Vacation Spots

Budget Destinations and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Budget Destinations

Number 10 – Austin, The Texas capital is perched on the edge of Hill Country, so hiking and mountain biking options are plentiful (and free of charge). The art scene ranges from funky to highbrow, with a multitude of galleries and shows to see. This city is billed as the "live music capital of the world," with shows for just about any musical taste. However, no visit to Austin is complete without the show put on by the Congress Bridge bats. Nope, that isn't a band; it's over a million Mexican Free-tailed Bats that emerge from under the bridge nightly.

Number 9 -- Las Vegas, In Vegas, you can be fed, transported and entertained for less than you'd imagine possible. If you're on a tight budget, don't expect to get a lot of comps (freebies) from the casinos. You have to spend some to get some back. Grab every coupon book you see and watch for daily or hourly specials for food, drinks, clubs, and shows. Many food specials are off-menu, so you'll need to ask your server for it.

Number 8 – Baltimore, Inner Harbor is a must-see even if you have only a passing appreciation for boats and sailing. Here you'll be impressed by the museums and the National Aquarium. Civil War buffs can visit Fort McHenry, the birthplace of "The Star-Spangled Banner." You can also take in an Orioles game for as little as $8. Little Italy is a vibrant area full of great, cheap dining places, and if you're lucky enough to schmooze your way into a crab boil, your life will never be the same again.

Number 7 -- California Wine Country, Touring California Wine Country is possible even on a canned-beer budget. Tasting-room visits and winery tours are usually inexpensive and are occasionally free. Don't be discouraged by some restaurants and hotels that don't fit in with your monetary plan: Bargain food and lodging is still reasonably easy to find. Along the way, make it a point to cruise along California's Highway 1, even if it means driving out of your way -- you simply can't put a price on the coastal views.

Number 6 – Charlotte, Uptown boasts great public art displays and hosts. The Taste of Charlotte food festival each June is worth checking out, but if you're traveling in the fall, Charlotte Shout is September's month-long celebration of art and culture. You can always immerse yourself in NASCAR too. Lowes Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Hendrick Motorsports Museum, Richard Childress Racing Museum, and North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame should all be on a race fan's list.

Number 5 – Cleveland, Over at the lakefront, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a mandatory stop. (Adult admission is $22 for a one-day ticket.) Later, wander next door to the Great Lakes Science Center and experience Robots + Us: Where Humans Meet Machines exhibition. Throughout Cleveland, we found it to be inexpensive, yet more clean and more sophisticated than we'd ever imagined.

Number 4 – Denver, LoDo, the historic, culturally diverse downtown area, can also be "low-dough." For about the price of a bottle of Coors Light ($4), you can head over to Coors Field to see a Colorado Rockies game. Right field reserved tickets are just $9 a piece. Getting around Denver is not a problem, because the city offers decent public transportation, including a light rail system. Denver locals tend to be outdoorsy, so you'll easily find biking, camping, hiking, and skiing outlets.

Number 3 – Memphis, "The Birthplace of Rock and Roll," Sun Studio, asks just $8.50 for a tour. This is where the careers of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and B.B. King all began. W.C. Handy Memphis Home and Museum on Beale Street is a mere $2 to visit. Graceland (Elvis' home and final resting place) mansion tours are $28 (see all the attractions for $69). On a somber but important note, make a point to visit the National Civil Rights Museum ($12), located on the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination.

Number 2 – Portland, Portland is blessed with a temperate climate and everything is close by. Feel like a trip to the mountains? Mount Hood is about an hour east of the city. Would you rather head west and check out the Pacific? That's an easy day trip too. Portland is known as the City of Roses, with a month-long rose festival each June. If you find that agreeable, you may have a hard time leaving after your visit.

Number 1 -- Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin Dells is a small resort town in South Central Wisconsin, roughly halfway between Minneapolis, St. Paul and Chicago. For decades, visitors have come to this little oasis to relax, play in the theme parks and take in the beauty of the Wisconsin River and Lake Delton. Concentrate on the established attractions rather than the new ones. Not only will your dollar go further, you'll experience the last bit of Americana here before it's lost for good.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The home of the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites - art and monuments are everywhere around the country. It is also famous worldwide for its cuisine, its fashion, the luxury sports cars and motorcycles, as well as for its beautiful coasts, lakes, hills and mountains.

