Jane Wooldridge - The 100 Best Affordable Vacations

CHAPTER ONE
americana

CHAPTER TWO
into the wild

CHAPTER THREE
quest for knowledge

CHAPTER FOUR
body & soul

Sometimes, all you want is to bake on the beach under a UV-blocking umbrella. But if a day or two of lounging leaves you wondering, Now what? maybe youre craving something more: a vacation that replaces the worry-worn spaces in your soul with possibilities. And one that you can afford at the same time.

This book is divided into four chapters, with vacations that delve into the American mindscape, explore nature, craft new skills, and stretch horizonsboth physical and those in our psyches.

What they wont stretch is your budget. Though what qualifies as affordable varies, the 100 vacations here are wallet friendly. Some are downright budget savvy; others combine worthy splurgestours, meals, train rides, and more that offer a bang worthy of the extra expensewith otherwise cost-effective trips. The splurges are highlighted throughout the book.

All of these vacation ideas recognize that soul-satisfying vacationslike the rest of our livesoften involve trade-offs. Plan ahead to visit during a citys off-season restaurant week, and you might get a meal by a famous-name chef for half the regular price. Opt for a campsite instead of that cozy bed-and-breakfast, and youll feel better about splurging on a ride aboard a historic narrow-gauge train.

If youre like us, youll recognize that the most cherished memories rarely revolve around a grand hotel or pricey gourmet meal. Renewal and wonder are priceless.

So put your iPhone in rest mode and leave the laptop behind. Better yet, head to a remote retreat where wireless doesnt work. Youll be amazed at how well the world survives without youand you without itat least for a few days.

Jane Wooldridge and Larry Bleiberg

W e all have friends who have traveled to the farthest reaches of the globe. Theyve worn out passports finding their way to the temples of Asia, the majestic castles of Europe, and the incredible diversity of Africa. But ask them about America and they draw a blank. Ill get to that sometime, the blas will say. Others, a little shamed, will acknowledge the gap in their travels.

The delightful thing about seeing America is that youre already here. Theres no need for visas and intercontinental flights; just point your car to the highway and go. The exotic is right in front of you.

A road trip is the best way to get to know your countryand yourself. And a trip anywhere in the United States will do just fine. For example, a visit to a state fair will tell you as much about human nature as any piece of literature; and Kansas City barbecue and Kentucky bourbon are as much delicacies as Russian caviar and French champagne.

The trips and experiences in this chapter will make you see America with new eyes. Youll see that we have traditions, arts, and history as rich as any country. These vacations let you relive our founding revolution, marvel at the genius of Thomas Jefferson, mourn the tragedies of our Civil War, and see the horrific machinery we were prepared to deploy during the Cold War.

Other trips will introduce you to the heroes of the civil rights movement, make clear that cowboys didnt die out with John Wayne, and showcase sites and museums certain to give you a new appreciation for the nations capital.

Youll discover corners of our country where nothing seems to have changed for decadesplaces where you can indulge in folk art, absorb natural scenery, and, most important perhaps, have an unforgettable piece of pie. This is a celebration of all that our nation has to offer, and all that should be celebrated.

relive the american revolution

CONCORD & LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS

Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.

POET RALPH WALDO EMERSON, CONCORD HYMN (1836)

1 | April 19 is a pivotal day in American history. And although we cant go back in time to watch the Battles of Lexington and Concord, theres another option: Witnessing the springtime reenactment of the battles, when hundreds of dedicated Revolutionary War buffs depict the historic confrontations for thousands of fascinated spectators. There are parades, battlefield encampments, and living history demonstrations open to the public. Its enough to make you don a tricorne hat and whistle Yankee Doodle .

This whole notion about the willingness to stand up and fight for liberty, it comes from here, says Lou Sideris of Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, Massachusetts. People really come here and say now I know what it means to be an American.

The cities of Lexington and Concord work together with Minute Man National Historical Park to re-create these momentous events every Patriots Day weekend, a Massachusetts state holiday held on the third Monday in April. The major presentations begin on Saturday; by the time the last shot is fired on Monday, visitors will have a new appreciationand understandingof the events that launched our nation. Just as the Colonials were volunteer citizen-soldiers, so are the reenactors, who spend thousands of dollars on uniforms and who undergo rigorous training to properly re-create the historic battles.