One of the great things about traveling in the United States is that you can take a cheap vacation, spending very little money and finding many free things to see and do. Here are some ideas.
One of the great things about the United States is that you can take a vacation using very little money, finding many free things to see and do and finding many inexpensive places to spend the night. You don't need to be a millionaire to have a good time. Sometimes less is more in the vacation department - more relaxing and easier on the pocketbook.
If you travel through the middle-Atlantic region of the United States, you can follow the Civil War battlefield route from Gettysburg to Charleston, with many historic sites in between. All offer free access, or you can pay to take guided tours. Most road atlases show the battlefields as a national park, and I-95 seems to follow the path both the Union and Confederate soldiers took.
Although Washington, D.C. is a little expensive to stay and eat in, you can book a campground or inexpensive motel outside of the city and commute each day, parking at one of many designated areas and taking the a train into the city. There are "park and rides" on each side of the city, in Maryland and Virginia, and they are advertised on the exit ramps of the roadways surrounding the Capital. Once there, everything is basically free, including the many buildings of the Smithsonian Institution, including the Air and Space Museum, the National History Museum and the Natural History Museum, not to mention the many art galleries, the statues and attractions on the mall, and the fascinating history of Arlington National Cemetery. Gazing up at the Lincoln Memorial is breathtaking, and it's free. For a small fee, however, you can buy an all-day ticket and ride guided tour buses from one attraction to the other, learning as you ride. If you hop off, you can view the attraction and know that in less than fifteen minutes another bus will come along to take you to the next stop.
If you vacation in the old west, you can visit the Grand Canyon, Bryce National Forest, Yosemite, and many of the Rocky Mountain areas. Pikes Peak is grand, as is the barren desert south of Colorado Springs. Arizona's deserts and fields of phlox in the spring are breathtaking. And the great thing about Arizona is, you can cool yourself off in the mountains near Flagstaff in the morning, and in a few hours enjoy the heat of the day in the Phoenix area. Farther south, the mountains are a lovely backdrop to the Sierra Vista region. If you are in the Mt. Rushmore area, not only will the mountains be breathtaking, but you might have to stop for a wild donkey or buffalo who need to cross to the other side of the road.
California has the Pacific Ocean, the beauty of Big Sur, and the splendor of magnificent views from San Diego up the coast to Oregon and Washington State. Beauty is free.
The Great Lakes areas offer natural beauty from Wisconsin to New York, and to visit Niagara Falls you just need the money to park your car. If you don't mind walking, however, park farther away from the Falls for free and hike in. You can even walk over to the Canadian side and back again. There are several picnic grounds around Niagara Falls, and you can take a picnic basket and enjoy a whole day there.
The Atlantic Ocean provides a wonderful vacation area for those on limited budgets. You can go shelling from Maine to Florida. You can visit the cliffs of Maine, and while there visit some of the inlets and towns where sailing ships are docked, such as Boothbay Harbor and Camden. Stop at a roadside lobster pound for some very inexpensive seafood while working your way along the coastal areas. Vermont offers beautiful mountain streams to hike. Cape Cod has some of the most beautiful beaches in the east.
You can follow the Mormon trail from Palmyra, New York to Salt Lake City, learning where Brigham Young settled, seeing bullets in the wall at Nauvoo, Illinois, where the Mormon pioneers were persecuted, and visiting the Great Salt Lake outside of Salt Lake City.
In Tarpan Springs, Florida, you can park at the tourist lot for a nominal fee and walk to the sponge docks, where ships go out each day to fish for sponges and shrimp. It is peaceful sitting on the docks, watching the pelicans and seagulls diving for snacks, watching the boats come and go, and not spending a dime for a day of relaxation. Of course, if you wanted to spend some money, you could enjoy a Greek meal at one of the many restaurants there, browse the many shops for clothing and souvenirs, or take a boat ride out into the Gulf of Mexico, stopping to look at wildlife and Manatees, and cruising by the lovely mansions owned by wealthy people outside of Tarpon Springs. Not all of Florida is theme parks and heavy traffic. There are many peaceful bays and inlets offering tranquility and breathing room. Ponce Inlet, outside of Daytona Beach, is another quiet place, with a family restaurant hidden in the trees next to the Ponce Inlet lighthouse.
There are many campgrounds located near natural attractions. Some have cabins to rent, some have open spaces where you can pitch a tent and build a campfire. If you are truly short of cash, and you don't mind sleeping in the car, you can pull off in a designated rest area, sleep the night away and continue on the next morning. However, please only stop at designated rest stops. Police routinely stop there to make sure things are safe for truck drivers and vacationers who have pulled off to nap. You can wash up and brush your teeth in the restrooms provided for travelers. Make sure you clean up after yourself and are respectful to others, however. Campgrounds provide showers and grocery stores for the convenience of those spending time there. And they usually offer brochures telling what there is to see in the area. Many things are inexpensive, if not free. Even a trip to Disney World doesn't need to be expensive. There is a large camping area on the grounds where visitors can pitch a tent and enjoy the atmosphere. You don't need to go to the parks while staying there.
There is no end to free and inexpensive things to do in the United States. Almost every city has a museum or art gallery. Most are free or admission is by a small donation. There are small lakes, rivers and streams in every state, where you can pull off and cool your feet. During the summer there are county fairs and during the winter ski slopes and sledding hills. A vacation does not have to be spent at a posh resort or on a fancy cruise ship. There is probably a great vacation opportunity for everyone just a day trip away.
