Getting The Good Stuff Cheaper: A Trip On A Tank
BOSTON (CBS) - To save money on your vacation consider doing something local or a staycation. Any time you have to drive or fly a distance the price tag of the vacation goes up.
So where can you go on a tank of gas? We live in one of the most beautiful areas of the country. We have the ocean, lakes, mountains, and cities. Take your pick!
To explore Massachusetts start your search at the Massachusetts Office of Travel.
And once you get to your destination, take advantage of the great stuff to do that doesn't cost a lot. Hiking, biking, walking the beaches, exploring the towns, eating ice cream.
Did you know Massachusetts ranks fourth in the country in ice cream consumption? And Ben & Jerry's most popular flavor is Cherry Garcia. I digress.
I love the Berkshires and we try to get out to Tanglewood every summer. When we were much younger we would camp at Beartown State Forest and go to the afternoon rehearsals. Really cheap way to get the Tanglewood experience. Now we stay at a B&B or with friends. Lawn tickets are not cheap at $47 but cheaper than the seats! You can bring your own seats and treats or just spread a blanket out and take it all in lying down.
Western Massachusetts is so bucolic with its rolling hills and farmland. Visit the Norman Rockwell Museum and wander up and down Route 7 exploring the antique shops. Some of them are mini museums.
A real museum, The Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) is in North Adams and easy drive to fit in on your home. While in the northwest corner of Massachusetts consider driving the Mohawk Trail. There are many hikes and state parks in the area as well.
Mount Greylock State Reservation is one of my favorites in that area. It is the highest peak in Massachusetts at 3,491 feet. The best part, you can drive to the summit if you don't want to hike! On a clear day from the tower's observation platform, you can see Mt. Monadnock, New Hampshire, the Green Mountains in Vermont, the Adirondacks and Catskills in New York, and Mt. Everett in the southern Berkshires. Bascom Lodge, at the summit, serves good meals.
