Entertainment - on the cheap

WASHINGTON - Five bucks here and $10 there can add up. As prices rise, you may find yourself looking for cheaper ways to entertain the family.

Luckily, Washington D.C is one of the best cities in the country to be a tourist and find free entertainment.

"We have all these great free assets that we've been talking about and we're well positioned economically because of prices at hotels," says Bill Hanbury, President of Destination DC.

And what's the most popular destination in town?

"'Air and Space' is one of the favorites of all time. We get over 7 million visitors per year to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum," says Hanbury.

Here are just a few ideas from Washington.org's 100 Free (Or Nearly Free) Things to Do in D.C.

• Free musical performances at the Kennedy Center, National Gallery of Art, Navy Memorial Plaza and the National Zoo.
  More Free Performances
• See the stars at Rock Creek Park planetarium, make money at the Bureau of Engraving & Printing, find Darth Vader on the National Cathedral.
  More Family Freebies
• Get outside to the National Mall, C&O Canal Towpath, Gravelly Point or the National Arboretum.
  More Outdoor Activities

Click here for the complete list.

Be a tourist in your own town. Watch the video for more.

When it comes to home entertainment, Kimberly Palmer, alpha consumer for U.S. News & World Report, has a few ideas that might actually bring you, your family and your friends closer together.

• Skip the movie theater. Host movie night.

  Going to the movies can be expensive once you factor in transportation, tickets and munchies.

  Palmer says a lot of people are taking turns with friends and hosting movie parties.

  "You can order in a pizza. You can make your own popcorn. Rent a movie. And, if you invite four or five people over you're going to be saving a lot of money. It can also be more fun."

• Investigate cheaper or nearly free ways to rent movies.
  • If you don't already have a by-mail subscription to a movie service, such as NetFlix or Blockbuster, consider those machines at the grocery store or Wal-Mart, where the rentals can be as cheap as $1. They'll save you the trouble of going to the video store. But be forewarned, the late fees on those machines at Wal-Mart can add up at a $1 a day.
  • Order movies through your cable service.

    "When you subscribe to cable, you can order movies over your television for between $4 and $5. You're also saving money by not getting in your car and driving to the store," Palmer says.

  • Check out the library's offerings for movies and books on tape. Some libraries might not have a wide selection, but you might be surprised at what they do offer.

• Skip the bar. Learn to make your own drinks.

  "Going out to a bar, you can easily drop $20 even as much as $50," Palmer says. "You can invite your friends over, experiment with a new kind of drink... If you and your friends take turns hosting that night, then over time you'll really save a lot of money."

(Copyright 2008 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)