RV NY City? 10 free attractions

OK, our best advice: Leave your RV outside the city, then take the toad to town. We've done New York, and we left our rig in upstate New York in a state park, and thanks, it was much nicer. But once you get to the Big Apple, here are ten interesting FREE attractions:

1. The Federal Reserve Bank: It takes a reservation to visit the Reserve, but where else do they have so much gold squirreled away? If you're a coin collector, there are some great exhibits, and if money is funny, check out the displays of counterfeits. On Manhattan Island, 33 Liberty Street.

2. Take a free ferry trip to Staten Island. Hey, you can't bring that motorhome on board, but you can bring the wife, kids, and grandbabies. You can visit the island, or just jump back aboard and say, "We bin!"

3. Paddle the East River. Rather provide the propulsion yourself? Can you say, "Long-uh Eyeland?" The Long Island Community Boathouse will set you up with a loaner kayak to paddle your own canoe.

4, Was it Homer Simpson who said, "Beeeerr"? Maybe he'd been taking a free tour of the Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg. Tours are free on Saturday.

5. Where else but in New York's Garment District could you get a tour of--well--garments? It's a gallery of fashion at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). With a collection of over 50,000 different garments dating back to the 1800's, there are rotating exhibits. Seems the acronym for this outfit is perfect! If it doesn't fit, I know a woman who throws a FIT!

6. Now you really can find out who was buried in Grant's Tomb! Best visited in Spring or Fall, Grant probably died of a cold if he visited there any other time--the place is drafty! Operated by the National Park Service the tomb is near Riverside Drive and West 122nd Street in the Morningside Heights area.

7. Ah, bookworms! The New York Public Library, home of those adorable stone lions Patience and Fortitude, awaits you. The third largest public library in the country, and rated among the top five. While there are several branches, the one with the lions is at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street. Didja know the NYPL has over 20 million books, and a collection of over 50 million items?

8. If your worms don't turn to books, maybe they like plants? Then head over to the New York Botanical Garden. Spanning some 250 acres of Bronx Park, the Garden is home to some of the world's leading plant laboratories. It offers major exhibitions and flower shows throughout the year, drawing over 800,000 visitors annually. Free all day Wednesday, and Saturday 10 to noon.

9. Call her MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art is dedicated simply to that. No moldering Impressionists, no cobweb covered Renaissance stuff. Just modern art. Manhattan again, 53rd Street between 5th and 6th, free admission 4 to 8 pm on Friday, but be warned, everybody likes a freebie!

10. The strangest for last. The New York Earth Room. To quote the web site: "An interior earth sculpture. 250 cubic yards of earth (197 cubic meters). 3,600 square feet of floor space (335 square meters). 22 inch depth of material (56 centimeters). Total weight of sculpture: 280,000 lbs. (127,300 kilos). What more can we say?

ferry: mgendleman library lion: thenails both on flickr.com

"Almost" free breakfast at Flying J

Out on the road and looking for a cup of Java and a breakfast sandwich? Flying J has a print-it-and-bring-it coupon right here. The catch? OK, it's not absolutely free, it'll cost you a buck. The offer works ONLY at participating Flying J locations, NOT at Pilot.

Books on RV wheels? Free audio book with a catch

If you're like our family, RVing through some stretches of the country is just better with someone reading a good book. We've been fans of audio books and frequently rent and return them at truck stops along our roadways.

Now comes audible.com, an Amazon subsidiary, that offers a download service of audio books for iPods, iPhones, Androids, and a host of mp3 players. The regular membership is $14.95 a month, but to try and encourage folks to try the service out, audible.com is offering a free "credit." What's that worth? Nearly all of the 85,000+ audiobooks, magazines, and downloads are just a single credit. Check in and you can get a credit good for 14 days.

The catch? The company requires a major credit card, and of course, if you don't log back in before your 14 days are up, they'll "automatically enroll" you on their program to the tune of $14.95 a month (worth a credit a month). Users say they haven't had trouble cancelling, so it may be worth taking the time and checking out the service. Check out audible.com's site here.

But here's another trick: Many public libraries are subscribers to audio book services where patrons can log onto the library website and download audio books compatible with just these kinds of devices. Don't have such advanced technology? Our library has many titles that we can download and burn to CD, playing them on our tow vehicle's audio system. Check with your library for this REALLY FREE service.

stock photo: playfullibrarian on flickr.com