Go north to discover outsize scenery, attractions, and savings in the Canadian cities of Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto. We offer the best money-saving tips to stretch those Canadian dollars even further.
Vancouver
There’s plenty to do in this scenic city, and a lot of it is free. Take a hike and enjoy views of the area’s rain forests, waterfalls, and mountain ranges, head to the beach, or visit famous Stanley Park, where you’ll find dining options, arts, extensive gardens, and more. The city’s boutique hotels offer up the charm of larger hotels at a better value.
At first it’s a mystery why the mid-sized Tennessee city of Knoxville would rank so high on the “top travel search terms” list. But once you hear the magic word, it becomes obvious: DOLLYWOOD.
California has Disney, Florida has… Disney, Vegas has the Strip, and Tennessee has the world’s one-and-only Dolly Parton theme park. Dolly doesn’t just lend her name to this place, either. Many of the attractions and entertainment offerings were conceived or inspired by her. Still growing as of its 25th birthday in 2010, this wildly popular family park continually proves that Dolly Parton is much more than just a pretty voice—she’s an American icon.
With 50 miles of beautiful beaches and more than 100 islands, the beaches of Fort Myers and nearby Sanibel Island spoil people for choice. If you’re a first-time visitor, you may have a hard time knowing where to start, so let us help you with this mini-guide to five quintessential beach experiences you can have in this idyllic southwest Florida destination.
Fort Myers Beach is actually on Estero Island. Accommodations here skew more affordable and family-friendly than on neighboring islands. There’s a wide array of motorized water-sport offerings including jet skiing, parasailing, and—definitely not something you see everywhere—jet-ski dolphin tours. The hub is Times Square. This is the shopping/dining/entertainment district, adjacent to the walkable pier. Further down, Lover’s Key State Park spans over 100 acres and 2½ miles of beautiful Gulf of Mexico beachfront. Travel Channel once named it Florida’s most romantic beach, though some locals suspect that has a lot to do with the name.
You want great music, comfort food, fun for all ages, and an affordable price tag? Take your pick of places. But if you want all that plus Elvis impersonators, ducks on parade, and a great American river, then Memphis is the only place for you.
First and foremost, obviously you’ve gotta do Graceland. Yeah, it’s a tourist trap, and some people find all that old-school pop idol worship—and all those souvenirs—a little cheesy. But this is the birthplace of America’s King! Pay your respects, and take comfort in the fact that everything’s self-guided, so if you’ve got squirrelly children or a personal low tolerance for Elvis mania, just do the mansion tour and then get out.
From city to ocean to jungle, Hawaii offers dreamy weather and diverse scenery. Here’s how to enjoy it on the cheap.
Maui
Take a scenic drive around the island or up into the mountains (bring your camera!), hike the Iao Valley, or just lounge at the beach. Spring (except for the last week of April) and fall are the best times to save money on airfare and accommodations, and enjoying the area’s natural beauty always gets you maximum bang for your buck.
Enjoy some fresh mountain air without putting your wallet on a high-altitude diet at these three affordable trip hubs.
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Get around for .50 cents a person on the Fun Time Trolley, buy a Pigeon Forge Value Card for discounts on everything from meals to hotels, shopping and attractions, and enjoy a free-next-day ticket to Dollywood when you arrive after 3 p.m. Accommodations ranging from rustic inns to value-conscious resorts make for budget-friendly lodging.
When food, drinks, and activities are included in the price, a tropical resort vacation can feel like a downright bargain. Here's a guide to three Caribbean island resorts where the price is right.
Nassau, Bahamas
Accommodations at the Paradise Island Harbour Resortinclude three meals daily, unlimited house drinks, snacks throughout the day, snorkeling, bike rentals, use of the swimming pool, activities for kids ages 4 to 12, and more.
Forget the Vegas Strip or Beverly Hills 90210—these days, all the camera crews and famous faces are flocking to AC, as in Atlantic City, New Jersey. And you wish you could be too. Whether you’re an East Coaster looking for a quick weekend getaway on the ACES train, or flying in from further away to claim a piece of the action, here’s our quick cheat sheet to Atlantic City, as seen on the big and small screens.
Like everything in the gaming world, AC first started getting national television attention as a result of the World Poker Tour—mainstay of the Travel Channel in the mid-2000s. The Borgata Poker Open brought hundreds of would-be millionaires and all the most colorful poker personalities, giving the world its first look at this flashy new casino/hotel.
Taking a trip to another continent isn’t cheap, but you can save money with these ideas:
Paris
Visit between November and April for the best rates on accommodations and airfare. For free or low-cost fun, plan on doing a lot of sightseeing in the historic public areas and parks. Don’t worry about tipping, as gratuities are often added to your price automatically. But definitely splurge on the world-famous food.
Over 120 miles of hiking trails, two campgrounds, and 45 miles of biking on carriage trails are just some of the activities in Acadia National Park. Learn how glaciers carved Acadia's landscape and what plants and trees are found along trails by attending a ranger-led tour. During the winter months, activities such as cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and hiking are available; however, the best time to visit Acadia is late summer or fall. Bar Harbor, Maine, is the main commercial gateway to Acadia National Park, with an extensive range of accommodation options, restaurants, and activity outfitters. The small coastal town lies about 50 miles east of Bangor, Maine, and 280 miles northeast of Boston.
Photo credit: Acadia, Maine (National Park Service)
