Memorable Vacation Ideas

Maine

   We all have a bucket list of places we want to visit and sites we want to see. I can help you realize some of those dreams without charging a credit card or paying all at once. None of us want to go somewhere we have dreamed of going if we have to suffer for a while. That would put a damper on the enjoyment.

   My wife and I have always taken vacations over the years to places within driving distance of our home in Alabama (gulf beaches in Alabama and Florida, mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina, New Orleans or Biloxi, even Savannah and Charleston). We have honeymooned and flown to Jackson Hole, then flown to places like Vegas and Minnesota. However to just plan six or eight weeks out, then pack and go is not very economical. Like a lot of us we like to travel but the last two years, we got a little smarter. We took a two week trip to Maine in 2023 and a week to South Dakota this past June. Guess what? Those trips did not break the bank and still left us our long weekend trips to places closer to home we enjoy.

   Here is how we did it and how you too can go on your dream vacations. The first step is to always decide where you want to go early. Decide early in the year so you can have your vacation paid for except what you eat and do. You are going to eat even if you are home and if you avoid tourist traps and enjoy the free beauty of God’s creation, that cost is minimal. The most expensive part of any trip is getting there, whether gas and wear on your vehicle or flights and rental cars. Then of course either hotels, a VRBO, or bed and breakfast. Now you have decided where you are going, start researching. Look for flights, but don’t book them yet. Find out what airlines fly to where you are going, what times they go and how much. Sign up for their alerts as to price drops or increases and if your desired flight begins to fill up. We planned both of our trips in January to go in June. That time frame leaves time to plan and pay as needed. Keep an eye on your alerts and you can book and pay for your flight within a couple of months.

   The next step is to search for a place or places to stay if you are going to more than one location. Find a travel site you  prefer; we like Expedia but choose your preference. Look for lodging close to things you want to see and do. Study the reviews and pick the place you are comfortable with that is in your budget. Go ahead and book and pay for your chosen place. Make sure it is fully refundable up to within two weeks of your arrival.

   Since we have gotten older, we choose not to drive more than about four or so hours in a day. But if you want to drive, just plan how far you are going before stopping and how many days it will take you to get there. We rented a car for the last two vacations and that can be done anytime you are ready to do so.

   Our two weeks in Maine was broken up into four legs. We stayed three nights in the Portland/Kennebunk area. We even managed to drive the sixteen miles into Portsmouth, New Hampshire to check off another state. We moved up to Bangor for our base for the next three days. We went to Millinocket and took a small plane around the Mount Katahdin area. What a bang for the buck! We also got to go into Canada as we had planned. (Don’t forget to check your passport!) From there we moved down to Bar Harbor for our base for the next four days. Arcadia National Park is  a must! The last night we moved to Freeport, home of LLBean headquarters. We flew home the next day.

We did the same thing a month and a half ago going to South Dakota. We flew into Rapid City and drove twenty five miles and stayed in Keystone. We used that as a base for three days. Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park did not disappoint. The Jeep Safari Tour in Custer was a wildlife bonanza and well worth the inexpensive trip! We moved up  to historic Deadwood for our next three days. Custer and the Seventh Calvary, Wild Bill, Calamity Jane, Seth Bullock, and Potato Creek Johnny are all characters worth hearing about. We drove the short distance to Spearfish Canyon, Sturgis, and even into Alazada, Montana to, you guessed it, check off another state. Trips like these are easy, enjoyable and very doable by planning

   Let’s do a quick review. Plan where you want go. Decide if you will be driving or flying, where you are staying, and what you want to do. Planning early in the year gave us and will afford you almost six months to have most of your trip paid for. Believe me, it helps us. Since I am a foodie and enjoy eating at places other than chains, we search and plan our dining places as well. Restaurants are a personal choice and you can mix and match food types, prices, and whatever you like

   I hope this writing has peeked your interest, given you some helpful insight, and given you some ideas of your own. Please join me in the next few days as I will go into more detail and review the places we stayed and ate. I will also tell more of what we did that was free while still being very enjoyable in each area. So next up:

Three memorable days in Portland, Maine.