$$ Fact 5: Walking is Free or Cheap Fun
Just step out the door and start walking - walking is free. In fact, you have to go out of your way to go someplace and pay to walk.If you want the fun of organized walking, you can still do it for free, or pay a small fee that still is less than a cappuccino, burger, or a movie.
Clubs: Most walking clubs have membership fees of $10 or less per year. By joining a club you can meet other walkers, attend walking workouts and events together, and share your walking wisdom. How to Find Walking Clubs and Walking Partners
Events: Volkssport non-competitive walking events are available worldwide. In the US and Canada, most are offered for free or up to $3, with optional awards (medals, patches, hatpins) that are usually under $10. The standard distance is 10 kilometers (6 miles) with a generous time limit - so that everyone is a winner. Going on an AVA Walk
Charity walks and walks held in conjunction with running events range from $5 - $25, with marathons being more. The more costly ones generally include a t-shirt or medal. For a day's entertainment, that is still cheaper than going to most organized sporting events or music concerts.
How Much You Are Saving: A round of golf can cost from $20 - $150. A health club membership can be $20 a month and up. Park entry fees to local, state, and national parks can be from $1 - $15 a day.
Walking Controls Shopping: When you realize that you have to carry with you whatever you buy while out walking, it gives you some restraint. Since I spend so many weekends walking, the only shopping I do happens while I am out on a 6-mile trail, or on the drive there or back. My grubby condition after walking keeps me out of the nice shops, too. When on a walking vacation and traveling light, I can't bring back much other than photos and memories!
$$ Fact 6: Walking for a Cheap Vacation
Walkers can save lots of money on vacation. Plan to spend most of your vacation time seeing the sights on foot.Travel Light: Only take what you can easily carry in a backpack or what can be easily towed in a wheeled carry-on bag. Then you can select hotels, hostels, or other accommodations that you can get to on foot, or by bus or subway. This saves many dollars over cab fare, porters, bellhops.
Walking Sightseeing: The best way to see almost any area is on foot, at your own pace. Look up walking tour routes at your destination, using the internet or auto club resources. You can also take advantage of the thousands of self-guided walking routes hosted by volkssport clubs around the world. These are called year-round walks or permanent walks. These 6-mile (10 kilometer) routes have maps and descriptions which you can pick up the map either from the club's website or at the starting point. These walks are free (a small donation would be appreciated) or up to a couple of dollars.
Many tourist destinations also have hop-on bus tours where you pay a single fee and can catch the buses anywhere along their route. You can combine this with walking to get the best of both - a guided tour, inexpensive but transport, and your own walking tour.
Going For Free: Sign up with a marathon charity program like the Leukemia Society's Team in Training and you get a free vacation to great spots around the world - Hawaii, Disneyworld, Dublin just to name a few. All you have to do is collect pledges and walk the marathon.
Wendy's Frugal Vacation Recipe
1. The latest yearly edition of the AVA's Starting Point Guide to Year-Round Walks.
2. A stop at AAA for the latest tour book and maps of my destination.
3. A browse to the travel destination sites here at About to find out more about specific sights, history, and weather information.
Take the above and mix together, pop in the oven and plan where to stay, where to walk, how to get there and how to get around once I'm there.
Next:
Find or Make Money Walking
Walking Clothing and Gear - Cheap or Splurge
Walking Saves Health and Counseling Costs
Shoes are Cheaper than Cars
