My tree at home? Wouldn't be this good anyway.

Laura recently shared 5 Little Ways To Save Money for Vacations. Her suggestions were sensible, savvy and financially sound, and called for little to no disruption in your day to day life.

I’d like to offer a suggestion that’s a little more extreme.

Cancel Christmas.

Seriously.

Now before you start throwing the Scrooge label around, hear me out.

I’ve been thinking recently about how much I want to take my kids on a great vacation.  I travel quite a bit on my own, and I’ve noticed that it’s much more affordable to travel solo than it is in a group.  Even when I go places with just my husband, the sticker shock of two airplane tickets and two full sized meals (as opposed to one street vendor hot dog) never ceases to amaze me.  (Plus, when you’re traveling with your husband, you can’t save money by splitting a hotel room with 3 of your closest friends.)

I can easily scratch the heck out of my travel itch for under $400 – when I’m traveling alone.

But I’ve been wondering, where can I come up with the well over $400 needed for a great vacation for a family of four?

Obviously, one of the first things I could do to save money is stop traveling alone.  And to that I say, Ba Humbug!  I’m a travel writer, for Pete’s sake!  I pretty much have to take regular trips or I’ll lose my job! Nobody wants that!

My next idea was to stop buying groceries.  But then I considered the enormous hassle of dealing with Child Protective Services and quickly scrapped that plan.

And then came my brilliant idea to cancel Christmas.

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A bridge in the Grottos Day Use area in Independence Pass, CO.

Independence Pass connects Aspen and Leadville, Colorado via State Highway 82. It is the second-highest paved highway in Colorado, reaching 12,095 feet at its highest. With a 6.5% grade and narrow switchbacks all along the road, traversing Independence Pass is an adventure in the summertime, and prohibited completely in the winter (the road is closed altogether).

The ghost town in Independence Pass, CO.

In the late 1800’s, Independence Pass was the main route into and out of the Roaring Fork Valley during its heyday as a location for silver mining. The town of Independence was established in 1879, and by 1880 was inhabited by 1,000 people. Once the silver ore was completely mined, the population dwindled until the last person moved out in 1912. The ghost town is currently an historic landmark and active archaeological site.

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You thought the current maze of healthcare legislation was bad? Or the Washington twists and turns in The Lost Symbol? They’ve got nothing on the Barack Obama corn maze at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, Connecticut.

Following a child through the corn maze may be your best bet.

Here in New England, visiting apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and corn mazes are all a part of Fall. In fact, if you’re vacationing in New England during the season and you’re not doing one of these things, why are you here? Just for leaf peeping? C’mon, get out of the car and actually do something!

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It’s called the Eternal City. But you got to do that first visit. So what do you do on your first visit? Cat Lincoln has been to Rome a few times and explains what a first time visitor needs to do. She explains about the sense of the city too – what to do after museums and what to watch out for. Like sitting on a piazza in the afternoon; don’t get swayed by the beautiful people and go shopping. Better to just soak in more of the city’s amazing history all around you.

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Who can argue that autumn is one of the most colorful times of year?

That was a rhetorical question.

Fall is pretty, mostly because of the glorious displays put on by the fall leaves changing color.  This phenomenon occurs all over the United States, but some spots offer better views than others.  Grab your camera and a road atlas and take a day trip to one of the 11 best fall foliage sites in America.

11 Places To See Fall Leaves

Fall Leaves on Carriage Road at Acadia National Park

1.  Acadia National Park – Maine

Of course anywhere in the North East is going to boast spectacular fall foliage.  The Acadia National Park offers gorgeous views and extensive Ranger-led educational programs so that you can learn more about what you’re staring at.  Make sure to head to Bar Harbor Maine before the end of October to take full advantage of the sights and services available.

Fall Leaves at Oak Mountain State Park

2.  Oak Mountain State Park – Alabama

Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama’s largest state park.  This nearly 10,000 acre forest is featured on several sight seeing lists.  Admission is only $3 for adults on weekends and holidays.  You can visit the park for fall foliage viewing from 7am to sundown.

Fall Foliage in New Hampshire

3.  Mt. Washington – New Hampshire

While it’s typical to see fall foliage while you’re driving, the Mount offers guided cruises on the M/S Mount Washington.  Starting Sunday, September 27, the Mount will offer Fall Foliage Dinner Cruises from 4:30 to 7 p.m. each Sunday through mid-October. The cruise departs from Weirs Beach, boarding at 4 p.m. Cost for adults is$43. Visit Cruise Mount Washington for more information.

Fall Color in Colorado

4.  Aspen – Colorado

It’s no surprise that Aspen, Colorado is the perfect place to watch the Aspen trees change colors with the seasons.  San Isabel National Forest offers extensive trails for viewing of some of the most fabulous aspen trees in Colorado.

New York Fall Foliage

5.  The Catskills – New York

The Catskills and Hudson Valley region is about a two hour drive from New York City.  One of the unique features of this area is that the color changing season lasts about six weeks, with colors rivaling those of its North Eastern neighbors, Vermont and Massachusetts.

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Notre Dame Stadium

This is the most beautiful sight these eyes have ever seen!–Rudy’s father [upon entering the Notre Dame Stadium for the first time.]  Now while I might lean toward the skeptic in assuming that a visit to Notre Dame Stadium on game day is the absolute pinnacle, I would be lying if I told you that the experience is anything less than a moving, almost religious experience.  Of course, it’s God’s school so you would expect the divine, right?

The University of Notre Dame located in South Bend, Indiana is home to one of the most storied college football programs in the country.  National Championships.  Heisman winners.  Hall of Famers.  They invented football.  No?  OK, they invented the forward pass.  The Hail Mary?  You bet!  Read More »

Equitours is “America’s oldest and largest horseback riding vacation company.” They only sponsor tours that have been carefully selected for quality, safety, and value. With a huge amount of world-wide destinations to recommend, visitors are provided with a wealth of information with which to make their travel decision. A sample of some of the destionations available include:

California Redwood Coast Ride: A seven-day itinerary starting at $2,295 per person, which includes food and lodging. Rides feature a different ocean beach each day.

Ireland Atlantic Coast Ride: An eight-day itinerary starting at $1500 per person, which includes lodging and two lunches, and airport/train transfers. Rides feature beaches, mountain trails, local villages, castles, and historic sites.

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Wharf St. in the Historic Waterfront District in Portland, Maine

I know, I know, it doesn’t go as well with the tune as leaving my heart in San Francisco. I am telling the absolute truth, though, when I say that my heart lies in Portland, Maine.

I grew up in the teeny, tiny farming community of New Gloucester, Maine (population of people, 5,461; population of cows, at least three times that many), which is about 40 minutes due north of Portland. If you were looking for something “to do”, you went to Portland. If you had a job, it was probably in Portland. Even if you lived three hours away, you went “out Portland way” for a myriad of things – grocery shopping, the mall, the movies, dinner. It may not be the capital of the state (which is Augusta, by the way), but it’s the social, industrial, and economic hub of the state.

A street in the Old Port - Portland, Maine

And it is, in my most humble (but expert) opinion, one of the best towns on the PLANET. I’m not kidding. You need to go. And here’s why.

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