It’s pretty easy to imagine your dream vacation, unburdened by any budgetary limitations. But trying to plan a dream vacation, on the cheap, that doesn’t suck? Well, that’s a much more difficult proposition. Luckily, if you happen to be in the lovely city of Chicago, it’s really not that hard. Chicago has a plethora of free sights and attractions that could fill up weeks of your itinerary.

First off, if you’re the cultured traveler, you’ll love the fact that many of Chicago’s great museums are free of charge. Some, like the Chicago History Museum and Field Museum, are only free on Mondays. On the other hand, the National Museum of Mexican Art and Pritzker Military Library are free everyday. Check out the specific museum’s website for specific information.

The Lincoln Park Zoo, located just a few miles north of Chicago, is free everyday and always a treat. Featuring over 1,200 animals, the zoo attracts millions of visitors every year. You’ll find polar bears, reptiles, lions, and everything in between. One of the most unique attractions of this zoo is on the southern end, at the Lincoln Park lagoon. You can rent paddle boats, kayaks, and canoes to relax in the serene beauty of Lincoln Park.

If you want to get away from the big city for a while, try getting lost for a few hours at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Originally founded in 1890, the garden stretches over 350 acres and is uniquely designed as 9 interconnected islands. Most people choose to walk the garden, as it allows for more time to enjoy one of the 24 formal displays or three natural areas. But if you’re not the walking type, the garden also offers tram tours.

This just barely scratches the surface of things to do for free in Chicago. If you’ve got a rental, even better; you can easily travel among the many free destinations. Traveling for cheap, it’s not as hard as you may think if you’re in the right city.