Free Queen Mary!

Well, not free her from the dock in Long Beach where she's been sitting for 40-something years, but free admission to the HMS Queen Mary. California residents can hop on board and take the self-guided tour for free from March 1 through the 15th. (Tickets are normally $25 for adults; $22 for seniors and military and $13 for kids 5-11.) There's also a special rate of $109 to spend the night on the ship for Californians, good from now until March 31. You have to call the ship (800-437-2934) to find out about availability. This is a good hotel deal if you can get it. The Queen Mary is often overlooked by visitors but it's a good location, you're relatively between L.A. and O.C. The other best deal we could find for the Queen is on their website: for two adults with a AAA card, Friday March 27, checking out Sunday the 29th is $129. If you stay at the hotel the self-guided tour is complimentary. Self-parking for hotel guests is $15.