Zilch. Zip. Nada. No charge, no kidding

How can a family keep travel costs down? By taking advantage of freebies on the road.

Across America, budget travelers can find plenty of rewarding attractions that cost nothing. In the last year, I’ve driven thousands of miles in search of such bargains. I’ve been amazed by how much there has been to see and do for free.

One of my favorites is the summer salmon show at the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery in Stanley, Idaho. It’s exciting, wet and -- parents, take heed here -- highly educational.

Huge oceangoing Chinook salmon return in summer to spawn in central Idaho’s Salmon River. En route, they are trapped briefly at the hatchery. Every morning, a team scoops the latest arrivals out of a holding pool one by one, gives each an anti-microbe injection -- a sort of marine flu shot -- and sends the fish on its way.

The goal is to boost the Chinooks’ depleted numbers, but the silvery 20- to 40-pounders don’t see it this way. They put up a fight, flipping and wriggling to escape. Some manage to slip out of the net, but only briefly. The hourlong procedure makes for a great reality show and a memorable lesson in ecology.

Here are my picks of the best on-the-road freebies. All are in prime vacation destinations:

Atlantic cruise: It’s brief, but you do get to sea. Free 30-car ferries link Cape Hatteras with Ocracoke Island in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. This chain of barrier islands, much of it comprising wild and scenic Cape Hatteras National Seashore, thrusts far out into the Atlantic. Remote Ocracoke is reached only by ferry. Savor the salty breezes on the 40-minute passage each way. Service is provided year-around; in summer, ferries depart to and from Ocracoke every 30 or 60 minutes from 5 a.m. to midnight. (800) 293-3779, www.ncferry.org.

D.C. concerts: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington routinely presents the world’s premier artists, often at lofty prices. But at 6 each night, the Millennium Stage in the foyer hosts an eclectic schedule of hourlong concerts. You might hear folk music one night, opera the next, or dance, rock, blues, Cajun. No reservations required. (800) 444-1324, www.kennedy-center.org.

Wyoming hot springs: Soak for as long as you like at the indoor-outdoor State Bath House of Hot Springs State Park in historic Thermopolis. The central Wyoming town is along the main highway between Denver and Yellowstone National Park; it’s also home to the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, one of the world’s largest dinosaur fossil quarries. Admission to the State Bath House is free, as are lockers and showers. Just bring a bathing suit and towel. Open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, noon to 5:30 p.m. Sundays. (307) 864-2176, wyoparks.state.wy.us/hot1.htm or www.thermopolis.com.

Colorado sky ride: High in the Rocky Mountains, the former mining town of Telluride is a popular winter ski resort and summer outdoor recreation center. Climb aboard an eight-passenger gondola for a free, 13-minute ride from Old Telluride at the foot of the slopes to the modern Mountain Village perched above. Runs 7 a.m. to midnight daily. (888) 605-2578, www.visittelluride.com.

Kentucky horses: Sprawling horse farms encircling Lexington are home to some of America’s great names in racing. Several breeders, including famed Calumet Farm, invite the public on free tours. See the champs on the practice track or get a close-up look at the barn. Reservations are a must. (800) 845-3959, www.visitlex.com.

Cajun jam sessions: From 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun Country, renowned accordionist Marc Savoy opens his accordion shop, the Savoy Music Center in Eunice, for a nonstop jam session that draws people from miles around. By custom, skilled players set the pace. Amateurs can join from the audience. (877) 948-8004 and www.cajuntravel.com; (337) 457-9563 and www.savoymusiccenter.com.

Ranger hikes: Study the glaciers at Mt. Rainier in Washington. Explore ancient cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde in Colorado. Catch a glimpse of elk, moose and maybe a bear at Yellowstone in Wyoming. Most national parks schedule ranger-led walks that are educational and fun. Head for the visitor center to sign up or look for more information at www.nps.gov, which links to individual parks.

Fine wine sipping: Many of Napa Valley’s finest wineries charge $3 to $5 to sample their vintages. Instead, seek out up-and-coming wine centers, where tasting is often free. In the West, make it Northern California’s lovely Amador County vineyards in the Sierra foothills; (888) 655-8614, www.amadorwine.com. In the East, Northern Virginia provides Blue Ridge views with its reds and whites; (800) 828-4637, www.virginiawines.org.

Idaho salmon: The Sawtooth Fish Hatchery near Stanley rests at the base of the magnificent, snow-tipped Sawtooth Range. If you can take your eyes from the view, the salmon are hoisted up from the holding pool beginning at 9 a.m. daily in summer. The hatchery remains open to visitors until 5 p.m. daily. (208) 774-3684, www.stanleycc.org.

Mississippi River mini-cruise:

Paddlewheel steamboats plying the Mississippi out of New Orleans charge for a ride. But for a free trip, hop aboard a car ferry at the end of Canal Street next to the French Quarter. Operating nonstop, the ferries cross the Mississippi in five to 10 minutes. You can stay aboard as long as you like, taking in views of the heavy freighter traffic upriver and down. (800) 672-6124, www.neworleanscvb.com.

Northwest smoke jumpers: No, you don’t jump, but you do hear true tales from firefighters who parachute to remote forest blazes. In historic Winthrop, Wash., the North Cascades Smokejumper Base offers impromptu, 60-minute tours daily. Just show up. Talk to a smoke jumper, check out the gear and see the parachute-rigging room. (509) 997-2031, www.ncsbsmokejumpers.com.

Vegas show time: Celine Dion at Caesars Palace costs big bucks. Instead, take in the hotel-casino freebies on the Strip. Outside Bellagio, watch the dancing waters of the huge fountain. At the Mirage, a volcano erupts every 15 minutes. On Treasure Island’s doorstep, 17th century pirates clash with scantily clad beauties in “Sirens of TI� -- sound, lights and fury at 6, 8 and 10 nightly. (800) 332-5333, www.vegasfreedom.com.

Wilderness campsites: Reserved campsites at state and national parks can cost around $25 a night or more. But on some public lands, including national forests, wildlife refuges and Bureau of Land Management acreage, “dispersed� camping (sometimes called “backcountry camping�) is permitted at no cost. Set up your tent practically anywhere, but remember to bring water and dig your own latrine. www.recreation.gov.

Capital museums: The National Mall in Washington is home to some of the country’s most important museums. None charges an entrance fee. See a Leonardo da Vinci at the National Gallery, spacecraft at the National Air and Space Museum, the original Star-Spangled Banner at the National Museum of American History or dinosaur specimens at the National Museum of Natural History. (202) 789-7000, www.washington.org.

Santa Fe sculpture: A stroll up this New Mexico city’s winding, mile-long Canyon Road is a dazzling immersion in first-rate contemporary sculpture. A giant metal bird perches in a tree. A fantastical creature of many colors peers from behind a bush. Few places in the country have so many art galleries -- at least 60 -- in such close proximity. At many the art spills outdoors. (505) 982-1648, www.santafegalleries.net.

James T. Yenckel, formerly the chief travel writer at the Washington Post for 16 years, writes frequently about budget travel.