Top Ten Free USA Attractions

The TripAdvisor website, the world's biggest travel community, has released its list of the top ten free US attractions. More than half are in Hawaii and the Southwest.

TripAdvisor has recommended a list of top ten free US attractions as a way of helping budget travelers find more ways to stretch their vacation dollar. The list was chosen by TripAdvisor editors, apparently according to the destinations' popularity with visitors.

I am happy to report that six of the ten attractions are in the Southwest states or Hawaii. Here they are, in no particular order:

• Pacific Coast Highway, Route 1, California
• Waimea Canyon, Waimea, Hawaii
• Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park, Utah
• Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
• Bellagio Fountains, Las Vegas, Nevada
• U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii

I would certainly agree with the first two destinations. The Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most beautiful drives in the country, if not the world. So is Waimea Canyon, on the island of Kauai.

The next two, however, are a bit dubious. The hiking trail to Angel's Landing is in Zion National Park, and like all national parks, it has an entrance fee.

The Golden Gate Bridge is only free if you drive across it northbound. Southbound vehicles coming into the city must pay a toll. Of course, there is no charge to simply admire it from afar.

But who's quibbling? The list obviously reflects the site's users personal favorites, and opinion is always going to differ.

Which ones would you choose? If you have some favorite attractions in the Southwest and Hawaii, and they're FREE, let me know.

For those who are curious, here are TripAdvisor's remaining top ten free US attractions:

• Freedom Trail, Boston, Massachusetts
• Central Park, New York, New York
• Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
• Holocaust Museum, Washington, D.C.

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