Many of us are looking for ways to stretch our travel budgets this year. This doesn’t mean staying at home and never taking a trip. Here are 5 ways to save serious money when you travel on your next vacation.

Hit the local parks

Local parks have become more sophisticated. Nice facilities, water features and free music are more common than ever. You can zip through a skateboard park, run around in water geysers, go fishing, bicycle beautiful trails and spread out a picnic lunch while listening to the band. Most of these activities will be free or low cost. Well-known parks like Boston Commons in Boston, Massachusetts are easy to find and filled with people but look for the smaller, local parks, too. The St. Johns County Ocean Pier Park in St. Augustine Beach, Florida has a water park playground for the toddlers, a great beach with an ocean fishing pier, volleyball courts and summer concerts at the pavilion.  This is a great way to stretch your travel dollars and enjoy fun activities together.

Use those discounts

AAA, AARP, Military, Senior, State Resident and more discounts are available for the asking. Did you know that Florida Residents can get discounts at almost every attraction in Orlando, Florida? Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta, Georgia offers Georgia Residents a “Mountain Member” club to join where they get discounts on food, rides, admission and more. Hotels, cruises, attractions and restaurants offer lots of ways to save if you do your homework. Look into local and group discount programs when you plan your next trip.

Get a library card

Only 3% of the population has a library card these days. What a shame! Libraries may seem old fashioned but they have become multi-media resource centers where folks can gather and share information and ideas. For example, The Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix, Arizona promotes after school programs, a special needs center, a family fun night, GreenTweens environmental programs, a Guitar Hero video game night and more. These days, libraries are an excellent choice to check out on your travels.

Shop around

It pays to shop around for prices on your travel whether you use a travel agent, internet or other source. Prices, fees and packages vary widely. Your travel research is improved with the help of sites like our Trustedtours.com where you can review city guides, compare attractions, book hotels and purchase tickets. Take some time to learn about your destination. With some patience and effort, you can save money and enjoy the city of your choice.

Explore your own backyard

Traveling close to home on “staycations” is becoming more popular. Get reacquainted with local, state and regional areas that you haven’t been to or visited for a long time. If you want to venture out further, pick an interesting city and find things to do there. If you want a European type experience, consider New Orleans, Louisiana, Savannah, Georgia or St. Augustine, Florida. Smaller towns also have their charms like Charleston, South Carolina, Plymouth, Massachusetts, Naples, Florida and Scottsdale, Arizona. Don’t forget the big cities where many activities are free like New York City, Boston, Massachusetts, Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California. Vacationing close to home has never been so good!

With some creativity and planning you can save loads on your next vacation. Things to do and vacation ideas don’t have to break your travel budget.

Use these 5 techniques to improve your travel experience and discover new activities on your next trip. Happy traveling!

The Komodo Dragons saliva contains over 60 deadly bacteria. It is the largest lizard species on earth, growing up to 10 feet long and weighing up to 200 pounds. It is carnivorous and has been known to eat deer, pigs, water buffalo and people. The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park in St. Augustine, Florida just opened a beautiful reptile exhibit for you to get up close and personal with these deadly lizards and see a 21 foot Python, too. Does it get any better?

Did I mention the King Cobra?

It’s no secret I’m a big fan of Zoos in general and Reptiles in particular. If it crawls, creeps, climbs, slithers or resembles a dinosaur, I’m there. The new Reptile Exhibit at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park is a wonderful addition to a great attraction and adds a lot to the Realm of the Saltwater Crocodile. The theme is pure Indonesian with interesting carvings, statues and music. It’s located just inside the Down Under area on the right just before the Saltwater Crocodiles where you come face to face with a feisty yet loveable, Komodo Dragon named “Krakatoa.”  He’s curious and darts his split tongue into the air trying to get a taste. Creepy.

Stepping inside your eyes adjust in time to see the 21 foot python curled up next to you on the right followed by the silvery Cobra. Next is an assortment of snakes and lizards that you could watch for hours. The musical soundtrack ebbs and flows to transport you to the steamy Indonesian jungles where many of these creatures are found. The Florida Museum of Natural History helped design the environments and they are first rate.

What a fun experience.

There are so many things to do and see at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park that when you’re in St. Augustine, Florida and need vacation ideas you have to stop and visit. Say hello to the new reptiles and enjoy the day. I’ll see you there.

Don’t miss the Bird Rookery when you’re there. Many of the fledgling birds are testing their wings now as the alligators gaze hungrily from below.

