The turmoil in the Middle East is wreaking havoc here as well, on gas prices. Cities all over the country are posting prices over four dollars a gallon. People are already looking for ways to drive less. But before we cancel our Spring Breaks, Memorial Day Getaways, and Summer Vacations, here are some trip ideas that won’t guzzle gas or gouge wallets.
Whether cutting out or cutting down on the driving, using less gas can mean having more fun. The money you save by not driving can be spent on all sorts of new adventures.
Here are some vacation ideas that will cost you little to nothing in gas:
#1 – Take the train:
Americans have been traveling by train since the 1820s. Today, Amtrak still takes passengers to 500 destinations in 46 states and three Canadian provinces. A train trip from Boston, Massachusetts to Wells, Maine takes less than two hours. From Wells, the Shoreline Explorer trolley service will take travelers between the many Southern Maine beach communities, including famous presidential summer home, Kennebunkport.
Johanna Hauer of the Maine Stay Inn says “Kennebunkport is a great place for a gas-free summer vacation. The beaches are all walking distance and there are tons of restaurants, galleries, and shops, as well as great outdoor activities.” The Maine Stay is an elegant historic bed and breakfast that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The innkeepers will even arrange for bicycles to be delivered to the inn for guests who want to bike up and down the coast.
Take the train up from Kennebunkport to Portland, ME and from their take the ferry to Peaks Island, a car-free island that features break-taking views, kayaking, biking, museums, and home-made ice cream.
#2 – Take the bus:
Just three hours away from Manhattan, the North Fork of Long Island is a thirty mile peninsula jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. Take the Hampton Jitney to East Marion, NY and you’ll be right outside the Arbor View House Bed & Breakfast and Spa and Aunt Dot’s Victorian Bed and Breakfast, two Victorian B&Bs near to beaches, cycling, kayaking and all of the charm of these seaside communities. Just two miles away is the ferry to Shelter Island, or take the North Fork Trolley and tour the local vineyards; the North Fork is home to more than 30 of them!
#3 – Stay close to home:
If you live in Boston, MA, then you are just 20 miles away from the picturesque beach town of Marblehead, and the family friendly Seagull Inn Bed and Breakfast where guests can relax in the sun drenched yards, enjoy the glorious gardens, or use the innkeepers’ kayaks. In Marblehead, visitors can enjoy the light house at Chandler Hovey Park, the views at Castle Rock, the acres of waterfront at Devereux Beach, and more.
Just two hours from Washington, D.C., is the beautiful Montfair Resort Farm, a perfect escape for travelers hoping to save other natural resources, as well as gas. This eco-friendly retreat offers a six acre lake, 129 acres of woodland hiking, and earth friendly practices that will impress any green traveler. Among these, Montfair is switching over to Green-e Energy from their local power plant, and their organic, earth friendly mattresses will ensure a good night’s sleep and are naturally hypoallergenic.
So while the troubles of the world continue to get closer, we can still get away from it all. For more “One Tank” vacations and gas savings specials anywhere in North America, visit BnBFinder; use the advanced search feature to narrow your search by regions, cities, and amenities.
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