Going on a vacation during this time of economic recession puts off a lot of potential tourists. When money is tight, expenses must be reduced, is the rationale. That is well and good, but there are enjoyable vacations one can take without spending much, so that one need not deprive himself of enjoying a respite just because budget is small. One of these destinations is Illinois.

For history buffs

In Springfield, Illinois stands the two-story home of Abraham Lincoln, the only one he owned. He lived there with his wife Mary stating 1844 until he became President in 1861. A tour of the 1 1/2 storey cottage will give the visitor a glimpse of how life was in the 1800′s, as well as the austerity of Honest Abe.

Another home of interest is that granted to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant by grateful Galena, Illinois citizens celebrating his return. He lived there also until his election to the presidency in 1868. Tours of the Grant house is conducted by guides wearing historical costumes.

Outdoor activities

The Shawnee National Forest is an excellent destination for outdoor enthusiasts. It offers rock-climbing (of unique sandstone formations), hiking the River-to-River Trail which connects the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, lakes to fish, and campgrounds to enjoy the Garden of the Gods, a wilderness area of 320-million years old forest and interesting rock formations.

The Pine Ridge Campgrounds offer boating and fishing on the lake, swimming, trails for hiking and geological areas to explore. Horseback riding, on the other hand, is available at the Johnson Creek Campgrounds in Ava, Illinois along Lake Kincaid, which also affords great fishing.

But for a really integrated lake-based activity vacation, go to Carlyle Lake in Clinton County. Camping can be in cabins or walk-in tents that you can rent, rather than bringing your own gear. Bass, crappie, bluegill, walleye, catfish and sauger abound in the lake so there are excellent fishing opportunities. The average density is claimed to be 3,260 pounds of fish in every water acre.

There are also nine miles to hike, while hunting is allowed for white-tailed deer, squirrels, rabbits, mourning doves, turkeys and bobwhite quail. Shorebirds, songbirds, ducks, geese, eagles, cormorants, blue herons and ospreys will also delight birdwatchers who stroll the lakeshore or hike the trails.

An unusual trip

Very similar to the riverboat cruises of the earlier times, the more modern Shawnee Queen River Taxi takes 48 passengers along a scenic Ohio River trip, stopping at the towns of Golconda, Rosiclare and Elizabethtown for shopping, and Cave-in Rock for a little pirate history of the Mason Gang. Golconda also offers excellent fishing opportunities.

There is also the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, the one of the largest aquarium in the world, and maintains 20,000 fish for viewing. More than two million people visit the aquarium every year, making it one very popular Illinois destination indeed. Coupled with the nearby Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum of Natural History, the Museum Campus where the three sites are located is quite busy everyday so book your visit early.

Go Illinois!

So if you really want an enjoyable vacation on a shoestring (almost anyway), go Illinois. The camping is easy and the opportunities are plenty. Forget the luxurious hotels and welcome the tents; forget the usual activities and go nature, and you will have the best vacation… in Illinois.

If you are thinking of a vacation in Kansas, but having second thoughts due to expenses, well, we got good news: you can enjoy Kansas for less than the usual budget. With some detailed planning and advance information, you can go to many different places in Kansas and enjoy what you wish to see or do. The options are almost endless.

A Selection of Destinations and Activities

For example, outdoor enthusiasts will love to get near the bison of American legends in the wildlife refuges and the state’s Flint Hills. To see the animal up close is to feel its raw power and imagine how it was thousands of years ago, when they roamed the immensity of the tallgrass prairie like an unstoppable flood. The bison is an American historical icon as well as nature’s gift in a large package.

Amateur paleontologists can tour the museums of dinosaur and sea- monster fossils. The tour is a four-day adventure trip through several sites that includes a look at the unusually unique rock formations in Marquette’s Mushroom State park, and the ‘underwater’ butte and arches of the Monument Rocks in Scott City and Oakley. There are mosasaurs, fossil fish, crinoids, and several T-Rex exhibits to marvel at during the tour.

There is also a unique museum in Topeka, Kansas that will fascinate those interested in war and warcraft: the Combat Air Museum. Among the popular exhibits inside are the German Prisoner of War (POW) room; the Skynight, a fold-wing Korean war fighter; a escape capsule of the F-111 Stealth aircraft; and a Tiger aircraft of the famous Air Force’s Blue Angels acrobatic team. The artworks on aviation, a WWII ambulance, the jeep and framed photographs will impress on any visitor the role aviation played in the defense of the country and freedom.