 When I travel to a new city or place I haven’t been in awhile, I prefer to take a City Tour for an overview of the sites, layout and flavor of the area. It’s a great way to get your bearings, do some sightseeing and see what’s what. Here are 18 City Tours, including our own Old Town Trolley Tours, guaranteed to help you navigate better.

Atlanta, Georgia Trolley Tour

Old Town Trolley Boston, Massachusetts Pass

Old South Charleston, South Carolina Carriage Tour

Inside Chicago, Illinois – North and South Side Tour

Oahu, Hawaii Grand Circle Island Tour with Dole Plantation

Old Town Trolley Tour of Key West, Florida

Conch Tour Train Key West, Florida

Las Vegas, Nevada City Tour

Naples, Florida Trolley Tours

New Orleans, Louisiana Sightseeing Tour

New York City Double Decker Bus Deluxe Tour

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Sightseeing Bus Tour

Phoenix, Arizona Valley Highlights Tour

Old Town Trolley San Diego, California Pass

San Francisco, California Sightseeing Deluxe City Tour

Old Town Trolley Savannah, Georgia Pass

Old Town Trolley Tour of St. Augustine, Florida

Old Town Trolley Washington DC Pass

There you have it. 18 super duper City Tours to get you started on the right foot.

See you soon!

Who else wants Summer fun? Here are 7 Awesome Summer Vacation Ideas for the whole family. So get out there and make a splash!

Do-It-All Party Boat Tour of Key West

Can’t decide how to enjoy the turquoise waters of Key West, Florida? Then explore the water 11 different ways! On this six hour adventure you can go Snorkeling, Sailboating, Water Skiing, Rafting, Banana Boat Riding, Wind Surfing, Kayaking, Knee Boarding, Climbing the 20ft Ice Berg Mountain, Mini-sliding off the boat and riding speedy Wave Runners. Perfect.

Miami Seaquarium- Swim with the Dolphins

Nothing tops a close encounter with Dolphins and here is your chance in Miami, Florida. Spend two hours touring the Seaquarium, learning about dolphin behaviour and then suiting up for time in the water with these magnificent creatures. You’ll touch, feed and train these gentle giants. Inspiring.

Sanibel/Captiva Island Tour

Sanibel and Captiva Island, Florida offers some of the best shelling in the World. This six hour Eco tour experience takes you inside the The J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge for a 90 minute tram tour of the local wildlife followed by a stroll on the beach for shelling, lunch at the Hungry Heron, a view of the Historic Lighthouse and more beach time to find that last special shell. Nice.

Boston Whale Watching Cruise

Looking for a whale watch that requires less travel time, offers the most comfortable ride available and gives you more time viewing some of the world’s most fascinating and magnificent creatures? Look no further! The 3-hour Whale Watching Cruise in Boston, Massachusetts uses high speed catamarans to whisk you to the best viewing spots and back. Professional researchers from the Whale Center of New England narrate your briny adventure.

Whale Ho!

The DC Ducks

Splash down in Washington, D.C. for a river adventure like no other. From Union Station the DC Ducks waddle down to the mall where you’ll see the awe inspiring monuments and fabulous Smithsonian Museums. Then at the Potomac River you’ll splash in for a whole different look at the Nation’s Capital with a scenic river cruise. From the land to the water, it’s all in the same Vehicle! Cool.

Segway Night Tour of Chicago

Roll out Segway style in Chicago, Illinois for an After 5 Glide. Learn the amazing history, unique stories and fascinating tales of the Windy City while seeing the best sites on your own fun and easy to operate Segway vehicle. Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, The Field Museum, Millineum Park and more. What a blast!

Stone Mountain Park Adventure Pass

Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta, Georgia is a green oasis listed in Frommer’s 500 Places to Visit with Your Kids Before They Grow Up and cited by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as one of ‘35 Natural Wonders in Georgia You Must See Before You Die’. Stone Mountain Park offers a variety of attractions, entertainment and recreation activities.  Join the Paddlewheel Riverboat Cruise, ride the scenic Mountain Train and take the Sky Hike to adventure. Awesome.

So there are 7 Summer Vacation Ideas to get you started on making great summer memories. Don’t forget the sunscreen!

Enjoy your Independence Day this year in 5 historic cities that know how to celebrate.

Here are 4th of July vacation ideas and things to do while enjoying the long weekend in star-spangled style.

Boston

The Cradle of Liberty brings us the traditional Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular at the Esplanade. The Oval opens at 9am for this popular celebration hosted by Craig Ferguson and featuring music by Rascal Flatts. More than twenty thousand pounds of explosives create a pyrotechnic display like no other. It’s wicked good.

