Can you really take a vacation with little or no money? Yes! We all need a vacation, regardless of our income. If we don’t take a vacation (and many in the USA do not) our batteries cannot become recharged! Those of us with little or no money are really the ones who need a vacation!
1. Visit our National Parks. National Parks such as Mt. Rushmore, The Grand Canyon, and the Gettysburg Battlefield offer not only great history lessons but camping sites, RV sites and sometimes cabins to rent. Many park rangers are available for tours and questions and answers
2. Tour our National Forests. National Forests such as the Chatooga National Forest, the Nantahala National Forest and the Ocala Forest, in the east, offer great opportunities for wildlife watching, hiking, rafting and water sports.
3. Explore your own State Parks. All states have State Parks with great opportunities for local interests such as lakes, rivers, hiking trails and picnic areas. Most state parks also offer camping sites, RV sites and some cabins. Set up a tent, go for a hike and have a campfire in the wilds of your own state.
4. Visit Washington, DC. There are so many places to see in DC, its best to start at the Smithsonian and investigate everything at the institute. An amazing amount of information is available through this museum and you could spend days in one place. Visit The Museum of Natural History and The Museum of Flight. Visit Arlington National Cemetery. Visit the Washington and Lincoln monuments. Visit the White House! All of these tours in Washington, DC are not only cheap or free, they are historical as well.
5. Visit Regional Sites. There are many regional sites that offer varied places to visit, such as the Gatlinburg Area combined with Pigeon Forge.
Other regional sites include:
6. Hike the Appalachian Trail
7. Native American Reservations tours
8. State Fairs-Enjoy a week of events at your state fair
9. Bicycle Tours and Motorbike Tours of your favorite area
10. City Tours-Your choice of city using a private guide
11. Local Festivals from Shakespeare to BBQ
12. Cook off contests
13. Local Festivals-The Garlic festival, Honeysuckle Festival, etc.
14. Rail and Bus Tours-Unlimited stops for a fee
15. The Endless Flea Market-Covering at least 3 states
16. Religious and Spiritual Retreats
17. Murder Mystery Weekends
18. Wine Country Tour
19. Exchange your home with others
20. Ruby Mines of North Carolina and the Chatooga Wild and Scenic River in Georgia
There are so many cheap vacation alternatives it is difficult to name just one. Think of what you would like to do on vacation, and then find a way to do it. Vacations are not just for the chosen few, but for all of us. Take the time to enjoy yourself. Choices for cheap, cheap trips are limited to local driving vacations and meals made at home. Pack some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and put them in your cooler. Drive to get away from your own location and go to another location. Just a change of pace will refresh you when you need to get away.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:58 am
With 155 national forests scattered across the country, there is probably a national forest in near you. Plus, while there is an entrance fee charged to visit national parks, touring our national forests is FREE!!! Another money-saver - the national forest cabin rental program.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Another way to save is to take a beach vacation in the winter. At Myrtle Beach, for example, you can pay only one third of the price in the winter, as long as you avoid the main holidays. Restaurants offer generous discounts too and all the shopping malls and entertainment venues stay open.
And the climate is still comfortable - today’s forecast is 55-70 degrees and that’s plenty warm enough to be out in the fresh air.
I do agree that sometimes you just need to get away. A change is as good as a rest, my granny used to say.