Meanwhile, Holton’s ghost tour of two inns, the cemetery and the haunted country club is limited to visitors 12 years or older. This is probably to avoid undue impression of ghost stories in the minds of youngsters. The ghosts include a pilot, a young man, and a Viking tossing stones into the Elk Horn Lake. Maybe you would see them, too?

Kansas Waits for You
The preceding are just suggestions of what you can do and where you can go on a vacation in Kansas. There are plenty of other destinations and activities, including specialty pursuits like fly fishing, though not for trout. But one can explore the potentials of fly fishing for the sunfish family species in the county state lakes of Bourbon, Pottawatomie, Chase and the Cowley Elm Creek Lake as well. May, June and December are the recommended months to flyfish in Kansas.

So go to Kansas on your next vacation. To cut your budget, skip the more luxurious hotels and choose the smaller inns, lodges or pensions. Go there by car or train and save on airfare, enjoying what you see along the way. Sometimes what matters in a vacation is not the destination but the trip; not where you go but how you get there.

We all know that the country’s economy is going through a tough time, yet people are still spending money on vacations. North Carolina is an excellent choice for your next vacation, and the best thing is that there are so many places to see and fun things to do, all without spending lots of money. This makes North Carolina truly the place for a recession proof vacation.

No matter what you are interested in, you are bound to find enjoyable things to entertain you in North Carolina. Whether you are going away with friends, your family, your partner or on your own, you will really enjoy your vacation in this state.

If you love history and art, North Carolina has plenty of museums to capture your interest and imagination. All kinds of museums are to be found here, including ones dedicated to history, the military and sports, as well as to art. To name just a few museums worth visiting, therea re the Airborne & Special Operations Museum, the Asheville Art Museum and the Ackland Art Museum.

If you are going on vacation with your family, including the kids, then there are abundant activities for all of you to enjoy in North Carolina. If you want sandy beaches, this state has ones which are ideally suited to kids, and for excitement there are roller coasters to enjoy. Other adrenaline rush activities to be found include whitewater rafting, or you could even try zip-lining. Kids will really be enthralled by some of the interactive science museums to be found here. This state is really family friendly when it comes to tourist attractions, and you can be sure that your kids will have an amazing time here.

Outdoors enthusiasts will really love North Carolina. It has some beautiful landscape, including gently rolling hills and rugged mountains, and you can really have fun exploring North Carolina’s great outdoors.

Some of the outdoor activities to entice you in North Carolina are hang gliding from Outer Banks’ sand dunes, or hiking around the tallest mountain, to be found east of the Mississippi. If you enjoy biking, you can ride along roads where Lance Armstrong got his training. Or you might enjoy the excitement of whitewater rafting. Other sports can be enjoyed at local parks, including softball, tennis and golf. For outdoor sporting activities, North Carolina is perfect.

If romantic spots to go with your loved one are what you are seeking, North Carolina is also ideal. There are so many lovely romantic spots in this state. How about the mountain waterfall, with its blue water cascading down to a swirling pool, to be found in Franklin? Or perhaps you could have a romantic stroll along North Carolina’s beautiful beaches?

The above are just some of the many places to go and things to do when you stay in North Carolina. Vacations don’t have to cost a fortune. If you plan carefully, you really can have a recession proof vacation, if you choose North Carolina.

We have been told that the country and even perhaps the whole world is today experiencing what is termed as an economic recession, if not depression. The decline in economic activity has caused companies everywhere to scale down or even close shop, so that millions of workers all over the world lost their jobs. So it is now a time for penny-pinching and vacations are out of the question. Except for Kentucky.

If you are even just thinking of going on a vacation in Kentucky, today is as good —if not better— as any other time to go there. The state offers what it got in terms of nature and locales, recession or no recession; the people in your destinations is just as hospitable, and you will get less competition for, and hopefully much better, service, because there is fewer visitors and tourists. With some imagination and simple planning, you can even save a lot in vacation expenses.

Trim your Vacation Expenses

In planning the vacation, remind yourself that a significant portion of every vacation’s budget is appropriated for accommodations and transportation. Thus if you eschew expensive hotels and stay instead in bed-and-breakfast inns, lodges or cabin, you can considerably reduce your expenses. You will use your hotel room only as a sleeping place anyway, so why be choosy? In the same manner, if you go there by rail, bus or -if near enough— by camper, rather than by air, you can trim your budget further, and enjoy the overland trip more.

