This summer, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is offering a free camping night at a selection of 20 state parks.

You can get a coupon that entitles customers who rent campsites for two consecutive nights to another night’s stay for free, Sunday through Thursday.

The coupons, which are good through Sept. 30, must be printed off the department’s Web site, www.oregonstateparks.org.

Oregon State Parks are filling at an all time high as people getaway closer to home. Every park that takes reservations is filled for every weekend of the summer. So you at this point for many state parks, you have to look for cancellations, go during the week or just wait until school starts in the fall.

The “buy two, get one free” offer is limited to one per customer per stay, and excludes yurts and cabins. The parks honoring the coupons rent sites exclusively on a first-come, first-served basis and are as follows:

Ainsworth, Viento, Cascadia, Cascara, Alfred. A Loeb, Carl G. Washburne, Cape Blanco, Humbug Mountain, Goose Lake, Collier Memorial, Jackson Kimball, Catherine Creek, Hilgard Junction, Lake Owyhee, Minam, Jasper Point, Ukiah-Dale, Unity Lake, Clyde Holliday, Red Bridge

Walk around any hotel

You can kill quite a bit of time just walking around and exploring each of the monster hotel casinos in Las Vegas. Most all of the major hotels are within a 1.7 mile distance on the strip. You can walk (free) up and down the strip, take the monorail (moderate cost but also recommended) or a taxi (expensive).

Walk the malls and shops

Most of the time, this winds up costing you. But if you can walk shops without spending any money, it could be free! There are malls at Caesars, Planet Hollywood (formerly Alladin), Palazzo/Venetian and the Fashion Show Mall by Treasure Island and Wynn. There are also rows of shops at many of the hotels like the Bellagio and Wynn.

Watch out for pickpockets

Okay, these are not free. These can cost you big and ruin a vacation. But they usually frequent the spots where things are free. Always watch your bags and wallets closely. It’s best not to have anything in your back pockets or loose pockets when in crowds. Especially in down economy times.

The Mirage

Completely Free Things to Do in Las Vegas

All of these are free. Zero dollars. I have seen them all and they are all worth some time and a visit. A few of them are worth more than one visit depending on day or night as the experience is different.

Fountains at The Bellagio

• Fountain show in front of Bellagio. The schedule has changed a bit over time and doesn’t run nearly as often as in previous years. It generally runs every night after 7pm and in the afternoon on weekends. Viewpoints include out front on the sidewalk and from the nearby pedestrian bridge.
• Botanical Conservatory in lobby of the Bellagio.
• Glass art on ceiling in lobby of the Bellagio.
• Fountain show in the Forum Shops at Caesars. Statues come to life.
• Aquarium in Forum Shops at Caesars. Fed by a diver twice in the afternoon.
• Live trapeze and high wire acts all afternoon and evening at Circus Circus.
• Laser light show on Fremont Street overhead canopy starting at 8pm.
• Browse the lights and old Las Vegas signs on Fremont Street. Lots of free street entertainment as well.
• The monorail between Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay is free.
• Free wildlife habitat at the Flamingo.
• Free aquarium at the Golden Nugget.
• Outdoor Carnival Court at Harrah’s has music and entertainment nightly.
• Lion habitat at the MGM Grand from 11am – 11pm.
• CBS Television City Research Center. Watch and review tv shows.
• Free volcano show outside in front of the Mirage.
• Times Square Bar has Dueling Pianos show. No cover but if you don’t want to even buy one drink you can see or listen from outside the bar as well.
• Free aerial show at the Rio.
• Siren show outside in front of Treasure Island. Four shows nightly, every 90 minutes from 7pm to 11:30pm.