New York City

The Big Apple offers three prime locations for fireworks this year sponsored by Macy’s. While many locals head to the seashore for the weekend, you can catch the festivities downtown. The East River in Midtown, South Street Seaport and Liberty State Park will kick off together for this extravaganza. For an extra treat, spring $20 for the Roosevelt Island Festival in the East River for great views, music and activities. Dollars to donuts you’ll have a ball.

Washington D.C.

As you would expect, The Capital City puts on one of the best Independence Day celebrations in the country. A Capitol Fourth begins with a Parade down Constitution Avenue with events throughout the day including concerts by the United States Air Force Band and the National Symphony before amazing fireworks at night.

Balance your budget and don’t miss this one!

St Augustine

The Oldest City features a great celebration of Independence Day with fireworks on the bay front over the Castillo de San Marcos Fort. You can extend the celebration with a fireworks display at the World Golf Village on July 3^rd. You look younger already.

Philadelphia

 Yo! The City of Brotherly Love offers a weekend of celebration in the Birthplace of America. The Philadelphia Museum of Art showcases events all day on the Fourth of July along Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Penn’s Landing is the place to be on the 5^th with the Taste of Philadelphia followed by a Boyz ll Men concert and more fireworks over the Delaware River.

The Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona is a grand showcase of American Indian Art and crafts from the region. They have three locations now but I visited the main Museum in Downtown. I was lucky enough to join a 30 minute free tour given by the museum staff and I’m glad I did. He pointed out items I would have missed and we also learned background and history of the exhibits.

One of my favorite displays was the huge collection of Hopi “Katsina” dolls. These religious figures represent the many spirits used in rituals and they are colorful, diverse and amazing. The stories that go with each figure are fascinating. They also have wonderful examples of bead work, silver-smithing, weaving and more. The Museum Gift shop is filled with certified, authentic American Indian arts and crafts for purchase.

This is an excellent way to learn about the native peoples from the Phoenix, Arizona and beyond.  More Photos Here.

“To inspire people to live in ways that promote the well-being of the natural world”

This is the mission of the Phoenix Zoo in Arizona. Who could argue with that? Since 1962, they have tirelessly worked towards conservation and diversity of animal species locally and internationally including the Mexican Wolf, Asian Elephant and Sumatran Tiger. Visiting there is educational and fun. Besides, how can you resist watching a baby Orangutan clowning for the crowd?

The 125 acre Zoo is divided into four trails covering about 2.5 miles. The African and Tropics trails are longer than the Arizona and Kids trails and the zoo is easy to navigate. Some of the animal highlights for me included Asian Elephants, curious Meerkats, wallowing Warthogs, mysterious Sumatran Tigers, a restless Baboon colony and iconic Coyotes.

My favorite exhibit was the interactive Squirrel Monkey Village. Here you could enter their space and watch them frolic from tree to tree right in front of you! It was a blast. Another nice feature of the Phoenix Zoo is the opportunity to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the grounds. Of course, food is available there if you don’t want to lug a cooler.

The Zoo only takes a few hours to view but you can spend much more time on the beautiful grounds picnicking and participating. Make sure to stop at the Desert Botanical Garden nearby for an added treat. With so many programs, exhibits and opportunities to learn about animals at the Phoenix Zoo, you have to add this to your vacation ideas list in Arizona.

More Photos Here.

The Iron Horse sat quietly as we boarded her in the small town of Clarkdale, a few hours north of Phoenix, Arizona. The vintage FP7 Diesel engines gleamed in the desert sun waiting to pull the passengers through the Verde Canyon as they had so many times. As we settled into our oversized seats the railcar lurched forward building momentum. Soon we were immersed in a bygone era.

The Verde Canyon Train journey began in Phoenix with a comfortable van ride to the historic Mining Town of Jerome, Arizona. We made an hour stop for a quick bite of food and some strolling along this tiny towns charming streets before driving 20 minutes to the train depot where we would depart at 1pm. The Train Depot is large with restrooms, gift shop, small railroad museum and snack bar where food for the four hour journey can be purchased. Once on the train, there are snacks and drinks provided at a bar in each car.