Kentucky Indoors

When you get there, there are events and festivals and affairs you can go to any time of the year. For cultural and music presentations, there are the Uptown Opry every Friday in St. Whitley City; Coal Miner’s Jamboree, Saturdays in Stearns town; Country, Gospel and Bluegrass Music first and third Saturdays, Somerset and Pickin’ Jam, for bluegrass, old-folks, and country music also in Somerset Tuesdays to name a few.

And almost every month there are yard sales, flea markets, antique car show, arts and crafts festival, contests and Christmas activities to round up what you can see and enjoy indoors in Kentucky. A visit to the Bluegrass Museum will enlighten you about its history and famous musicians, and hear snatches of its evolution from the early to the latest times. You will never get bored there.

Kentucky Outdoors

Much of what Kentucky offers are in its plains and rivers and mountains. If you love outdoor sports, you will find in Kentucky opportunities and places for cave exploration, hiking, rock climbing, and horseback riding. There is also good fishing, canoeing, whitewater rafting, of just basking in the sun. If you prefer, you can simply rent a luxurious (or less) houseboat, and explore any lake (three of them) at your leisure. Sunsets and sunrises on the water can be spectacular and scenic, and maybe poetic to boot.

There is a scenic train ride for sightseeing the countryside, various contests in different counties, and many other outdoor activities you can participate in or simply be a spectator of. So there is always something to do, something to see, something to enjoy in Kentucky, any time you go there. With good planning and prior arrangements, you can visit Kentucky and enjoy your vacation for less, economic depression or no.

Maine is a great choice of vacation destination, and if you are looking for recession proof vacation ideas then this state has all you need. There are so many great places for you to visit and fun activities to enjoy here, which don’t cost lots of money. So if the present economic climate is concerning you as you plan your vacation, then stop worrying, because everything you need in Maine is affordably priced.

The accommodation is the first thing you should plan. You need to resist the temptation to stay in an expensive hotel, if saving money is your aim. There are plenty of bed and breakfast places as well as vacation rental homes in Maine, which are much cheaper. You will discover that they provide comfortable accommodation and at the same time save you a significant amount of money.

What is there to do in Maine?

Whatever your interests are, you will be able to find things to see and do in this state, because there are so many and varied fun activities available here. Whether your idea of a great vacation is plenty of rest and relaxation or a time filled with fun, action and adventure, you will be able to really enjoy your time spent in Maine.

If you are a lover of the outdoors, you will find Maine is an absolute paradise for you. There are beautiful white, clean sandy beaches for those who love the sea and sand, where you can swim, body surf, spend the day stretched out sunbathing, or have fun with the kids collecting seashells and building sand castles. Imagine, too, the romantic evenings you can spend strolling along the beach with your special someone, with the moon shining on the water and the waves rolling onto the sand.

If you are a keen fisherman, this state has some of the country’s best fishing for you to sample. The state’s coastline measures over 5,500 miles, and there are over 6,000 ponds and lakes here. This means that there are all types of fishing to be experienced in Maine. If you want to fish for salmon, you will find them here in abundance. If you want to have a go at larger game fish, you can also try your hand at catching shark or blue fin tuna.

There are lots of scenic trails around Maine where you can go hiking or biking. This is a really great way to enjoy all the beautiful sights that nature has to offer you. There are some amazing things to see all around the state of Maine, and from these trails and byways you can really take in all its grandeur and at the same time its simplicity.

Whether you are traveling with your partner, on your own or with friends or family, you can rest assured that your vacation in the state of Maine will be a memorable one. If a recession proof vacation is what you’re after, this state will not cost a fortune, but will provide you a vacation to remember.

Lots of people at present are putting their vacation plans aside, owing to the current state of the economy. People are feeling the need to save money, and a vacation seems like an unnecessary expense. But you do not, in fact, have to spend lots of money to have a vacation, and one place you can have a recession proof vacation is the state of Nevada.

Nevada is, it is true, known for its casinos, resorts and luxury hotels, however there is much more to Nevada than just this. You can in fact find very comfortable yet inexpensive accommodation in Nevada, and plenty of other attractions besides the sumptuous resorts and glitzy casinos.

If you are a lover of the great outdoors, then a fifteen minute drive away from the Vegas Strip will take you to some truly scenic trails where you can enjoy hiking. Western Nevada’s Red Rock Canyon is an essential part of your Nevada stay if you are an outdoors lover. You will love the wild burros, luxuriant pine stands and the canyons of colorful sandstone that you will see here.

