Author Topic: Cheap vacation/staycation?  (Read 1868 times)

mxmoney

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Cheap vacation/staycation?
« on: August 13, 2018, 02:45:59 PM »
I live in Cleveland, Ohio and would like to do something fun over Labor Day weekend to celebrate my No-Spend August. However I'd like to be Mustachian about it rather that completely splurging like I normally do. What are some good ideas for vacation-y type things that won't break the bank?

eliza

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Re: Cheap vacation/staycation?
« Reply #1 on: August 13, 2018, 04:20:06 PM »
Erie, PA?

Take the scenic route.  I prefer Route 20.

Hit some of the smaller wineries along the way - tons in the Geneva, OH area.

Hike around Presque Isle or hit the beach.
Picnic and watch the sunset over the beach (sunsets there are world class).
Waldameer Amusement Park should be having fireworks Saturday night (I think they would be viewable from the beach).

Beach camp ($30 a night, but no reservations which might be tough on a holiday weekend https://sarascampground.com/) or get a cheap hotel room (there are a bunch out by  I-90 and Peach St. and near the casino).


If you're up for a bit longer/more expensive of a trip and enjoy theater, I'd head up to Stratford, ON for a long weekend.  There are some decent cheapish B&Bs and motels in and around Stratford.  Cute town to explore.  Discounted day-of tickets at all of the Shakespeare Festival theaters.  And a gorgeous river to picnic beside.

elaine amj

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Re: Cheap vacation/staycation?
« Reply #2 on: August 13, 2018, 06:50:10 PM »
I like to look for free or cheap activities/events, combine that with free/cheap lodgings and then figure the rest out.

Helps that my fave vacation is hiking and tent camping.

What type of things do like to do? Are you active? Do u like to walk around small towns? Go to big cities? There are many ways to make even a normally-expensive vacation cheap.

For example, when I went to NYC, I took a cheap megabus to get there (I was nearby in DC), used points for a hotel, and mostly just wandered around checking out the free sightseeing (Central Park, State Island Ferry, etc). For food, we ate cheap and used various coupons. Happy hours also makes for great deals. I simply have a price point in my head what I am willing to spend on various things and chase the deals, ignoring everything else.

For more specific destinations, try coming up to Canada. Your dollar will stretch 30% more. There's Windsor, Stratford, Niagara, etc.

For example, in Windsor, you can tour the wine country. It's very inexpensive with many wineries offering free tastings. Hike to the southernmost point of mainland Canada (small entry fee). Tour the JP Wisers whisky distillery. Explore the historic towns of Walkerville and Amherstburg. So many summer festivals every weekend, many free.

A couple of years ago, my friend and I did a girls trip to Louisville. We stopped at the Keeneland track near Lexington (free to watch the jockeys train their horses) and skipped Kentucky Horse Park (pricey!). Then off to Buffalo Trace Distillery for a free tour and tasting. Wandered some small towns nearby. Then we moved to Louisville and spent a day at the Kentucky State Fair. For $10 each, we got a full day of entertainment. We also went for a walk across the state line nearby. I then got a Groupon to go trail riding near Louisville for $20ish per person. It ended up a cheap weekend.

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mm1970

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Re: Cheap vacation/staycation?
« Reply #3 on: August 13, 2018, 06:55:31 PM »
Think outdoorsy - camping (or cheap hotels - Red Roof Inn in Erie, as an example).  Hiking.  Rafting.

Cranky

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Re: Cheap vacation/staycation?
« Reply #4 on: August 14, 2018, 07:38:44 AM »
Ashtabula is fun!

Rent bikes and ride along the tow path from Peninsula. Look to see what events are on in the National Park.

Come to Youngstown for the County Fair - it's a big fair, lots to see.

 

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