Vacations can get expensive, what with all the entrance fees to theme parks, museums and oddball attractions along the way to your final destination. It may come as a surprise, then, that some of the top attractions in major cities are yours for the taking. From zoos to botanic gardens and everything in between, we've compiled a must-hit list of free attractions for your travels.

Up Next: New York City

Take a bite out of the cost of a Big Apple visit with a ride on the Downtown Connection, a free bus service that stops at designated points along a route in lower Manhattan. Stops include Battery Place (for the Statue of Liberty) and Bowling Green (for the Museum of the American Indian -- a free attraction). Other NYC freebies include admission to the New York Transit Museum, tours through Central Park, and the Queens Botanic Garden.

Up Next: Los Angeles

Star-gazing in LA is free -- and so are some of the city's finest attractions. The Getty Center houses not only J. Paul Getty's amazing collection of European art, it offers a panoramic view from atop its mountain perch. The Santa Monica Pier has been a magnet for locals and tourists since 1909, and there's no admission charged for visiting the pier, although the rides (and food!) will cost you. The La Brea Tar Pits, that ooey-gooey prehistoric wonder, is another freebie, as is the Griffith Park Observatory, and the funky, open-air Farmer's Market, where star sightings are almost assured.

Up Next: St. Louis

STL not only stands for St. Louis, it's an abbreviation for free, as this city offers up a seemingly endless menu of free attractions. Animal attractions include the St. Louis Zoo, home to 6,000 species, and Grant's Farm, the former homestead of President Ulysses S. Grant that's now an animal preserve. Feed your artistic soul with free visits to the SLAM -- the St. Louis Museum of Art, and the Laumeier Sculpture Park. All these freebies may cause you to work up a thirst, so stop off at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery for a free tour and a free sample!

Up Next: Boston

Beantown's historical sites take you from the city center to the North End, and there's plenty to see along the way, all for free. Start on the Freedom Trail at the Boston Common, the huge public park, then follow the red brick road to a number of free historic sites, including Faneuil Hall. Head a bit north to the Old North Church in the Italian North End section, where there's almost a free festival every weekend. And take in a concert at the Hatch Shell, along the Charles River -- performances are always free.

Up Next: Orlando

With all the flash of the world's greatest theme parks in Orlando, it is easy to overlook the city's other attractions, many of which are free. The Bradlee-McIntyre House, the area's only surviving Victorian cottage, is a real-life doll house built around 1885. Hear the stories of Holocaust survivors at the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center. At the Orlando City Hall Terrace Gallery, a series of changing exhibitions highlights Florida's cultural diversity and history.

Up Next: Washington, D.C.

With so many events, museums,and other attractions free of charge in D.C., a trip to the capital doesn't need to be so pricey. Most all of the monuments are free to visit, the White House offers free guided tours, and a trip to the National Arboretum won't cost a thing! (Although it is always nice to buy lunch and eat it in the gardens). Even museums like the Naval Museum and National Archives don't require tickets. Also, in the spring, enjoy the Cherry Blossom Festival by taking a stroll along the Tidal Basin.

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