The Freedom Trail
Boston, MA

The Freedom Trail is a two and a half mile walking tour that connects 16 significant Boston landmarks.

Interior access to the Freedom Trail's sites is also free, except for the Paul Revere House, the Old South Meeting House and the Old State House.

The Freedom Trail is a great way to get exercise, explore Boston and learn about history, all at the same time.

Photo: Wikipedia

Cliff Walk

Newport, RI

The Cliff Walk is one of Newport’s most famous attractions is its gilded age mansions lining the coast. Entry to the mansions will cost a fee, but with the Cliff Walk, you can enjoy views of the mansions with amazing views of the water all for free.

The 3.5 mile long path runs behind the mansions on the eastern shore of Newport. It is a National Recreation Trail – the first in New England! The majority of the walk is easy, but be sure to wear good shoes; the sand can make the path slippery. 

Photo: Timothy Valentine/Flickr

Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory

Hyannis, Massachusetts 

See how potato chips are made during a free tour of  the Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory. 

Upon conclusion of the tour, you will even get a free sample of Cape Cod Potato Chips. 

PHOTO: Flickr

Eartha at DeLorme Mapping Company 

Yarmouth, Maine 

Eartha is the worlds largest rotating globe taking up three stories  and is entirely computer controlled and rotates. 

It is about as life-size a replica of the earth as you will find anywhere. 

PHOTO: DeLorme Map Company

Anheuser-Busch Brewery and the Clydesdale Hamlet 

Merrimack, New Hampshire 

The Budweiser Clydesdales are the most recognizable mascots in the beverage industry and a visit to the Clydesdale Hamlet at the Anheuser-Bush Brewery will get you a free meeting with them. 

For this 21 and over, you can take a tour of the brewery and see it result in free beer at the end. 

PHOTO: Billy Zoom/flickr

U.S. Navy Submarine Force Museum and USS Nautilus 

Groten, Connecticut 

See a replica of the world's firs submarine and learn about it through films before heading about the USS Nautilus for a free audio tour. 

Nautilus was the first nuclear powered submarine and the first vessel to travel 20,000 leagues under the sea. The ship is now open to the public year round and is free.  

PHOTO: Facebook

The Sprinkler Factory

Worcester, MA

The Sprinkler Factory in Worcester is not actually factory, but rather a gallery. Though, its namesake does come from the real-life sprinkler factory started by Howard Freeman in WWII. Why? Because he embodies “the spirit of innovation.” With the aim of providing the public with a place to display and enjoy the visual arts, the Sprinkler Factory hosts exhibitions once a month, and they’re always free.

Naval War College Museum

Newport, Rhode Island 

The Naval War College Museum in Newport is one of fifteen official museums operated by the United States Navy, under the direction of the Naval History & Heritage Command and in co-operation with the Naval War College. 

Admission is FREE. 

Photo courtesy of Naval War College

Allagash Brewing Company

Portland, Maine

Allagash Brewing Company offers FREE beer tasting every day that they are open. Participants receive four, 3 oz samples of beer during the tasting.

The tastings do change every few days.

Photo courtesy of Allagash Brewing Company

Central Mass Rail Trail

Boston, MA

The Mass Central Rail Trail is 104 miles of trail from Boston to Northampton. The trail runs along the old railroad tracks that were destroyed in a 1938 hurricane, hence its name. At this point, the entire run has not been opened to the public and is still underway, but there are still plenty of miles of bike-path to enjoy on a beautiful day! 

Boston Fire Museum 

Boston, Massachusetts 

Since 1983, the Boston Fire Museum has operated in the old fire house on Congress street showing off the history of the Boston Fire Department. The Museum shows off antique fire equipment, fire alarm displays, photo displays and artifacts. 

Admission to the Museum is FREE. 

The Haffenreffer Museum at Brown

Providence, Rhode Island

The Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology is Brown University’s teaching museum. It aims to inspire creative and critical thinking about culture by "fostering interdisciplinary understanding of the material world."

Admission is FREE. 

Explore the Site of Paul Revere's Midnight Ride 

Boston, Massachusetts

Old North Church, located on Salem Street, is Boston's oldest surviving church, and it's also the place where Paul Revere gave the signal that the "British were coming," on April 18,1775.

Once he gave the signal, two lanterns were raised high, meaning that they were coming by sea to Lexington and Concord, not land. 

This event began the American Revolution. 

