Canadian National Parks
It's no secret that national parks are budget-friendly destinations. While one-day passes to Six Flags and Walt Disney World hover around $60 per person, admission to the most visited national park in the U.S. ― Great Smoky Mountains ― is free, and at parks that charge, a seven-day pass for a car full of passengers typically goes for around $20.
Road Trips
Considered an essential childhood experience for most Americans, road trips jarringly test a family's stamina and their ability to get along. But with gas prices hovering greedily around $3 a gallon, road trips now also test the family budget.
Close Weekend Getaways
Face it: You really need a getaway. But you don't have the time (or money) to drive very far, let alone spring for a plane ticket. The solution: Explore destinations close to home. Chances are, wonderful vacations are right in your backyard.
Vacation Rentals
Making yourself at home on vacation can sometimes be a difficult task. A crammed hotel room with two kids, one bathroom and a night of dad's snoring can easily put any family over the edge. But adding another hotel room or upgrading to a suite can rack up quite a bill. Ta da … vacation rentals to the rescue.
Off-Season Caribbean
Winter's sub-zero temperatures and grey skies make us North American types sprint for southern climes. And on Caribbean islands blessed with perpetual summer, that means prices go up when northern temperatures go down. So make a summer sojourn to the Caribbean instead ― temperatures aren't much different, and prices are much easier to swallow.
Ski Resorts in Summer
Summer and skiing rarely go hand in hand. Summer and ski resorts, however, are a combination that's become a popular and reasonable way to vacation in the warm season.
Eastern Europe
While hoards of travelers flood Western Europe this summer in search of history and culture among a sea of tour buses, you could be ducking the crowds and high euro prices in Eastern Europe.
Summer Cruising
If you're one of the more than 31 million people the Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA) estimates is likely to take a cruise between 2006 and 2009, you might already be thinking this: Cruising can be an unbelievable value. In fact, in some cases, it's downright cheap.
Urban Adventures
Picture yourself on vacation in the big city. Where will I go? What will I do? And perhaps most daunting: How will I pay for it? Fortunately, there are some very effective money-saving solutions for visiting America's most fascinating cities.
Quick International Escapes
You've got an itch for overseas adventure this summer, but don't have the budget to scratch it. Not so fast ― border hopping doesn't have to involve crossing oceans, or the hefty airfares that go with it.
