If there's one thing we've learned from producing our annual Best Cities package, it's that every city strives to provide community-oriented amenities to residents and tourists alike, to offer quality living beyond the essentials (home, job, education).
Depending on the size of your town, you may find free concerts, area hiking trails, walking tours, artists walks, nature guides, seminars, movie events, museums, exhibits and festivals. How often do you take advantage of all that your town has to offer? We have some resources to help you discover how great your city is. (And you can even nominate it for our Reader's Choice 2009.)
Take a look . . .
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
ROUGH GUIDE TO REDISCOVERING YOUR CITY
Convention and Visitor's Bureau: Visit yours (online or in person) for information and suggested itineraries to explore where you live.
Wisebread's User-Generated List: This blog asked users to send suggestions for Fun, Free and Cheap Things to Do Under $5 in their cities. You can search via a clickable map.
Grandparents.com's 101 Free Things To Do City Guide: This site currently has 50 free, kid-friendly city guides. Plus, there's also an e-book with more ideas of inexpensive and fun activities you can do with kids.
Local Wine Events: This site tracks wine events and tastings by city. Most of the casual events are free or low-cost.
Create Your Own Free Guide: Simpe Dollar suggests that in one hour, you can create a personalized free guide to your own city. Why not give it a shot.
If you're still searching for that perfect town to call home, try our revised City Finder tool. You set the criteria that's important to you, and we'll provide up to five locations that best suit your needs.
Please share your ideas and feedback in the Comment Box below.
-
How to Navigate Your Medicare Advantage Plan in a DisasterIf you're a Medicare Advantage member in an area that has been impacted by a disaster, you might be worried about access to care and medicine. Here's what you need to know.
-
Older Investors: Boost Your Savings and Retire EarlierThis one measure can help older investors retire up to two years earlier and potentially double their retirement savings.
-
Texas Sales Tax-Free Weekend 2025Tax Holiday What you need to know about the Texas sales tax holiday.
-
Alabama Tax-Free Weekend 2025Tax Holiday Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 back-to-school Alabama sales tax holiday.
-
Best States to Buy Chocolate Candy Tax-FreeState Taxes There’s something spooky this Halloween, and it’s not just the ghouls. Find out if your state’s sales tax takes a bite out of sweet savings.
-
Florida Back-to-School Tax-Free Holiday 2025Sales Taxes Everything you need to know about the two-week tax-free holiday in Florida.
-
Five Reasons You Shouldn't Shop on Amazon Prime DaySmart Buying Is Amazon Prime Day still a good deal? We'll break it down.
-
Five Ways to Save on Vacation Rental PropertiesTravel Use these strategies to pay less for an apartment, condo or house when you travel.
-
How to Avoid Annoying Hotel Fees: Per Person, Parking and MoreTravel Here's how to avoid extra charges and make sure you don't get stuck paying for amenities that you don't use.
-
Best Cash Back Credit Cards of 2025Credit Cards If you're searching for a credit card that rewards you for everyday purchases, we've chosen the best.
