Finals are almost over

It is time to take a break. If you find yourself remaining in the Bay Area for the holiday break you are in luck. The San Francisco Bay Area is the best place in the world for low cost fun. Simply meandering the city is fun enough. There are numerous no cost places to visit. Take, for instance, the Palace of Fine Arts. The structure was originally built for the Pan-Pacific Exposition in 1915. Only the center dome remains. The rest of the structure is in ruins. The Palace contains no fine art, but sits adjacent to a beautiful man made lagoon filled with swans, ducks, geese, frogs and turtles. The park area surrounding the lagoon is home to a large raccoon population. One could spend a brisk morning walking the grounds while gawking at the numerous wedding parties who come to pose for photographs.

If you prefer your Fine Art to showcase fine art you can visit the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in Golden Gate Park. If you do not want to pay the ticket price of $10, you can always enjoy the Legion's stunning architecture and magnificent locale. The Legion is within a short hike to Land's End, the park not the parka purveyor. From there you could hike down to the beach or the Sutro Baths.

If you prefer to stay in the East Bay you will still have plenty to do and see for free. The East Bay Regional Park District offers activities ranging from hiking to horse back riding. You can even find a place to practice your archery skills among the trees.

Whether you stay in the Bay Area for your break or get out of town, it is important that you take a well deserved break. You will need to re-charge and decompress before you start the process all over again in 2009.