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25 Best U.S. Vacation Cities On the Cheap
Kayla Baxter, Alice Handley and Jill Hare
June 02, 2009
#1: Phoenix, Arizona
For the sports fan, there aren’t many better places to get your fix than Phoenix. The area is not only home to all four major professional sports, but also houses more niche events and large annual contests such as professional lacrosse, MLB spring training, two NASCAR events as well as both boat and drag races.
With its warm, dry weather, Phoenix is the perfect setting for water parks such as Big Surf, Waterworld Safari and the Oasis Water Park. The Desert Botanical Garden is also an must see, with 50 acres that house the world’s finest collection of desert plants mixed with incredible blown glass sculpture (pictured). It’s not just cacti, we swear!
Many also take advantage of being able to drive the Apache Trail, stopping along the scenic route to visit a number of historic sites such as the Lost Dutchman State Park, Goldfield Ghost Town, and Theodore Roosevelt Dam.
Don’t Miss: If you’re really up for some adventure and a long drive, we highly recommend taking the trip to Winslow, AZ, a town made famous by the Eagles. You can stand on the corner and be “such a fine sight to see,” as the song goes. If you’re a girl in a flat-bed Ford, well, that’s even better.
beckettispissah
4 months ago
2 comments
I found the best hotel deal in Orlando! Use this link www.orlandohotels4less.com/35. You can get a room for $9.99 the first night and $35.00 all the rest of your stay. The Quality Inn Plaza is awesome. I always stay there! But you have to make your reservation by July 15th.
Account Removed
4 months ago
You forgot New Orleans, dahling
DawnOfTheUndead
5 months ago
4 comments
OK seriously, the cities on here that I have visited are not cheap. But I gotta say I did grow up just outside Boston and they forgot to mention a few things that are worth seeing there. You have the Museum of Science which has some pretty cool lightning shows an Omni Theater and the Hayden Planetarium, or you can visit the USS Constitution. And if you get too tired from walking the Freedom Trail and are still feeling touristy you can always hop on the trolley or go ride on the swan boats. And don't forget fireworks on the 4th.
sbempowerment
5 months ago
4 comments
Hey I love Austin. It is awesome. Visit.
ashupimp
5 months ago
2 comments
not bad...but vegas is the best...
gallerr
5 months ago
2 comments
This list, at least for the Dallas entry, is very dated...While Deep Ellum still provides local music, it has not been a hot spot in Dallas for years....Trees is now defunct, as I believe Club Clearview is as well.
pdnellis
5 months ago
2 comments
I like the list and have visited several of the cities and would agree. However, Nashville no longer has an amusement park and hasn't had one for at least a decade. This makes me wonder what other inaccuracies are in the list.
djt198889
5 months ago
2 comments
defintely denver is one of the best i lived there and if you go to the 16th dtreet mall dont always stay on the mall venture over a few blocks either way or even on broadway or lincoln you will find alot of great food and inexpensive stores or go up colfax headed in the direction of colorado boulevard theres alot of great stores and unique shops that way also
TaniaK
5 months ago
10 comments
Love the extra tips! Thanks for this. :)
TallAnna
5 months ago
44 comments
Wow. Great list! So thoroughly researched (even tips from locals ... can't get much better than that!), and I love how you list places all over the country and that you provide unbiased, honest details about what to do in each spot ... even for various traveling budgets. Thanks for this!
becky_regan
5 months ago
12 comments
rdearie40, what are you talking about? The article recommends places like free museums and hot dog stands. How much more accessible can you get? I think a lot of these places sound fun!
rdearie40
5 months ago
2 comments
absolutely ridiculous ... these destinations are not for the regular "Joe Six Pack." This journalist is too caught up in traveling to report honestly.