When the economy is in the dumper, the last thing you want to do is spend money. But it’s also the time you most need to escape. Face it: You’d give anything for a week or two away from it all. The perfect antidote to a flagging 401(k) is an affordable vacation. Spring is the right time to exploit off-season deals. Head to the beach before Memorial Day, and you’ll likely have the place all to yourself and save some serious coin.
Outer Banks, North Carolina
Rent a home for a week or more, and experience oceanfront living at its best. Seven days in Nags Head costs just $500 to $600. Bookings are typically slow in April, so negotiate a lower weekly rate or a longer stay for a killer deal. Most homes are on the water or blocks from the beach. www.outerbanks.org
Top Five Reasons to Go:
1. Run along the beach and watch dolphins play in the Atlantic.
2. Learn to hang glide from a sand dune at Jockey’s Ridge State Park.
3. Explore all five historic lighthouses.
4. Hike among wild horses at Corolla.
5. Bike the cycle-friendly 100 miles between Duck and Cape Hatteras.
San Juan Islands, Washington
In spring the San Juan Islands promise misty beach walks, bald eagles, otters, and minimal traffic. Whether you choose Lopez, Orcas, or San Juan Island, you’ll find plenty of adventure. Off-season hotel and bed-and-breakfast rates range from $65 to $150 per night. www.guidetosanjuans.com
Top Five Reasons to Go:
1. Kayak the fjords of Orcas Island.
2. Visit the shark sanctuary on Lopez.
3. Hike beneath lush waterfalls in Moran State Park.
4. Watch for whales in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.
5. Bike around Orcas and visit art galleries, museums, and parks.
South Padre Island, Texas
If you think of Padre Island as Girls Gone Wild over spring break, you’d be right. But hit the beach after the influx of debauchery-bound co-eds and you’ll find a serene paradise on the cheap. Rooms at beachside hotels start at $60 per night. www.sopadre.com
Top Five Reasons to Go:
1. Kiteboard at Laguna Madre Bay.
2. Play with dolphins from your charter boat.
3. Peek through binoculars at more than 400 species of local birds.
4. Ride bareback on the beach.
5. Search for nesting or hatching sea turtles.
Money-saving Tip: Skip the hotel and camp next to the sea. Go to www.favoritefamilyvacations.com/beach-campingparks. html to explore great places to stay with the sand as your pillow and the moon for a nightlight. The site lists family-friendly locations on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Gulf of Mexico.
