From a planning perspective, food and shelter will likely be the most expensive pieces of the trip. Worry not, Cape Town is rife with choices.  While there are luxury resorts in Cape Town, there are also several hostels well situated throughout the city that can run as low as $20 a night. Thus two nights will only set you back about $40, leaving you with plenty for food and sights.

In terms of restaurants, food and drink in Cape Town is an eclectic mix and you can be as daring as you like.  You can try springbok (think antelope), ostrich, or even some crocodile. Check out the Neighbour Goods Market, held Saturdays from 9-2. This market is host to over 100 traders of food, wine, and local produce. Take advantage of the samples, which give you the chance to try wines, cheeses and other delicious local morsels. South Africa is pretty well regarded in terms of wine and many vineyards close to the city offer free tastings for those so inclined.

Don’t forget to take advantage of discounts and deals at restaurants, many of which can be found online, especially in the winter when tourism hits a lull.  There is so much to see in Cape Town, and many things can be experienced for no cost. Upon arrival, one of the first things you’ll notice is Table Mountain- it can be seen from almost anywhere in the city making it hard to miss. Gorgeous views of Cape Town and ocean abound from the upper reaches of Table Mountain.  Plus, it’s easily accessible; you can strap on your sneakers, the no cost alternative, or ride up via cable car.

Another worthwhile and beautiful outdoor adventure is the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens.  If you head to Cape Town during the right season, you can catch one of the Sunday night concerts at the gardens. Make sure you bring your picnic basket. Admission is approximately $5 with discounts for students and children.

The Victoria and Albert Waterfront, aka the V&A, is also a hot spot to see.  At the foot of Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront is in Cape Town’s working harbor and lined with shops, entertainment options, and plenty of restaurants. It’s worth the stroll if only for the people watching.

Located at the V&A is the Shimansky diamond and jewelry workshop, which offers free tours of its facilities.  Whatiftheworld Gallery is also part of the free club. The Gallery showcases work from contemporary artists at its Argyle Street location and is a pleasant way to spend a few hours when you need a break from the great outdoors.

If you are traveling with kids, make your way to Boulders Beach in Simonstown. African penguins have set up camp here and prove to be a favorite of the younger crowd who spy on the birds from the safety of the rocks.  All in all a trip to Cape Town offers up a little something for every traveler, whether you want to climb mountains or museum hop. The best part is, it can all be done within a reasonable budget.

M.E. Reidy is a freelance travel writer for My Destination.

Special Ops Catalogs

I covered this somewhat in my travel bag solutions post for Wise Bread a while back. People who make their livings on S.W.A.T. teams, special operations missions or with law enforcement careers need gear that hustles, stands up to abuse and holds a variety of items in an easy-to-grab-and-use manner. They also don’t tend to make a great deal of cash, unless they go into the private sector. And they typically have to buy their own gear. This makes tactical gear catalogs and web sites a great source for luggage and peripheral items you need to use for travel, particularly if you are mobile media professional who needs to do photo shoots and interviews from the road.

Hardware Stores

There are a number of travel items you can buy at the hardware store. Some of my favorites include colored key tag labels (five for a buck) that I use for luggage ID, universal sink stoppers that pack flat in my bag for on-the-fly laundry around the globe and door wedges to provide extra security in third-world hotel rooms.

Dance Catalogs

I picked up this little bit of inside knowledge from veteran travel writer Gretchen Kelly. Once, when we were both on assignment in a remote mountain location, I complimented her on her travel pants, which were a wrinkle-free, easily-packed black jersey. She’d paired them with numerous items during the trip, including a white top and black cardigan to form an outfit that would have been just as appropriate for spending the afternoon in a European café. I’d been looking for such a pair, but hadn’t wanted to dish out the 100 plus bucks for the ones I’d seen featured by various travel clothing companies.

That’s when she let me in on her secret. They were dance pants, and cost less than $50! I was immediately intrigued. Like special operations professionals, dancers tend to be the type of people who are willing to work for less money in order to do what they love. And like those same spec ops pros, they tend to dish out for their own supplies. Other packable purchases I’ve noticed in this career field are tanks with built-in bras, sweater dresses and a variety of clothing items suitable for on-the-road fitness, adventure travel and yoga.

Discount Chains

I’m not sure why more people don’t target the bargain shopping retailers such as Marshalls, Ross and TJ Maxx when gearing up for a trip or restocking travel supplies. Most of these stores have at least a small travel department, as well as other categories of inventory that can serve a business traveler well. I’ve seen career totes for women at all three chains, as well as luggage, neck wallets and even wraps and scarves that I was able to put to use for a business trip to Saudi Arabia.