The Spring Mountains National Recreation Area is a great place to go if you enjoy mountain scenery and spectacular views. Lake Tahoe is the place to go if you want to ski, and mountain sports can be enjoyed all year round at Elko and the Ruby Mountains. If you go when it is off peak season, then you will save money, and at the same time avoid the huge crowds of peak season.

If you are going to be on vacation with your family, especially if you have kids with you, there are lots of fun places you can go around Nevada. Boulder City, with the adjacent Lake Mead National Recreation Area, is a great family destination, and it’s gambling free. The recreation area has plenty of family fun on offer, including sight seeing, hiking, camping, fishing and boating.

For more great times in the outdoors, visit Henderson, near Lake Mead. Here there are some beautiful parks as well as recreation areas where all kinds of people can spend a fun filled visit.

The family is sure to love visiting some of Nevada’s many theme parks, including Adventure Dome, Stratosphere and Game Works in Las Vegas, as well as the Ultimate Rush & Thrill Park, which is in Reno. Lots of thrills and excitement can be enjoyed by all in places such as these.

When your are staying in Nevada you should also visit NASCAR, where some of the country’s most thrilling stock car racing can be experienced, courtesy of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

So, you can see that there are plenty of great things to entertain you in Nevada, without breaking the bank. You don’t actually have to spend a lot of your hard earned money to have a vacation. All you need to do is to plan carefully and know which places to go to, and you really can have a recession proof vacation.

In these days of economic recession, many people will consider going on a vacation budgetary counter-productive: you spend instead of earning, and money is too tight for such. But if you think you deserve a vacation and want one but the wallet is thin, then Indiana is the place to go.

Indiana offers a great variety of outdoor activities you can enjoy with a minimum of fuzz and expense. There are trails to follow and caves to explore; rivers to float, canoe, kayak and fish; museums to visit; scenes and scapes to view; festivals to participate in, and even see Abe Lincoln’s boyhood home. And of course there is the great dining and music to experience, and shops galore to find your heart’s (and wallet’s) delights.

Camping, Fishing, Boating

Campgrounds are plenty at the Spring Mill State Park. From there you can explore the pioneer village that includes a grist mill, a blacksmith shop, a distillery and tavern, to see how our pioneer forefathers lived. There are also numerous caves in the park you can explore, and a timber forest to go hiking or orienteering in.

For kayaking, canoeing and rafting enthusiasts, there is the Blue’s Canoe Livery in Columbus, Indiana. The Driftwood River where the livery is located runs through a wilderness park, so you will most probably see deer, beavers, herons, ospreys, turkeys and other wildlife as you drift along or fish for bass. Overnight camping is also available if you wish to sleep under the stars.

But if fishing is your love and passion, Indiana boasts of largemouth and smallmouth bass, pike and muskellunge fishing. Walleye, crappie, trout (rainbow, brook and brown, mostly), striped bass and bluegill are also fished in Indiana, although the state is not much noted for flyfishing. Guided fishing tours are available, and there are plenty of lakes to go to, some of which are Lake Tippecanoe/James Lake, Lake Webster, Lake Wawasee, Lake Monroe and the Geist, Brookesville and Morse Reservoirs. And then there is fishing Lake Michigan for huge salmon, and smaller rivers for catfish.

Museums of Vintage Cars

Vintage car buffs may, as an example, tour the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, Auburn, and see the classic cars and the history of their development. The Duesenberg line was one of the famous cars in the early part of the century in terms of luxury and styling. The Raisbeck Engineering Hall of Technology, meanwhile, showcases the technologies still used in cars today, and the Cars of Indiana Gallery houses vintage cars, many not found anywhere else.

Other places of interest about cars are the Auburn Automobile Gallery, Special Interest Automobiles Gallery, Timothy Durham Gallery, Dean Kruse Gallery, and the Deusy Shop for mementos.

An Exciting Children’s Museum

If you are going on your vacation with your children, you will appreciate the Terre Haute Children’s Museum of Science and Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana. Conceptualized to get children excited about science and technology, they accomplished the objective by creating interesting exhibits and giving fun and enjoyable methods of learning. Thus, the museum gets an average 15,000 visitors a year.

So indoors or outdoors, Indiana has a place for you. There is no reason why you can’t go, recession or no. To cut on expenses, avoid the luxurious hotels and go to the field. You’ll be closer to nature, too.

