Can't afford a vacation? Go on a no-cation

Remember when gas cost $3 a gallon? Ah, those were the days.

There's no worse time to see fuel costs balloon than the summer, when vacation plans are on the line.

With food prices also rising, we have an idea to ease the strain on your budget. Stay here. Take advantage of the activities in the Everett area. We call this the no-cation. True, it's no vacation, but it could be the second best thing.

Movies

Most movie ticket prices are in the $10 range for evening shows. Avoid that cost.

Go early

AMC Loews at Alderwood Mall has 16 screens. All show first-run movies. And all movies shown before noon, Friday through Sunday, cost $6.

Go outside

The city of Everett's outdoor movie series runs from July 18 to Aug. 15. The free Friday night shows include recent hits such as "Hairspray" and "Shrek The Third." Movies start at dusk in Thornton A. Sullivan Park, 11405 Silver Lake Road, Everett. For more information, call 425-257-7101.

The city of Marysville also has a free outdoor movie series. On Saturday, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" will show at Foothills Park, 59th St. NE. Locations and dates vary for upcoming showings. All movies begin at dusk on select Saturday nights. Call 360-363-8400 for dates and movies.

Museums

Many area museums offer free admission once a month. While special exhibits aren't always included in the free admission -- call first if you're curious -- you can always check out the permanent collection at places such as:

Imagine Children's Museum, 1502 Wall St., Everett. Free from noon to 4 p.m. July 4; beginning in August, free from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the third Friday of each month. For information, call 425-258-1006.

Museum of Flight Restoration Center at Paine Field, 2909 100th St. SW, Everett. Free year round, hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, closed Fridays, Sundays and Mondays. For information, call 425-745-5150.

Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle. Free from 5 to 9 p.m. the first Thursday of each month. For information, call 206-764-5720.

Seattle Art Museum, 1300 First Ave., Seattle, www.­seattleartmuseum.org, 206-654-3100, free 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. the first Thursday of each month

Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum, 325 Fifth Ave. N., Seattle, www.empsfm.org, 206-770-2700. Free 5 to 8 p.m. the first Thursday of each month.

Jetty Island

Families can escape to saltwater beaches at Jetty Island from July 5 to Sept. 1. A ferry shuttles visitors back and forth free every 30 minutes. Jetty Island is open from 10 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 8:50 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. Sundays. It's closed Tuesdays.

Andy Rathbun, Herald Writer, arathbun@heraldnet.com, 425-339-3455.

How do you have fun for a few bucks?

Tell us about your own favorite ways to have inexpensive fun. With your help, we'll run items in future editions of the Good Life.

Go to the comments section of this story at www.heraldnet.com, e-mail arathbun@heraldnet.com or call 425-339-3455.