Purgatory Chasm

Sutton, MA

Take a hike at Purgatory Chasm and see the unique landmark that formed naturally approximately 14,000 years ago. Theory has it that the chasm was formed near the end of the last Ice Age with the sudden release of glacial meltwater that had been dammed up. Pretty neat! The chasm is ¼ mile long and runs between giant granite rock, sometimes standing at 70 feet high! You do have to pay to park ($5 MA residents, $6 for you out-of-staters), but exploring the reservation is completely free. 

Photo: MHarvey/Flickr

Tour Sam Adams Brewery

Boston, Massachusetts 

Take a FREE tour of Sam Adams Brewery and see where some of the best beer is made. Learn about the history of Sam Adams beer, how it's made, experience the entire craft brew process and of course try some samples.

The tour departs every 45 minutes and lasts about an hour.

Photo courtesy of Sam Adams Brewery

Tour of RI State House

Providence, Rhode Island

The Rhode Island State House is home to the nation’s 4th largest self-supported marble dome – and you can get an inside look for free. All year, except holidays, the State House offers 50 minute guided tours Monday-Friday starting at 9:00 am with the last tour departing at 2 p.m.

On the tour you’ll see things like the Bell Room, where RI has its replica of the Liberty Bell on display, and of course, the rotunda, where you can look up at the dome. 

By the Canal Tour

Worcester, MA

Worcester’s Canal District is home to eleven buildings that originate from the early 1800s. Preservation Worcester wants you to enjoy the history available to you, for free! They offer a Canal District Walking Tour, By the Canal, to expose you to the stories of the people and historical events that created Worcester. You can pick up a free tour brochure at the Preservation Worcester office on Cedar Street, download a printable version of the tour and tour map, or download audio files to phone to do an audio tour. 

WaterFire

Providence, RI

Providence WaterFire has grown to be an iconic Rhode Island event. Starting out in 1994 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of First Night Providence, it has grown to run continuously, once a month, from May-November and boasts over 80 blazing fires in the middle of the Providence River. WaterFire is a not-for-profit organization that aims to creatively transform Providence – and they do! Each event is accompanied with music by artists from around the world, varies food stands and art stands to browse as you stroll along the river. 

Visit Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Concord, MA

Head to Concord, Massachusetts and then to the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery where you will find "Author's Ridge."

Author's Ridge marks the final resting place of legendary writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Louisa May Alcott. 

Blackstone River Bikeway

Runs from Worcester to Providence

The idea behind the Blackstone River Bikeway was to create a bike path running 48 miles, from Worcester to Providence along the National Heritage Corridor. It links the Blackstone River and the Blackstone Canal and will eventually connect with the East Bay Bike Path in Rhode Island. The path isn’t completed yet, but riders can enjoy the segment that is, free of charge.

Stephen Huneck's Dog Chapel 

St. Johnsbury, Vermont 

If you own a dog or if you just love dogs then the dog chapel is the place for you. The chapel consists of nature trails, swimming ponds an art gallery and more more that spreads over 400 acres of land.  

PHOTO: David Smith

Visit Rhode Island Resource & Recovery 

Johnston, RI

Visit the Rhode Island Resource and Recovery Corporation and learn what happens to everything that goes in your recycle bin.

The facility is open from 6 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Monday to Friday and 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday. The tour is free to Rhode Island residents. 

Independence Trail

Providence, RI

Rhode Island’s own version of Boston’s Freedom Trail, follow the painted green line for the Independence Trail. The 2.5 mile tour of historic Providence “takes you over four centuries of history, architecture, culture, and folklore.”

Don’t worry about where to begin, the route is circular so you can start anywhere! Along the painted green trail on the sidewalks you’ll find red emblems with a phone number and a location number.

PHOTO: Indepencetrail.businesscatalyst.com

Royalston Falls

Royalston, MA

If you want a little bit of an outdoor adventure, hike to Royalston Falls in Royalston, MA. The hike itself isn’t too long, but it can be challenging. It leads you to a remote gorge created by prehistoric glacial meltwater and 45 foot plunging waterfall within a half-hidden ravine. If you’re up for the adventure, the destination is far worth the trek. 

East Bay Bike Path

Runs from Providence RI to Bristol RI

If you’re looking for a dose of natural beauty and healthy activity, try going for a spin on the East Bay Bike Path. The first bike facility to be under the State, it is a 13.8 mile trail that connects 8 different parks from Providence to Bristol. Do the whole thing or just a stretch and cross over bridges and by coves on the Narragansett Bay shore. The bike path is open year round. 

Photo: Michael St Jean/Flickr