U.S. and International Travel Destinations - Vacation Ideas

Bum Around in Las Terrenas

By Laura Siciliano-Rosen

This wallet-friendly former fishing village on the Dominican Republic’s Samaná Peninsula has postcard-perfect beaches and internationally flavored restaurants.

More Budget Travel

Chic and Cheap in Antwerp: By Adam H. Graham; Belgium’s design center has shopping opportunities for your weak dollar.

Stretch Your Buck in Newport: By Candace Taylor; The Rhode Island resort town is just as entertaining in the fall—but at half the price.

Tri-State Area

Get Outdoor Extreme in Jersey's Skylands: By Brian McCallen; Top-notch mountain-biking, golf courses, and serious rapids await in Jersey's northern corner.

Turn Water Into Wine in Greenport: By Andrea Strong; This North Fork town has vineyards, secluded trails, and beaches to suit every preference.

East

Eat Big in a Small City: By Rebecca Rothbaum; Maine's cultural capital has a sophisticated dining scene that's attracting national attention.

Catch Experimental Rock in Baltimore: By Rachel B. Doyle; Charm City's dives and underground venues host a burgeoning scene of art-rock acts and electrifying dance parties.

West

Play in Portland’s Shadows: By Adam H. Graham; The city’s darkest spots (under-the-bridge skate parks, secretive clubs, respectfully louche strip bars) are its coolest.

Dig Up Classic Clothes in San Francisco: By Amy Ettinger; Top-notch vintage stores brimming with upscale hand-me-downs and drag-queen couture abound.

South

Get a Discount in New Orleans: By Noah Rothbaum; As the Big Easy continues to rebuild after Katrina, visitors are drawn by cheap hotels, brand-new spaces, and burgeoning talent in restaurants and the arts.

Find Solitude in the Smoky Mountains: By Elizabeth Cline; The nation's most-visited national park is replete with remote outdoor adventures.

Midwest

Rock and Roll in Indianapolis: By Amy Zavatto; There's a booming indie scene in the Indiana capital, thanks to its intimate rock clubs and great music stores.

Catch a Show in Chicago: By Jean Tang; The Second City considers itself a purer theater town, favoring acting over hype, and small gems over $100-a-seat blockbusters.

International

Pedals to the Pavement in Paris: By David Sax; The city’s year-old bike-sharing program has sparked a cult of cyclisme, night rides past the Arc de Triomphe, and a way to hit all the farmers’ markets and historical sites you can in 72 hours.

Go Out With the Old in Tel Aviv: By David Kaufman; Gorgeous historic buildings have been repurposed as fabulous hotels, eateries, boutiques, and design museums.