You don't have to visit your alma mater to have a great time around a college campus. College towns typically exceed the offerings of similarly sized towns in the way of live music, great bars and scenic walks. Hotels in college towns are also less expensive on weekends and when school it out of session. Check out Charlottesville, Virginia; Burlington, Vermont; Lawrence, Kansas; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Denton, Texas; Boulder, Colorado; and Olympia, Washington.
Many towns are known for a signature dish, like chicken wings in Buffalo or cheese steaks in Philadelphia. Indulge in tacos along San Antonio's River Walk or crab cakes in Baltimore. For an inexpensive trip, get to the nearest locale with famed food and split an order with a friend, choosing modest portions so you can sample as many versions as possible. Walk around to see the town and build up your appetite.
Sometimes just getting away from your usual scene inspires an inexpensive trip, and a visit to a medium-sized city might just do the trick. Smaller urban areas like Chattanooga, Tennessee, or Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, feature moderate hotel prices and more than enough restaurants, museums and activities to fill a weekend. If your goal is a change of pace rather than an exotic resort, a modest budget can get you to Savannah, Georgia; Kansas City, Missouri; or Salt Lake City, Utah.
Simulate a more expensive trip by finding a local version. Cleveland, Ohio, features the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an architectural masterpiece of its own. Combine a museum trip with nightlife in Cleveland's Little Italy and drinks at one of many microbreweries for a cheaper alternative to a New York City vacation.
Branson, Missouri, outdoes itself famously, acting as a miniature Las Vegas easily within reach of midwestern residents. The only thing missing is the gambling, but at least that means the trip won't be about burning money. Branson brings in famous musicians, stage musicals and comedy shows, with camping and water sports available nearby.
