Cheap vacation ideas

You're going on vacation, but there's one problem--you're broke. Perhaps you have the lodgings and travel arrangements, but don't know what to do once you get there. Or maybe you just want to do something different on your vacation. Here are some unusual ideas for you.

1. Visit a cemetery or mausoleum. Read up on local history at a nearby library and conduct your own ghost tour. You may even find a few "haunted houses." Or, if you have relatives or ancestors buried nearby, visit their burial sites and pay tribute.

3. Get lost (kind of). Start walking or driving somewhere, without direction, and explore. If the place you're visiting has public transportation, take it. Be careful though--you may want to ask the locals what areas to avoid so you don't step into danger.

4. Visit inmates in a local jail or prison. Prepare ahead of time, though. Call first and ask when visiting hours are, or find a local group and go visit with them.

5. Attend a religious service you would not usually attend. You can learn so much from people of a different culture or faith than your own, even if you do not share their views.

6. Find all the odd shops--thrift, hobby, new age, antique, used bookstores, fabric, you name it. These shops are usually tucked away in nooks and crannies just waiting to be discovered, and they're incredibly fun to browse. In larger cities, there is a specialty shop for every hobby, interest, and field of study you can (or can't) think of. From building model airplanes to underwater basket weaving to playing the ukulele. If you don't know what to look for or where to find it, just pick up the nearest phone book and read the yellow pages. What you will find may amaze you.

7. Take one of those lists you get off the Internet, like "20 Things to Do in an Elevator" or "15 Annoying Things to Do in a Bathroom Stall" and act them out. You don't have to be in an elevator or bathroom stall--go to the ice cream shop by the beach or the nearest gas station. Once you get started doing this, you might be inspired to make up your own weird or annoying things to do in public. If you enjoy being the center of attention, the reactions you'll receive from strangers can be priceless.

8. Find a new or used car lot and test-drive cars. Act like you're really interested in buying one, even if you're not. Who knows--you might end up going home with one! Remember to take your driver's license, however, as many places require it for proof of age and sometimes use it as a kind of "insurance" (plus it's illegal to drive without one).

9. Using the same mindset as the above idea, take tours of houses and apartments. Pretend you're in the market for one. This could help you get to know the area pretty well, as you will have a chance to interview landlords, agents, and tenants, who will be only too happy to tell out-of-towners how great it is to live in the area, and where all the special events and "hot spots" are.

10. Attend a local meeting. You'll get to know some people in the area who will give you further ideas, and you might connect with people who share your interests. There are all kinds of meetings to attend, even in the smallest of towns and the largest of cities. You don't always have to know anything about what the group is discussing--just ask if it's ok for you to sit in and listen. If you feel comfortable joining in, go ahead and do it. Whether it's a book club or the club for people who are addicted to computers, there is something for everyone and everyone in between.

Now that I've given you a few ideas, you can probably come up with some unusual, wild and crazy, or just plain odd things for you to do during those days off meant for fun and relaxation. Whether you're planning on traveling to another state, country, or across the street, follow these three simple steps and you can have fun on an almost nonexistent budget: let your imagination run free, plan ahead, and start packing!