Endless fields of hardened lava, mountains of jagged black glass, and thundering waterfalls - Oregon has been called the Iceland of the United States, and it’s not hard to see why.
For those of us without the time (or the funds) to jet away to Europe on a moment’s notice, Oregon is a surprisingly great substitute, with a match for nearly all of Iceland’s most popular attractions. One of the best places to find them? Newberry National Volcanic Monument, which boasts ancient lava flows, lakes nestled into the top of a massive caldera, and the longest cave in Oregon! If you’re looking for world-class views on a budget, check out some of the things to see and do in Newberry:
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Searching #vanlife on Instagram or Pinterest brings up swoon-worthy images of gorgeous, impeccably-renovated vans parked in front of the dreamiest sorts of locations, ranging from beaches to waterfalls to mountain majesties.
It’s a new form of living, modeled somewhat after hippie culture in the 60s, dedicated to freedom and adventure over routine. Let me start off by saying: I am not a backpacker. Sure, I like camping, but the idea of staying in a hostel makes me nervous, and I have very little interest in eating ramen noodles every day for a week (any backpackers who stumble across this blog are probably shaking their heads at my tragic lack of knowledge about backpacking, but there it is.) On the other hand, I’m also not about to shell out tens of thousands of dollars for a weeklong vacation!
My second disclaimer: I didn’t use any rewards. So many of these cheap travel posts I find online require the use of points stacked up from credit cards, which, while it may be worth looking into, doesn’t help me plan a cheap trip now. So how did I do this? Okay, real talk: how many of you have thought about going on vacation only to find ticket prices are somehow twice as much as what you were expecting? (Maybe that’s just a “me problem”).
The average plane ticket can double the price of your trip, but there are ways you can find good flights that won’t break the bank. It’s taken me some time, but I’ve figured out a method that has helped me score tickets one-third of what they normally cost: Although I had managed to get a ticket to London for a steal, there were some obvious drawbacks. At $60 for my first checked bag, I knew that I had to find a way to pack everything I needed into my carry-on. Not only did I manage to do that, but I had tons of leftover space for souvenirs.
The Crowley Lake Columns are a strange, otherworldly site in the thin strip of California east of the Sierra Mountain range. These pale, natural columns along the edge of Lake Crowley look almost like the remains of an ancient temple--not the results of a volcanic explosion (check out that link to learn more about how these columns were formed).
We're not all palm trees and cool bridges, y'all (although that's definitely part of our draw). California is actually incredibly diverse; living just outside San Francisco, within an hour or two's drive I could reach the ocean, mountains, forest or desert. When the weather gets warm, there's honestly nothing better than relaxing on a beach in my sunny home state. These six beaches, scattered all along the California coast, give you a taste of every beach vibe you could be hoping for, from chill to adventurous:
Can I be really honest with you here? My first impression of Salton Sea was that its smell lives up to its name.
San Francisco is a beautiful city with a rich history, but it’s not exactly known for being cheap. Parking alone can put you out twenty dollars at a minimum, and don’t even get me started on the rising costs of BART (one of our main lines of public transportation in the Bay Area). Despite this, there are still plenty of things you can do that won’t break the bank. These are some of my favorite ways to get the best of San Francisco on any budget.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that when you click on one of those links and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission, which costs you absolutely nothing. This commission helps supplement my income to ensure I can continue the upkeep on this blog and make your experience here a better one! I only recommend products and services that I absolutely believe in, and would purchase for myself. For more info, see my affiliate disclaimer under my about section.
Deciding whether or not to rent a car abroad is an important part of planning your vacation. While it depends on where you go, the choice of renting a car and all that comes with it -- how long should you rent, how much does it cost in comparison to other modes of transport, and even where you should rent -- can be a little overwhelming.
I didn’t use a car at all during my trip to Australia, and used one only part of the time in England. Sometimes I use a car for my main mode of transportation for my entire trip, sometimes I use public transport some of the time and pick up a car at my next destination. In my travels, I've found that there are definite pros and cons when it comes to renting which need to be considered before you book a car: |
Hi, there! Call me Kris. I’m a world traveler, author and artist working to showcase the world's beauty and inspire you to find your confidence to see the world!
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