Would you really love to go on a relaxing vacation, but feel you can’t because of the present state of the economy? Well stop worrying, because you can enjoy a recession proof vacation in the state of Michigan.

There are lots of things to do and places to go in Michigan which don’t cost lots of money. This is a place which you can go to at any time of year, and you will always find lots of fun activities to enjoy and interesting things to see.

Whatever you are interested in, whether it’s golf, biking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking or any other types of activity, Michigan can offer it to you.

If you really want to relax, head to the Michigan Upper Peninsula. This is one of the state’s most beautiful spots, with resorts which you will never want to leave.

The main attraction in the state of Michigan is, of course, its lakes. You can spend most of your stay in this state in or on the water, swimming, jet skiing, or sailing. You can, of course, go fishing too, if you wish. In fact there are just so many enjoyable activities to be found here.

Michigan’s historic lighthouses are one experience which is a must during your stay. Some of these are still in operation, whereas others have now been converted and become museums. Lots of really interesting items can be seen on display here.

There are lots of lovely parks in Michigan, and if you enjoy hiking, these are well worth exploring. This is really the best way to truly appreciate the beauties of nature, and to make your trip really memorable.

If you have your family, including kids, with you, then there are lots of theme parks and amusement parks around Michigan for their entertainment. Situated all over the state, these are a great way to escape the heat of summer for a while, especially if you choose one of the water theme parks to visit. These are all open throughout the summer.

If you are a keen fisherman, then you will find the best fishing available in Michigan, no matter what the time of year. Lake Superior and Lake Michigan are the places to go if you want the chance to hook a steelhead or salmon. These fish will really test your fishing skills. If you would rather try to catch a walleye, then Lake Erie and Lake Huron should be your choice. There are plenty of other lakes as well as rivers all around Michigan which offer the fisherman plenty of great fishing experiences.

So for a fun-filled vacation, Michigan is definitely a state which has everything you need. No matter what you are interested in, you will be able to find it here. The best thing of all is that you will really be able to have a recession proof vacation here, because all the places to visit and things to do here are affordably priced. Here, you can have a really great vacation and not spend a fortune in order to do so.

North Dakota is the perfect choice of destination for your next vacation. We all know the troubled state the economy is in at present, but in this state you can enjoy a recession proof vacation. This is because you can find excellent vacation packages in North Dakota, which means your holiday will be easily affordable and great value.

Your vacation in North Dakota will be fun filled and memorable, thanks to the many great spots there are to visit in this state, as well as activities to make your stay filled with fun. This state was in fact selected by the American Automobile Association (AAA) as the most affordable destination for vacations, which means that expense is no worry once you have chosen to holiday in this state.

North Dakota has accommodation options which are very affordably priced. In order to save money you should resist the temptation to stay in expensive hotels. Instead, you can save lots of money by choosing to stay in a guest house or rustic cabin.

If you enjoy the outdoors and adventure, North Dakota takes some beating. Head to the Lewis and Clark Trail for some golf, or to Lake Sakakawea for some sailing. Other available outdoor activities include canoeing, mountain biking and hiking. If you are a lover of nature, including wildlife, then be sure to take a pair of binoculars along with you. Some of the country’s best opportunities for viewing wildlife are to be had in this state. Whether you are looking for extreme adventure or relaxing activities in the great outdoors, you are certain to find what you want in North Dakota.

If you enjoy camping, North Dakota is the perfect place for you. Whether you just have a pup-tent in the back, or have a luxury RV, there are great adventures for your camping trip ahead of you in this state. There are in fact 17 recreational areas and state parks in North Dakota, and numerous camping facilities for your enjoyment. The only difficulty is going to be selecting the right one for you!

Imagine how perfect it will be camping with friends, and singing songs round the camp fire, watching the sky just in case the Northern Lights choose to put on a show.

If you are traveling with family, then you could follow the Lewis & Clark trail, or go digging for ancient fossils. For some water fun, how about visiting a water park? Camping is a great thing to enjoy with family, telling ghost stories around the camp fire.

These are only a few of the huge number of fun activities you can enjoy whilst staying in North Dakota. All of these activities mentioned above can be enjoyed without spending lots of money. In fact North Dakota is well known to be one of the USA’s most affordable vacation destinations. So don’t worry about the state of the economy, and take a break with family or friends. North Dakota is truly a state where you can head off for a recession proof vacation.