Where to Find Budget Culture in the Midwest

Find culture on the cheap in these five laid-back Midwestern cities:

Indianapolis, Indiana
Visit the Indianapolis Museum of Art or the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art for free, or visit the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis on one of its free admission days.

Minneapolis, Minneapolis
Admission to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden are always free. St. Paul’s Como Zoo and Conservatory is also free, and the Minnesota Historical Society hosts free admission days to historic sites in the Twin Cities.

Parke County, Indiana: "Covered Bridge Capital of the World"

Indiana's Parke County has quite a fascination with its covered bridges—all 32 of them—and has is about to celebrated its 53rd Annual Covered Bridge Festival in October 2010. These colorful, unique structures embody the our town vibe that enlivens the region's old country roads.

Photo credit: Sim Smith's Bridge, Indiana (Photodisc/Getty)