Dollar Stores

Other than the twenty-cent luggage tags, travel shopping doesn’t get much cheaper than this. Buying travel supplies at Dollar Tree enables me to pick up extremely inexpensive versions items that need to replaced frequently. Umbrellas and rain ponchos are two of my faves, but there are numerous other travel products I always purchase there for their ultra affordability.

Beauty Supply Stores

There are several travel supplies at Sally’s Beauty that make my short list. They’re affordable, and have a variety of locations where I can purchase what I need for hair care, cosmetic replacements, nail care and more. That being said, there are beauty supply stores around the world, and most of them have a few simple items you can always count on such as emery boards, bobby pins and even curlers if you have to squeeze in a formal event or two while traveling.

Pharmacies

Antacids aren’t the only travel supplies you can buy at the pharmacy. Travel-sized bottles for security check points, emery boards and smaller pharmaceutical containers for things like aspirin have all made my pharmacy shopping list at one time or another. I’ve also used cheap lip liners as blush and lip color while backpacking, and picked up a box or two of semi-permanent color to touch up my roots on the road.

Amazon

If you’ve got an Amazon Prime membership, you can use Amazon to ship to anywhere you might be in the United States. So if you’ve just ripped a hole in your favorite leggings, or dropped your Nikon out of the river raft, free shipping is just a click away. We also use this when we find comparable prices to other stores we use and simply don’t want to drive the 45 minutes it would take to reach them.

While there are plenty of items I prefer to purchase through traditional travel gear suppliers, I certainly want to save a buck where I can. These sources enable me to do that.

Photo Credit: 05com

I had never heard of this restaurant ’til a recent visit to Phoenix.  I had been hearing from a friend about an amazing salmon dish included on their menu.  He couldn’t use enough positive words to describe it. So, when I was in Phoenix, we included dinner at Charleston’s, and being a big fan of salmon, there was no question about what I’d be ordering…

The menu varies a bit based on location and availability of ingredients. Happily, the aforementioned salmon, listed as Short Smoked Salmon under Specialties, is on the menu at every restaurant! The flavor was indeed unbelievable; portion size perfect, and it was perfectly prepared. I’m not usually a very slow diner, but the flavor of this meal just demanded savoring each bite and making it last. The fish came nested on a wonderful cucumber dill salad and included Honey Dijon sauce and a side. When salad is served before the meal — Caesar or House — it includes a hot, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth croissant.

Prices are reasonable (mid-range); ambience comfortable; service exceptional. All in all, a pretty memorable dining experience.

There are only 15 locations (so far) in 5 states. Having been founded in Oklahoma, that state has the most locations at 8. Still, if you find yourself in Arizona, Indiana, Nebraska or Forth Worth, Texas, consider Charleston’s for dinner.

Photo credit: Virtual Ern

I grew up in Ohio, which has a surprising number of summer amusements. My favorite, of course, was and is Cedar Point, home to some of the finest roller coasters in the world!

As with most amusements, proximity is the best solution to money saving.  There are options available that include or exclude parking, for seniors/juniors, for unlimited or limited visits. The Platinum pass for ‘local’ visitors is an amazing option for families and includes attractions in 6 states and 1 province!

For not-so-local visitors, though, there are also on-line admission deals and discounts available  on Cedar Point’s website, available ONLY on-line and not at the gate. Many are time sensitive, so if you know Cedar Point is on your summer list, act now! One particularly cool offer is a combined Cedar Point/Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame ticket for $54 per person (over 4′ tall)!  That’s a savings of $13 at least for the two attractions.

Photo credit: ewige

This annual event is the major fundraiser for the Scribner’s Mill Preservation group.  They pull out all the stops and it is a great historical event.  The Back to the Past celebration is always the first weekend in August.  The efforts of dozens of volunteers and exhibitors help make this a great experience for the whole family.

There are people demonstrating and selling hand crafted items — e.g., spinners and knitters, a tatter, weavers, and a beader. There is a pig roast. There is music. There are diversions for children. There are antique vehicles like a fire truck that periodically shows how water was taken from the nearby stream to put out a fire. There is the mill itself, an amazing feat of restoration. There is a working blacksmith’s shop. There is the house, which is itself being put back to how it looked in it’s hey day.

It is a marvelous way to spend a day. It helps with the mill restoration and is a great step into Maine history.

