People are always telling me that the Arizona State Fair is very expensive. In my mind, I'm cocking my head a little to the left, just like a cocker spaniel does when you give her a complex command! The Arizona State Fair isn't really expensive, especially when you compare it to other amusement parks and activities that include rides. The fact of the matter is, there are many things to do at the Arizona State Fair that are free with your paid admission. Contests, shows, rodeo, concerts....if you plan it right, it's really a sweet deal! The trick to the Arizona State Fair is to try not to spend a whole lot on parking and food. So try to take the bus or use the free shuttle if you are on a budget, or, at the very least, carpool. Have a nice, satisfying meal right before you go to the fair, and maybe set aside a few bucks for one of those ridiculous deep fried snacks as a treat while you are there.

The admission price is not really that steep, but if every dollar counts, then you might want to plan your Arizona State Fair visit around a discount program. There is not a human being who can't get in for a discount at one time or another. Saturday mornings, before 5 p.m., student discounts, military discounts, senior discounts, unlimited ride days...if you can at all plan your visit at a non-peak time, you can save quite a bit!

National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 12-18, 2008, celebrates the diversity and resources of America’s 548 national wildlife refuges. In Arizona there are nine National Wildlife refuges. These are designated areas dedicated to the conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats. They also offer wildlife-related recreation, from hunting and fishing to wildlife observation, wildlife photography, nature interpretation and environmental education.

The closest National Wildlife Refuge is about 3 hours away from Phoenix, but you might want to consider a day trip, or even a weekend that will get the family outdoors to appreciate nature up close and personal.

1. Havasu National Wildlife Refuge (Lake Havasu City, AZ)
2. Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge(Parker, AZ)
3. Cibola National Wildlife Refuge(Cibola, AZ)
4. Imperial National Wildlife Refuge(Yuma, AZ)
5. Kofa National Wildlife Refuge(Yuma, AZ)
6. Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge (Ajo, AZ
7. Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (Sasabe, AZ)
8. Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge (Douglas, AZ)
9. San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge (Douglas, AZ)

Arizona is a haven for bird watchers, and you don't have to go as far to participate in The Big Sit!, which will take place on October 12, 2008. Families and individuals find a great spot for bird watching and sit in a circle, counting all the bird species they see or hear. Not everyone needs to stay in the circle for the whole day. Only birds seen from the circle can be included in The Big Sit! count. Bird Watcher’s Digest tallies the totals and identifies prize winners in several categories. If you'd like to participate in a local Big Sit! activity, I'd contact the Maricopa Audubon Society and I'm sure they can tell you where to find a Big Sit! circle.

You Might Also Be Interested In....

• Pictures of Birds Seen in the Phoenix Area
• Visit Lake Havasu City
• Visit Parker Dam
• Hassayampa River Preserve
• Southern Arizona Wine Country and Bird Watching

When financial times get tough, even more people are keen on finding things to do that don't impact the budget. Here is some information that has come across my desk on activities that you can attend for free. Of course, if you want food and/or beverages you'll have to pay for that. These appear in date order.

What: Native American Connections Parade
When: October 11, 2008
Where: Downtown Phoenix
Tribes from all over the Southwest showcase their traditional songs and dances on the parade route through downtown Phoenix. Parade begins at 9 a.m. from 3rd Street & Oak, located south of St. Mary’s High School and ends at Steele Indian School Park, located at Indian School Road and 3rd Street.

What: A Trail of Two Cities Bike Ride
When: October 18
Where: Peoria, Glendale
The Cities of Peoria and Glendale are once again co-sponsoring a 10-mile family bike ride along the paths of the Thunderbird Paseo Park and Skunk Creek. This is a free event that is sure to be a great time for the whole family. Sign in starts at 9 a.m. and the ride begins at 9:30 a.m. Bike helmets are required for all participants. You must register to ride. Call 623-773-7201.

What: Scottsdale Public Art
When: Now through June 2010.
Where: Scottsdale Civic Center Bell Tower, 7373 E. Scottsdale Mall
Scottsdale Public Art is giving artists an opportunity to enhance the Scottsdale Civic Center Bell Tower, a key entry point to the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall. Five artists will engage visitors and residents through a series of installations, which began after Labor Day 2008 and will run through June 2010. The first installation, Floating Memories by Béatrice Coron, will be on display until December 3, 2008. The exhibit includes 24 iconic scenes, hand cut on black and white Tyvek, a lightweight waterproof paper. Four scrolls hang freely from the top of the tower. Each scroll makes two long flaps with three paper-cut images on each side. Each cutout image is a window that invites the passerby to peek through invoking memories and dreams of Scottsdale and the southwest. Map to Scottsdale Civic Center.

What: Tango on Thursdays
When: Every Thursday starting at 9 p.m.
Where: Layalena, 1290 N Scottsdale Rd., Tempe AZ 85281 (north of 202 on Scottsdale Road in the Pure Fitness Plaza)
Want to turn the heat up and learn the seductive tango? Come to Layalena. The tango dancers and instructors are there dancing all night long and it's free! The tango is a very romantic dance and incredibly sexy. Drinks, food and hookah available for purchase.

What: MACFest
When: Saturdays through May 2009
Where: Downtown Mesa
A weekly open-air market with food, music, and artwork for sale by local artists from Mesa and beyond. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street from Sirrine to Morris in downtown Mesa. The purpose of MACFest is to provide a free, regularly held celebration in downtown Mesa featuring creations from local artists, food, live music, and fun for the whole family.

This is by no means everything! Some of the larger, annual festivals and events and also free. You'll find those listed in the monthly calendar.

_{All dates, times, prices and offerings are subject to change without notice.}

Yes, it's time for holly, Santa, Christmas carols, and fruit cake. So what if it's still over a hundred degrees outside! Actually, I'm aware that Christmas is not here yet, but if you are considering cutting your own tree from one of our national forests, there are a few things you need to know!

The rules have changed dramatically in 2008. It used to be that people filed an application and a fee with the Forest Service, which then held a drawing to determine who got to go to one of our national forests and cut down a Christmas tree. No more. Now, tags for Christmas tree cutting will be sold at a local sporting goods store, and it's first come, first served. That means no lottery system. If all the tags sell out on the first day, then you're out of luck. Now that's not likely to happen, but it does make me wonder if simplifying the process will add a whole new set of wrinkles. I assume that they will be tracking names of purchasers and requiring ID at the stores, since only one tag per family is allowed. How are they defining family? Is it really one tag per address? I'm not sure. I also assume that the tags are not transferable, or else we'll start to see Arizona National Forest Christmas Tree Tags on being sold in a secondary market for sale to the highest bidder! Yes, I'm a cynic. There are too many people out there trying to make a quick buck.

If you go and buy a tag this year, let me know how it went. Tags go on sale Friday, October 10, 2008. Check here for the store locations, fees, tags per forest and other guidelines.