Top 10 cities for affordable vacations

# 10: Rogers, Ark. Rogers, which was recently voted one of the Best Places to Live by Money magazine, has great outdoor activities, music and a thriving art community, says <a target="_blank" href="http://www.livability.com/top-10/top-10-cities-for-affordable-vacations/">Livability.com.</a> A major attraction is the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which opened in 2011thanks to a generous sponsorship by Wal-Mart. (Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art)

#9: Tempe, Ariz. Tempe has turn-of-the-century buildings, trendy restaurants, shops and a nationally recognized Tempe Festival. To beat the heat visitors can head to one of the many water parks, like the Big Surf Fun, which has water slides and an enormous wave pool. (Big Surf Fun Waterpark)

# 8: Athens, Ga. Athens has lots of culture, including the Georgia Museum of Art and Georgia Museum of Natural. It also has plenty of fun places to wear the kids out like the <a href="http://livability.com/athens/ga/outdoors/athens-home-largest-volunteer-built-playground" target="_blank">World of Wonder Community Playground</a>, Georgia’s largest community-built playground. (Mike Saunders)

# 7: Boulder, Colo. Outside Magazine, recognizing Boulder as a prime destination for cyclists, runners, rock climbers and all-around adrenaline junkies, recently named the city the No. 1 Sports Town in America. Trailheads for many popular hikes are located at Chautauqua park in southwestern Boulder, says <a target="_blank" href="http://www.livability.com/top-10/top-10-cities-for-affordable-vacations/">Livability.com</a>. (Eamuscatuli)

# 6: Tulsa, Okla. Tulsa is a haven for musicians and artists, architecture and family fun. Sports fans can catch a Tulsa Drillers home minor league game at ONEOK Field in the historic Greenwood district and find concession deals on Tuesday and Thursday nights. (Nmajdan)

#5: Greenville, S.C. Greenville, at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, has a picturesque downtown where bronze mice statues peek quietly out from their Main Street hiding places. The city hosts the Artisphere Festival each May -- a three-day event, which includes art exhibits, live performances, a kids zone, crafts and a cafe. (City of Greenville)

#4: Chattanooga, Tenn. Tennessee’s riverfront city has great restaurants, shopping and an art district that rivals that any metro cities’. Triple pack tickets mean discount admission to the Tennessee Aquarium (seen here), IMAX 3D Theater and River Gorge Explorer Cruise, with additional price breaks available for the Children’s Discovery Museum. (Tennessee Aquarium)

# 3: San Antonio, Tex. From amusement parks to free historic monuments, festivals and museums, San Antonio attracts vacationers for all budgets. The city’s famed downtown River Walk (seen here) offers visitors a glimpse into Texas culture, art and commerce, and connects to the San Antonio Museum of Art and the Pearl Brewery complex.

#2: Minneapolis, Minn. Minneapolis’s many parks and natural amenities, all free, make it a summer playground for families. The Mall of America has Nickelodeon Universe -- an indoor theme park, and special promotions for 2012 including a Toddler Tuesday ride special and daily discounts on rides after 5 p.m. (Nickelodeon Universe)

# 1: Louisville, Ky. Home of the world-famous Kentucky Derby, Louisville has a rich history, modern culture, free attractions and deep discounts. Take a historic walking tour of <a href="http://livability.com/louisville/ky/outdoors/churchill-downs-continues-derby-legacy">Churchill Downs</a> with admission to the Kentucky Derby Museum. Kids under five are admitted free, and AAA members receive discounts. (AP)