Photo credit: Sharife

Maine has a lot of outdoors for vacationers to enjoy.  Parks abound.  There is one National Park (Acadia), a piece of the White Mountain National Forest, and 31 or so parks managed by the Maine Bureau of Parks that charge fees. The Appalachian trail passes through or near several of these.

Day passes are completely reasonable to visit one of these parks.  Fees for adults range from $4 for residents to $6 for non-residents, depending on the park.  For children 11 and under, admission is $1.  Senior Maine residents go free; non-residents no more than $4.  If you’ll be in Maine for an extended period, like a summer, or live in Maine, consider an annual pass. $70 vehicle pass gets access to all 31 of the fee-charging parks for a year.

Maine’s natural entertainment is it’s biggest tourist asset. If you go to Maine, don’t limit your visit to the beaches. Look into one or more of Maine’s state parks.

Photo Credit: Chris Dag

As a rule, I don’t tout chain restaurants.  There’s too much room for inconsistency from store to store.  I believe I’ve found an exception.  I recently had the opportunity to dine at Texas Roadhouse in two different states.   The quality was consistent.  It was fun…unlimited peanuts in the shell and an invite to drop those shells to the floor (warning to those with peanut allergies).  The food was fresh and delish — I had pulled pork once and a remarkably tender and perfectly prepared sirloin on the other occasion.   The service was great — friendly, attentive wait staff, and a quality check at the end of the meal.

Above and beyond  the dining amenities, a notable plus for the budget wise is the list of 10 meals offered for 7.99 during the week for early diners. Hours vary by location.

All-in-all Texas Roadhouse is an enjoyable dining experience.  I have no complaints and look forward to my next visit, no matter where I may be.

Photo credit: BKM_BR

I grew up in Ashtabula, Ohio, next to a town park right on Lake Erie.  On a recent visit home, my sister and I took several walks through this park, as one of its entrances is only a couple hundred feet from our mother’s front door.

With the help of the Army Corps of Engineers, Lakeshore Park has grown into a very nice something-for-everyone park. Some of the features include beach, boat launch, Frisbee golf course and bocci courts, picnic tables and hibachis, duck pond with ducks, geese, and swans; pavilions, lots of open space, ball field, playground, bathrooms and a concession stand.  The one notable drawback (in my opinion) is that dogs are not allowed in the park.

Oh, and for those of you who need you some WiFi, Lakeshore Park is equipped!

There is no fee to get into the park, but reservations may be necessary for pavilion space for family reunions, or weddings, say. If you find yourself on American’s ‘North Coast’, specifically, Ashtabula, Ohio, take a visit to this lovely and historic park.

I went to Italy in 2000, a great year to be in Rome.  The Sistine Chapel had just been restored; much of the sculpture in public had been given a facelift; the city was alive.  So, What made the biggest impression on me?  Besides the Sistine Chapel, that is… The Colosseum.  The movie Gladiator was also released in 2000, and the Colosseum played a key part in that film. I had seen Gladiator before the trip, and the Colosseum was whole, had seating, had a floor. I can’t find proof of historical accuracy, but still, all in all, a pretty impressive bit of architecture.

The real thing impressed me no less.   Standing in it gave me goosebumps. The structure is nearly 2000 years old, and except for piracy for building materials and damage caused by nature, what’s still standing — and it’s a lot — is a statement on Roman architectural skills.  It’s history is amazing; its uses varied. Seeing the ampitheatre; seeing the tunnels that ran under the Colosseum floor; standing where there used to be seats and imagining all it was (in my case, with the visual help taken from the movie Gladiator) makes the Colosseum a must-see site on a Rome visit.  And, at least when I visited, there was no fee for entry.

Related Reading: Things to Do in Bolzano, Italy

Photo credit: dumplife
Note: Amazon affiliate link included in post.

Located near Lake Champlain, the Shelburne Museum houses a pretty spectular collection of Americana.  Included is the steamship Ticonderoga, pictured above, which, in an amazing feat of engineering, was moved overland the two miles from Lake Champlain.  There is also a lighthouse from Lake Champlain that was disassembled and moved to the museum and a miniature circus that is pretty amazing.  These attractions are just the tip of the iceberg.

This is a great family adventure.   The price of admission is good for two days, which will be necessary.  The price for Vermont residents is the best deal at 1/2 price, but the family fare — $50 for two adults it their children — is pretty fair for the rest of us.

Photo credit: pdbreen