| > | | | | of town. There are also two RV parks in Anaconda. |
| Finding a great cheap travel destination means getting | | | | We never have been gamblers, but it is cheap |
| more vacation for your money. By that standard, | | | | entertainment here. The dozen or so casinos in town |
| Anaconda, Montana may be one of the best. | | | | all have nickel slot machines. On Park Street Nickel |
| Looking for cheap travel destinations is a habit we | | | | Annies will give you $2 just for signing in, and the 1st |
| developed during leaner times. Necessary or not, it | | | | Quarter Restaurant and Casino (also on Park) always |
| still means being able to do more for the money. We | | | | has free snacks out, as well as free drinks while you |
| also continually discover that the cheaper places can | | | | gamble. Buy a copy of the Anaconda Leader |
| be just as much fun. Anaconda, Montana is a great | | | | newspaper (50-cents - it comes out on Wednesday |
| example of this. | | | | and Saturday) and you'll usually find coupons good for |
| When we first drove into Anaconda in 2002, we | | | | a free $3 of play at several places. Will these deals |
| loved this little mountain town immediately. We | | | | last until you get there? Who knows, but they have |
| bought a nice house the next day for $17,500. A few | | | | been running the same specials since we lived here |
| months later we sold the home for a small profit and | | | | five years ago. |
| moved on, but we have wondered about the town | | | | The Washoe Theater, on Main Street, was built in |
| over the years, so in August of 2007 we returned | | | | 1936 with Art Deco furnishings, murals, and |
| for a visit. | | | | ornamentation in silver, copper and gold leaf. It's on |
| The home prices may have doubled or tripled since | | | | the National Register of Historic Sites, and is rated a |
| 2002, but this is still one of the more beautiful and | | | | national treasure by the Smithsonian Institution, due |
| affordable vacation destinations you'll find. Anaconda | | | | to the lavish interior. A ticket costs just $4, and it |
| is surrounded by mountains. At the east edge of | | | | may be the only movie theater where you can still |
| town is the Old Works Golf Course, designed by | | | | get a small popcorn or drink for under a dollar (90 |
| Jack Nicholas. 18 holes cost between $29 and $46. | | | | cents each). For 25-cents extra you can sit up in the |
| Twenty miles away is the Discovery Ski Basin. It has | | | | balcony. |
| some of the steepest lift-served skiing around, and a | | | | Ready for a beer or some music? The Rock Inn, on |
| full day is just $32. | | | | Commercial, has live music on Saturday nights - no |
| If you stay in Anaconda, you can find a nice room in | | | | cover charge. The Classic Cafe, on Park, has draft |
| one of the several hotels for around $60 to $80. The | | | | beer for $1.25. To really go cheap, drop a few nickels |
| Harp and Thistle Inn downtown (Main and | | | | in a slot machine - most of the casinos in town offer |
| Commercial), a classic historical building, has rooms for | | | | free drinks while you play. |
| about $43, or you can rent one for the whole week | | | | When we lost at the casinos, hours of entertainment |
| for $140. On weekends, the noise from the bar | | | | cost us less than ten dollars. A basket of fries, three |
| downstairs may keep you up, but if you decide to | | | | beers and two cups of tea cost us a total of $8.25 |
| join the party, there is hardly a drink they don't | | | | at the Classic Cafe, with free wi-fi internet. Wi-fi is |
| serve. | | | | also available for free here in the beautiful Hearst |
| There are several campgrounds in the area, and | | | | Library on Fourth and Main, where I am writing this. |
| some are as cheap as $10 per night. You can also do | | | | At the moment, Anaconda is our top cheap travel |
| as we did and camp for free along any of the dirt | | | | destination. |
| roads that head into the national forest lands west | | | | |