Best Places for Out-of-Season Vacations

The kids are back in school and the weather is cooling off, so pack your bags and take your out of season vacation. Where would you go?

Here are some suggestions of places that welcome out of season travelers.

Fall brings the "leaf peakers," so traveling to the Smokey Mountains or to the mountains is not a great get away spot, if you want to avoid the crowd of tourists.

The ocean is a nice place to visit when all of the families have returned home. There are great rates on some of the "summer places." Swimming and fishing are not the only activities that these seaside resorts offer. The benefit of quiet and enjoying a walk in the sand makes these places special. Some very popular seaside spots in the Fall are Atlantic City, New Jersey and Ocean City, Maryland.

In Ocean City there are many off season rates offered at the various motels/hotels in the area. After Labor Day, Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, and Econo Lodge offer rooms from $80 to $175. These are on the Coastal Highway and within walking distance of the ocean. For more information view www.oceancity.com.

Ocean City is not only the ocean, but there is Frontier Town, Ward Museum of Wildfood Art, and a plush golf course to entice the off season visitors.

For blue water and other enmities, Atlantic City has it waiting for the visitor. It is known as the dining and entertainment capital of the Eastern Seaboard. Casino Gambling is popular with guests, but shopping is another pleasurable activity while visiting Atlantic City. After Labor Day, hotels offer great savings. Motels such as Ramada, Econo Lodge and Casino lodging are discounted to as low as $51 a night. For more information and to make reservations contact www.hotel.com or www.atlanticcitynj.com.

Seaside resorts are not the only discounted places to visit. In Branson Missouri in November and March, most of the shows close down. You can get a room for as low as $12 per night. Shoppers enjoy this season as the bargains in the three outlet malls are available. It is a wonderful way to get some Christmas shopping done early. Most restaurants are open during this season, so finding a good place to eat is no problem.

If you are an outdoor enthusiast, visit a State Park. Campgrounds and RV parks are not as crowded during this time of the year. The crisp autumn air makes for a more enjoyable camping trip. Most State campgrounds offer float trips, fishing, and scenery that is spectacular during the Fall season.

If you don't want to visit a State Park, find a stream to fish or to set up camp. The cool temperatures make this a refreshing Fall or Winter past time.

Sightseeing is a wonderful vacation to take. Visit a town that has a long history, and visit the museums and historical places that are located there. Some suggestions are Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Vicksburg, Mississippi, and Boston, Massachussetts. Most big chain hotels/motels have franchises located in these places and discount their lodging after the Labor Day week-end.

You can avoid the crowds, have more pleasant weather, and find that an "out of season" vacation is something you will look forward to and enjoy. After the first trip, you will plan an "off season" trip yearly.

Sources: www.hotel.com, www.oceancity.com, www.atlanticcitynj.com