Cheap ways to enjoy the July 4th weekend

Even if you’re trying to save more money this year and you can’t afford a big-ticket vacation, you still don’t have to just sit at home during the Independence Day holiday weekend.

We’ve got some great (and affordable) attractions right here in our own backyard.

Fisherman’s Wharf
The world famous tourist attraction is best known for Pier 39, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, the Cannery Shopping Center, Ghirardelli Square, a Ripley’s Believe it or Not museum, the Musée Mécanique, the Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf, Forbes Island and restaurants and stands that serve fresh seafood, most notably dungeness crab and clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl.*

And just for the occasion, you can catch the City of San Francisco’s Independence Day Concert, a special live, all-day concert free to the public, followed by the  fireworks show along the waterfront at  9 p.m.

For more information, visit the Fisherman Wharf’s official site.

Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco
The Legion of Honor
You can browse a collection of 4,000 years of ancient and European art in a setting that overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge. Current exhibits include: John Baldessari: A Print Retrospective from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation and Waking Dreams: Max Klinger and the Symbolist Print.

de Young Musuem
Check out this showcase collection of American art from the 17th through the 20th centuries, and art of the native Americas, Africa, and the Pacific.  Don’t miss out on the famous King Tut exhibit: Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. It runs through March 28, 2010.

Hours & Admissions
Open six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m.
(The Museum is open until 3:30 pm on July 4.)

Adults: $10.00
Seniors 65 and over: $7.00
Youth 13-17: $6.00
Children 12 and under: FREE
(Muni riders with Fast Pass or transfer receive a $2 discount.)

Admission tickets to the Legion include same-day general admission to the de Young (special exhibitions fees not included).

For more information, visit Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco.

Japanese Tea Garden
The Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco, California, is a popular feature of Golden Gate Park, originally built as part of a sprawling World’s Fair, the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894. For more than 20 years San Francisco Parks Trusts’ Park Guides have given free tours to San Francisco Parks trust members, providing context and history for this historic Japanese-style garden.

The oldest public Japanese garden in the United States, this complex of many paths, ponds and a teahouse features native Japanese and Chinese plants. Also hidden throughout its five acres are sculptures and bridges.*

Hours & Admissions
Open daily, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Adults: $3.50
Seniors 65 and over: $1.25
Youth 6-12: $1.25

For more information, visit San Francisco Parks Trust, or call (415) 752-4227.

Great America
The amusement park, located in Santa Clara, boasts dozens of thrill and and family rides, as well as themed areas such as Nickelodeon™ Central, KidZville®, and Boomerang Bay. You can also catch live stage productions throughout the day.

Hours & Admissions
Check calendar

Adults: $54.99
Youth and Seniors (Ages 3-6 AND UNDER 48″, ages 62+): $35.99
After 4 p.m.: $29.99

For more information, visit California’s Great America.

Bonfante Gardens / Gilroy Gardens
This Gilroy Gardens park is designed to educate guests and to foster a greater appreciation of horticulture. The Park features over 40 rides, attractions, educational exhibits and majestic gardens. You can see the Monarch Garden – in a greenhouse so large that a train, a monorail, and a river runs through it, “Quicksilver Express” mine coaster, boat rides through gardens of annual color and an antique car ride where you travel through the “back roads” of South County in cars from the 1920’s or 1950’s.

Hours & Admissions
Check calendar

Adults: $42.99
Seniors 65 and over: $32.99
Child 3-6: $32.99

For more information, visit Gilroy Gardens.

Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Monterey Bay Aquarium offers nearly 200 award-winning galleries and exhibits. The aquarium is second largest aquarium in the world. It has an annual attendance of 1.8 million and holds 35,000 plants and animals representing 623 species.*

Hours & Admissions
Check calendar

Adults: $29.95
Seniors 65 and over: $27.95
Student (13-17, college ID): $27.95
Child 3-12: $17.95
Child under 3: FREE

For more information, visit Monterey Bay Aquarium.

*Source: Wikipedia.com