Five cheap trips for anyone, anytime

hese days, it seems as if everywhere you turn you encounter one of three things: 1) People complaining about the economy, 2) People complaining about their job or complaining they don’t have a job, or 3) People saying, “I need a vacation!” Although it may seem a bit ironic that in a down economy more attention is paid to travel, the two really go hand in hand. Financial hardship is a day to day difficulty that is impossible to ignore. The constant stress and worry to make ends meet is all consuming. Even if you’re fortunate enough not to be living paycheck to paycheck, odds are you aren’t planning your summer trip to Europe right now. And if you are, kudos, but you’re probably reading the wrong column! Whoever said, “Money can’t buy happiness” must never have been broke. Maybe money can’t buy total happiness, but having just the right amount of it can sure as hell alleviate the stress of not being able to pay the bills and can even save a marriage. No, it’s not surprising people want to take a vacation during hard times; not surprising in the least. The ability to “get away” from reality is a necessary respite most of us can’t afford not to take. It is crucial in our lives, especially during chaotic times. No need to feel guilty if you temporarily abandon your daily responsibilities in an attempt to preserve your mental health!

In this light, it is no coincidence more attention is being paid to cheap travel. The cover of the Sunday edition of USA Weekend was a feature titled “Land of the Freebie,” detailing top ten travel destinations across the United States that could be visited for a nominal cost, if not completely free of charge. The Contra Costa Times did a piece on Amusement Park specials. Affordable travel is everywhere and can be yours for the taking! In this spirit, the following is a brief list of affordable travel ideas close to home, be it overnight, all day, or just for the evening.

1) Big Sur: Featured as one of the top ten freebies in the country by USA Weekend for whale watching, Big Sur offers so much more for the weary traveler of life. Numerous campsites, cabins and resorts will run you ~$35 - ~$200+ per night, depending on the type of accommodation that suits you best. Home to almost half the population of the California Condor, Big Sur also hosts the once almost extinct Elephant Seal along its shoreline during the Seals birthing season between December and February. If you do decide to get away to Big Sur, don’t forget to pack your binoculars, because no matter what time of year you decide to escape to this immaculate destination, you can always watch these gentle giants for free from shore: Humpback whales between late April and early December, Gray whales from December to April, and the Blue whale from June through October. It’s no wonder Big Sur was crowned the Travelers’ Choice 2008 Award winner. The combination of natural beauty and affordability is just enough to shed a little perspective on life!

2) Hop aboard a Carnival Fun Ship: If for you “travel” constitutes a suitcase and somewhere tropical, then pack your bags and head to the Port of Long Beach and hop on a cruise to Baja California. Starting as low as $227.09 (including taxes and fees) per person (for the entire trip), you can take a Carnival Fun Ship on a 4 day cruise to Baja, and then loop up to Catalina Island before docking back at port. Although you don’t actually have a port of call in Mexico (you can wave from on deck), this is a great way to get away for a fraction of the price of an extended cruise vacation. Add in all of the activities Carnival offers and you get yourself a “fun” ship, and one hell of a fun and cheap vacation! Bring your camera, we all know Facebook is just dying to witness your conquest!

3) Golden Gate Fields: Horse racing may be losing its footing among modern sports, but a day at the track can transform a beggar into a blue blood and will pack in thrills you just can’t expect to get anywhere else for the price, especially when you’re talking about dollar Sundays! If you want to watch the ponies run, it’s just $1 for admission to Golden Gate Fields every Sunday. Included under the dollar umbrella are: beers, sodas, hot dogs and programs, not to mention a free concert after the final race! If you have the gambling bug, try placing dollar bets on the long shot from each race to win. If you happen to get lucky, take your friends or family and your winning smile across the bridge to Scoma’s for dinner. And “don’t forget to tell them Sam sent you!”

4) The Lafayette Park Reservoir: If you’re in the mood for a little exercise or just a day of recreation, the Lafayette Park Reservoir may be right up your alley. With a paved walking trail that wraps 2.7 miles around the lake, a playground for the kiddies, picnic areas, paddle boats and fishing, this park is what happens when “earthy crunchy” meets suburbia. You can even bring Fido here to play. If sharing a sandwich with nature’s little creatures and insects doesn’t appeal to you, then try Squirrels Coffee Shop at 998 Moraga Road before you head out to the Park. If you’re looking for a great 60’s style diner with simple but flavorful food, this is the place for you. Two people can easily have a filling breakfast for $20. Don’t feel too guilty about the caloric intake; it’s nothing a few laps around the lake can’t take care of!

5) There’s always baseball: Yes, it’s baseball season, and while I’ll refrain from personally criticizing any particular team’s performance this year, a ball game is still an excellent excuse to partake in a few libations with friends on a weeknight, or, if you’re lucky enough, at a weekend day game with a little tailgating action in the mix. However, if you want to break up the monotony of the work week, an Oakland A’s game can be quite accommodating, offering $2 tickets coupled with $1 hot dogs on Wednesday nights. Or hit up Family Friday’s (not restricted to families), where a group of four can buy plaza level tickets that include 4 hot dogs, 4 medium drinks and 4 peanuts for $50, or $12.50 each. Not too shabby. And you have to hand it to the San Francisco Giants. While the tickets may not be cheap, they make up for it by hosting amazing community programs. Friday nights are Mystery Grab Bag nights; proceeds from a grab bag purchase benefit the Giants community fund and leave you with a premium item like a signed ball or t-shirt. So you can feel positive that the money you don’t have to spend in the first place is going to the greater good! And if you want to qualify this “outing” as travel, wear a jersey, shirt, or colors for the visiting team and pretend you’re at their home field!