Everyone needs to get away occasionally. Budget and time limitations ace out many popular destinations. If this is the case, it is time to think cheap, easy and close to home for a weekend getaway.

Camping – The great outdoors is at the top of the list for fun, inexpensive and adventurous. A tent and some food are really all that is needed. Everything else is just the frosting on top. Some padding might be appreciated at night because a good night’s rest adds to the experience. Folding chairs can be placed around a campfire or next to the water’s edge. Board games, card games and books will occupy the hot hours, flashlights are great for night hiking and s’more paraphernalia is appreciated by all. Plastic bags are great for collecting things on nature walks, sand toys and floaties are wonderful at a lake or the beach, bike paths are fun at state parks and glow sticks (pennies from a dollar store or a craft store) are fun in the tent. Camping can be done at a state park, the beach, the mountains, in the wild (primitive camping for the brave) or in the backyard for those who are not in the mood to drive anywhere.

Bed and Breakfast – There are B&B’s all over the place these days. Drive several hours or a couple of minutes for an easy, and not too expensive, getaway. Staying in someone else’s home for a night can completely revive a person. There are no phones to answer, meals to cook or house-cleaning to be done. Stay in all day or explore a new neighborhood, check out the local bookstores or get in some antique shopping. A home-cooked meal is another bonus of B&B’s.

Stay home – At night anyway. Enjoy a free concert, a movie at a dollar theater, browse a used bookstore, go thrift store shopping, spend the day at the beach/mountains/a state park, take a nature walk, swim in a lake, ride a bike…the list goes on and on of all the cheap things a person can do in just a weekend. Or rent some movies, make some popcorn and stay in all weekend.