Today’s post is from our regular Wednesday contributor, Cat.
Even though everyone’s been squeezing in last minute summer vacations, I’m already looking ahead to fall.
Ever since I spent several years living in Virginia, I’ve always loved the fall. There’s just something so nice about the weather getting cooler without the onslaught of snow just yet. I’m hoping beyond hope that we have a mild fall and winter this year since this southern gal might not back able to hack it in frigid New Jersey!
Okay, okay, enough about me and my aversion to snow. Let’s look at some awesome fall getaways that are easy and inexpensive, because after all, there are tons of creative ways to go on vacation without spending too much of your hard earned cash. Here are my top affordable destination ideas:
1) Charlottesville, VA
Like I said, living in Virginia is what made me love fall more than any other season. The leaves are absolutely stunning in Virginia during that time of year. You can save money by driving there yourself if you’re not too far away and driving through Skyline Drive, an incredibly gorgeous stretch of Virginia that will take you through a national park with views of the mountains and foliage. It’s amazing.
2) New Orleans, LA
Many personal finance bloggers are going to New Orleans this Fall, and it’s actually a great time to go because it’s hurricane season. I know that sounds like a pretty bad idea to travel to New Orleans during hurricane season, but the risk you take means the flights are affordable as are the accommodations!
3) Vegas
When you think of Vegas, you might think of spending a lot of money, but there are many ways to go to Vegas for cheap – or even free! Mostly, people get great deals on Vegas vacations because they use credit card churning techniques, but with enough research you can find affordable hotels even without using your credit card points.
4) A Caribbean Cruise
Again, because summer is ending, cruise prices will start to drop and then go up again around the holiday season. This is a great time to book a cruise, especially a short 3 or 4 day one that will only run you a few hundred dollars a person.
Choose a port you can drive to – if you can – so you don’t have to spend money on plane tickets or rental cars. DC wrote a great post that gives 15 tips for people going on a cruise.
5) Austin, TX
Usually big cities are expensive when it comes to hotels but you can actually find a lot of great deals in Texas. The reason I like Austin is because it’s young, hip, and progressive. They have many great restaurants downtown, and it’s about 20 minutes away from a massive outlet mall where you can find just about anything your heart desires.
Remember, all of the places above are affordable during the fall, and if you are still tight on cash, there are a lot of ways to get free money for traveling so make sure to do you research so you get the most bang for your buck!
Will you be going anywhere fun this fall?
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I am actually one of those people who will be happy to see summer go, because it means the beginning of my favorite season, Fall. Where I live, I can pretty much enjoy the beauty of fall from my home. I love that a mile from my home is one of the greatest state parks with beautiful trails and lakes and during the fall, I try to visit it a few times a week as part of my exercise.
I remember Skyline Drive!! I LOVED it! I love Fall for a variety of reasons – cooler temps, changing of the leaves and football. We’re taking the kids to Chicago after FinCon. It’s not exactly cheap, but we’ve churned for nearly all of it so I guess it worked out that way anyway. ;)
I love all of these ideas! We are going on a cruise next week this New Orleans in September. I actually like to go to Florida or the Caribbean during the fall too- warm water and off-season prices.
Charlottesville is awesome! Fall is my absolute favorite season: hiking, leaves, pumpkins (I’m a tab obsessed), candy corn :). There are amazing hikes near Charlottesville and Skyline Drive is divine. I want to go there now!
I really miss the midwest in fall (but that’s about the only time!), so luckily I’m headed back there in Oct to see the family and celebrate my birthday. In LA, we don’t really have a fall…it just sort of blends with summer, and in fact can sometimes be warmer. I love going to get hot cider and doughnuts when I’m in Michigan!
Fall in Colorado is the best season. We have some camping trips planned and a trip to Yellowstone NP. I’m so jealous you got to be a ranger at one point in life!
Virginia is beautiful in fall. Being in Nashville, we can drive a couple of hours east and see some incredible scenery for nothing more than the cost of gas (especially when we bring our own picnic!).
I absolutely adore fall, and can’t wait for it! Charlottesville sounds lovely. We’re trying to plan a little getaway either to Asheville or Boone here in NC. Mountains and fall foliage are our only requirements.
These are all great ideas! We’re going to New Orleans in September (for FinCon, of course!) and it will be a relatively cheap trip. Can’t wait!
I cannot believe it’s going to be fall. Where did the time go?!
I love Fall and it’s my favourite season of the year – looking forward to wearing cool knits and high boots! I may return to Montreal and Ottawa during the Fall and the scenery is gorgeous then!
This is a nice list. New Orleans is a great spot to visit year round.
coincidentally, we’re planning a fall trip to Vegas, but we’re within driving distance. We are also planning on going on a Carribean Cruise but not til January, might have to pay a premium for that
I can attest to Vegas being a pretty cool place (having just come back from there)..
The Caribbean would be awesome as well, it’s great that you guys are so close to some awesome places :)
Australia is a bad place after all but I might be a bit bias ;) haha
MoreThanJusMony Do you have a blog? If so, what’s the link? I don’t see it in your livefyre profile and unfortunately I’m not familiar with your blog – or at least not enough to remember it off the top of my head. I like to reciprocate comments so let me know!
mycareercrusade I’ve never been but John and DC love it :)
NewlywedsonaBudget I remember you lived close – that’s pretty cool! :)
Jason @ The Butler Journal I agree – I grew up not far from there. :)
DC @ Young Adult Money MoreThanJusMony She does have a blog — More Than Just Money — It’s a good one! And K, Montreal sounds gorgeous!
theFinancegirl Seriously the fastest year ever
SenseofCents I will see you there!
JourneytoSaving That sounds so pretty – I bet NC is right there with VA!
ImpersonalFinance Oh yeah I bet Nashville is a great jumping off spot!
Eyesonthedollar Haha it was a really fun job. I miss it so much, and I’ve never been to Yellowstone so I have to go.
Beachbudget My best friend lives in Michigan. She really loves all the seasons too. Have fun and happy early birthday!
Mrs. Frugalwoods What’s not to like? I know it’s been forever since we’ve hiked there.
Holly at ClubThrifty I know yall are really traveling so much this year – hope you have a great time!
FrugalRules I always say the weather outside feels like “happy” lol!! Chicago sounds amazing!
blonde_finance I really love it too. It’s the best season and you do live in a pretty spot that’s for sure!
I didn’t realize fincon was during hurricane season, I hope we have good weather!
brokeandbeau I’m sure we will. :)
BudgetBlonde mycareercrusade I should have said Australia isn’t :O (terrible spelling there) haha..
I get the impression you’re talking about Vegas though :) (which is a bit of a blast)
Ah, I was supposed to go to upstate NY as a fall vacation, once, to visit my aunt’s sister and I really regret not doing it. It is supposed to be an absolutely stunning pace to visit in the fall. One day, one day.
moneypropeller I have never been to New York, so I think hitting up NYC and upstate New York would be amazing. Not cheap for me, though, coming from Minnesota.