Two independent mini-states lie within Italy: San Marino and Vatican City.

According to TripAdvisor here a list of top 10 Italy destinations:

- Amalfi - The Amalfi Coast is a thing to behold. Stretched along the southern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula in the province of Salermo, it covers the towns of Cetara, Vietri sul Mare, Ravello, Minori, Scala, Conca dei Marini, Praiano, Positano and of course, Amalfi. The Amalfi Coast has a rich historical connection with the sea full of legends of pirates and sea-faring people.

- Siena - Siena was once a Roman outpost during 30 AD. Legend has it that it was founded by the sons of Remus (the twin brother of Romulus- Rome's founders), Senio and Ascanio but there is no historical value for this. The Lombards governed the city in the 6th century and the Franks later on. Sienna grew to be a great economic and military power that disputes with Florence grew regarding territories and boundaries.

- Città del Vaticano- When many people think of Citta del Vaticano - also known as Vatican City - they think of the Pope and big churches. Yet there's actually a lot more to this beautiful, historical city than that. In fact, there are so many different attractions in the city, it can be a daunting task to pick where to visit. But if you know a thing or two about the top locations, you'll know where to go and where not to go.

- San Gimignano - San Gimignano rises on a hill (334m high) dominating the Elsa Valley with its towers. Once the seat of a small Etruscan village of the Hellenistic period (200-300 BC) it began its life as a town in the 10th century taking its name from the Holy Bishop of Modena, St. Gimignano, who is said to have saved the village from the barbarian hordes. The town increased in wealth and developed greatly during the Middle Ages thanks to the "Via Francigena" the trading and pilgrim's route that crossed it. Such prosperity lead to the flourishing of works of art to adorn the churches and monasteries.

- Florence - in Italy, is known to be one of the world's best cities to study, with its reputable schools and courses. Many art students around the world travel to Florence to study or discover the real Italian way of living. Geographically, Florence is the capital of Tuscany, which is also the most populated city in Tuscany. Through the years, Florence has enjoyed being called the Athens of the Middle Ages. Its "Historic Centre of Florence" has been declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1982.

- Pompeii - is a ruined and partially buried Roman city near modern Naples in the Italian region of Campania, in the territory of the comune of Pompei. It, along with Herculaneum (its sister city), was destroyed, and completely buried, during a catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning two days on 24 August 79 AD.

- Venice - Italy is definitely the country of love. Statistics show that public displays of affection are shown more in Italy than in most other countries. If you're planning on going to Venice, Italy, you might be planning a romantic vacation for your significant other. In which case, you're probably wondering how exactly do you do that? Well, it's not actually that difficult, provided you follow the tips found below. Do that and you're well on your way to a great trip.

- Assisi – Known as the birthplace of the father of the Franciscan order, St. Francis was born in the town of Assisi. It is located in the province of Perugia in the region of Umbria. It was originally inhabited by the Umbrians in 1000 BC and subsequently taken over by the Etruscans. It became a Christian settlement in 238 AD when the bishop Rufino converted the inhabitants of the town. It became independent in the 11th century and St. Francis came into the picture and renounced his wealth and position in society for a life as a beggar.

- Positano - is one of the most beautiful towns located along the Amalfi Coast. The Mediterranean, with its sparkling emerald waters is a perfect backdrop to your holiday if you plan to come to Positano. Rich in history, as well as natural sights and magnificent landmarks, Positano will surely become one of your favorite destinations.

- Rome - So you've chosen to go on a vacation to Rome. It's definitely an excellent vacation choice, and you should have a great time there. However, since it is such a big city, it can be a little hard to know what the best places to visit in Rome are. That's why we'll be going over all the places you should consider visiting while you're in the beautiful city of Rome.

References:

http://www.squidoo.com/10-Italy

http://www.catalogs.com/info/travel-vacations/top-10-vacation-destinations.html

http://travel.aol.com/travel-ideas/domestic/galleries/budget-destinations

http://www.squidoo.com/US-roadtrip

http://www.squidoo.com/topics/travel