5), you can buy your fill of pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), sweet and sour chicken, bubble tea, or Vietnamese sandwiches in the International District, just south of downtown. Plus, as a true pan-Asian neighborhood, the ID is worth a ramble.

From the teashops to the obligatory Chinatown gate, and on to the dragons climbing the light posts, you can spend an entire afternoon in the district. At Uwajimaya, the giant Asian supermarket, you’ll get lost in the aisles of noodles, sake, and Hello Kitty merchandise.

For a belly full of cheap food, try Ga Ga Loc (Chinese), Green Leaf (Vietnamese), or happy hour at Kaname Izakaya (Japanese).

6. Get into the museums for free

Several Seattle museums are free the first Thursday of every month. Schedule your visit right and you can get into the Experience Music Project, the Museum of Flight, the Seattle Art Museum, and more, all free of charge. For a complete list of museums and their hours, check out this useful Seattle Times article.

Photo: Mie Tigas

7. Tour the landmarks

Seattle’s major points of interest are free. It’s impossible to pass up famous Pike Place Market, where you can sample fresh local food, gaze upon the colorful flower arrangements, browse nearly 200 craft vendors, listen to street performers, and watch the “Fish Guys” toss seafood at the Fish Market.

A few blocks away, explore the neon escalators and bizarre chambers of downtown’s Central Library, in all its geometric glory.

Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood is charming and walkable, with Nordic influences and cozy coffee shops and pubs. The Ballard Locks, where local and Alaskan fishing ships pass and salmon swim the fish ladder, is free to the public.

The neighborhood of Fremont is famous for its public art including the Fremont Troll, an imposing Vladimir Lenin, and the oft-decorated Waiting for the Interurban. Just a short walking distance away is Gas Works Park, where locals fly kites or picnic on the hills with a backdrop of Lake Union’s sailboats and the skyline.

When to go: Locals promise sun-soaked summers from July 4 until Labor Day, but June and September can also be mild and sunny.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

If cheap and free is your kind of price, find out how you can visit Berlin on the Cheap and check out 10 Volunteer Opportunities For Free Travel.