You are assigned an indoor and outdoor car for the trip complete with narrator. This proved invaluable for spotting wildlife since the desert camouflage makes them hard to locate for the untrained. We learned the history of the railroad while looking at Bald Eagles, Free range cattle, Elk and the occasional Squirrel. We saw several Indian cave dwellings built into the canyon walls. The pace is slow and relaxing with an average speed of 7mph. This is great for photos! The train travels to the end of the line at a ghost ranch in Perkinsville, without deboarding, before returning back along the same route.

As much as I enjoyed this nostalgic rail journey, I’m not sure if my seven year old would have made it without being bored. Many of the children on board were restless after the first two hours since the scenery is similar along the line and the wildlife is sparse. For adults and couples, this is a fun trip.

I enjoyed the Verde Canyon Train trip. It is an old fashioned day exploring the mining history that defined the region. If you are in Phoenix, Arizona and want to extend your knowledge of the area then all aboard!  More Photos Here.

The Phoenix Valley Highlights Tour in Phoenix, Arizona is a great overview of the area. Covering the history of the valley from the Hohokam peoples, who lived their for over 1000 years, to the present downtown renovation, this tour is the perfect way to understand the culture, geography and growth of the fifth most populous city in the U. S. Phoenix is one of the fastest growing locations in the country and the Highlights tour helps to shed some light on that phenomenon, also. One of our first stops on the tour was the library.

Covering over 280,000 square feet, the Phoenix Central Library boasts the largest reading room in North America. This highly efficient, modern building designed by Will Bruder, is a testament to “Green Architecture” and innovation. It also has a great view of the Valley. One of the most interesting features is found on the fifth floor reading room and only occurs during the summer solstice on June 21^st. On this day, light and shadow travel across the floor from wall to wall and the tapered ceiling columns illuminate with bright light at the top just like candles. It is thoughtful design elements like these that make the Burton Barr Central Library a unique and engaging place for the community.

Downtown Phoenix is undergoing revitalization with much construction and renewal. Copper Square is the center of this activity with major sports arenas, convention space, hotels, restaurants, attractions and housing. We toured the heart of it and learned about the future of the city. Our next stop was the Heard Museum Gift Shop where authentic Native American crafts can be purchased. It was enjoyable to talk with the knowledgeable staff. They helped us identify various tribal works and the qualities of each. Next it was off to Old Town Scottsdale to stroll the streets and shops before we made a quick stop at the Botanical Gardens Shop to brush up on our local flora and fauna.

Take half a day and enjoy the Phoenix Valley Highlights Tour in Phoenix, Arizona. You’ll hear and see things not in the tourist brochures and meet some nice folks from all over. Isn’t that part of what travel is all about? See you in the Valley of the Sun.  More Photos Here.

The Teddy Bear Cholla cactus can drop a man at ten paces…

Well…not really but it seemed that way when our Stellar Adventures guide explained the vicious nature of this barbed desert dweller during a Hummer Tour near Phoenix, Arizona. Razor sharp with hooked spines, the Cholla is almost impossible to remove. It was just one of the curious things we heard and saw bouncing over the rugged terrain. If the heat didn’t get us in the Sonoran Desert then deadly Snakes, Scorpions, Lizards, Toads, Spiders and Mountain Lions were waiting. Fortunately, our guide was armed.

I took the Four Peaks Trail Hummer Tour on a modified vehicle which allowed better viewing but it was still a Hummer. We drove out of Phoenix for about forty-five minutes to the Tonto National Forest before going off road in the Sonoran Desert climbing over rocks and hills while stopping often for photos and demonstrations. What a fun trip! Our guide was funny and knowledgeable. He was serious when he needed to be and really adapted to our group interests. The best part is the small size of the tour since the vehicle carries less than a dozen people. You do get rattled around a bit so be prepared and drink plenty of water along the way. You can thank me later.

Locals use this area for camping, hunting and riding ATV’s and motorcycles, so paths go everywhere. When the heat of summer arrives they switch to boating. Yes, I said boating. In fact, Arizona has more boats per capita than any other state. It’s a great way to beat the heat and during out tour we learned about canyon lakes and rivers where the fun takes place.

One of the highlights of the trip is to learn more about the Saguaro Cactus, which only grows here. Tall and small, they dot the desert with quiet dignity looking like people with arms outstretched. Sadly, we saw evidence of target practice on some. Once damaged, they can’t really recover. It was surprising to see up close the diversity of plant and animal life is such a harsh environment. The Four Peaks Hummer Tour is a great way to experience the desert in a safe and enjoyable way. When you travel to Phoenix, Arizona, take half a day and venture out into the landscape. You’ll be glad you did.

Just watch out for the Teddy Bear.  More Photos Here.