Cheap vacations: Off-the-beaten-path travel destinations on a budget in the United States
The season for island vacations is here and there's no need to leave the US with these great spots.
Have you spent countless hours deciding on your next place to visit and are still undecided? With so many options, it’s not easy to choose. But sometimes thinking outside the box can lead to a rewarding (and cheap) vacation experience. These places may not be the first places you think of when you are looking for a fun and relaxing vacation. But they may surprise you. Here are a few places you may not have considered but are great destinations for cheap vacations.
Photo by Skeeze
1- St. Augustine, Florida
If Florida is a favorite place to visit, but you’ve already been to the big cities (Miami, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, Tallahassee, and Daytona Beach) and are looking to explore something new, check out St. Augustine. Founded in 1565, it is one of the oldest cities in the U.S. with plenty to see and do. For example, the Pirate & Treasure Museum offers educational tours and interactive exhibits on the history of the pirates and the colonial past. St. Augustine also has lots of beaches —perfect for swimming and soaking in the sun with a book in hand.
Photo by Andrew Seaman
2- Colorado Springs, Colorado
Beautiful and scenic, is how this city defines itself. The Colorado Rockies on one side and the Great Plains on the other, this city is a great gateway for people who love the charm of mountain sights. Besides beautiful scenery, the city is home to Air Force Academy and the Olympics & Paralympics training center. The majestic views at the top of Pikes Peak, the cliffs making up the Garden of the Gods, and Red Rock Canyon are the sights to behold and the population of the city is known for its food and art scene.
Photo by Hari Nandakumar
3- Paso Robles, California
If you’re big on wine country, Paso Robles is cheaper than California’s Napa, Sonoma, and other more famous wine country areas. Paso Robles is located on the central coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco. It has about 250 wineries and the tasting rooms provide a relaxing and chill vibe. Paso Robles offers a great weekend gateway with wine, warm weather and canopies of oak trees.
Photo by Noah Silliman
4- Saranac Lake, New York
Once a summer home for Albert Einstein, this village in upstate New York is surrounded with natural beauty, fresh air, and is mostly visited for the Adirondack Mountains. But very few people know that it has a bustling food scene and live music venues. It is a destination for both winter and summer as you can ski and snowshoe in winter and do bike tours or hikes in summer while relaxing around the lake. It has a chairlift option at Lake Placid as well.
Photo by Mateus Campos Felipe
5- Williamsburg, Virginia
If you’re a history buff, there’s no better place to visit than Colonial Williamsburg, where the story of America began. The Greater Williamsburg Area includes Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown, sites of more than four centuries of history. You’ll travel back in time with historic streets and battle fields—a priceless lesson in history, but a cheap vacation. A three-day ticket that gives you access to museums, 35 exhibition sites, 16 trade shops, more than 100 gardens, and shuttle buses costs $55 for a adult and $29 for a children ages 6 to 12.
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