It's all right, you can come out now!
Many travel destinations around the country have been hard-hit by the sagging economy, so some hotels and recreational areas have packages to try to entice Americans "out of hibernation."
Hotels were only about two-thirds full, on average, in the second quarter this year, according to Smith Travel Research. Expedia says hotels in many popular destinations are dropping prices as a result, including those in Las Vegas, Orlando, San Diego, Hawaii and Myrtle Beach, S.C.. Well, that's all well and good but many people still can't afford to fly that far or drive that far right now. There is a solution because hotels in places like southern Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee are dropping their rates and there are plenty of tour packages available.
The fall season is usually defined as September through November. The kids are back in school and most families are staying home, so you won't have to battle crowds. So now is the ideal time to head to hot locales that were too expensive -- or too busy -- in the summer. Forget the economic crisis and stop pulling your hair out. We all still need a vacation. Try something just a little different and maybe much closer to home. You might like it and have some change in your pocket when you get home.
Southern Indiana
Why would anyone consider going to such an area that has so little to offer? Well, think again. Southern Indiana is located on the northern fringe of the Appalachian highlands. There are hills, hollers, creeks, rock outcrops and caves that offer beauty and enticing recreational opportunities. There are two of the most exotic resort hotels with rich histories and both newly restored in a tiny little village called, French Lick in the heart of the hill country. Within a short drive there are places to hike in rocky forests, rock climb, see caves and ride a train into the back country of southern Indiana, and recreate in and around two lakes. The hotels offer beauty, history, a casino, spas, swimming pool, golf course and restaurants for your in house pleasures. Distances: From Indianapolis, about two hours. From Louisville - 1/2 hour and from Fort Wayne about 5 hours.
Harrison - Crawford Caves. Historic Hotels and Backroads
If history and ghost towns are your interest, then head to Harrison and Crawford Counties where the first state capital of Corydon is located and where you can visit several original historic structures and the only Civil War battlefield located in Indiana. Follow the trail of Confederate General, John Hunt Morgan as he crossed the Ohio at Brandenburg, Kentucky and visit the "old town" where ghostly reminders stand in defiance of floods and tornadoes along the river front on the Kentucky side. Emerge back into Indiana and check out another ghost town at Mauckport after crossing the bridge and then head back to visit Squire Boone Caverns. (Squire Boone was the brother of the famed frontiersman, Daniel Boone. Squire was allegedly being chased by Shawnee Indians and found the cave to take refuge from his pursuers. He fell in love with the area, built a home in the rocky outcrop and brought his family to join him in the area.) There is a working grist mill, shops and a wonderful tour of the cave and lots of history here.
There are campgrounds, bed and breakfasts, horse back riding, nature parks and lots of scenery to enjoy from a drive on the backroads in Harrison and Crawford Counties. The winding hilly roads can offer a glimpse of a very different way of life. Real log cabins, old iron bridges, quiet country rivers and spectacular scenes of nature, wild and wonderful all dot the landscape along with farms and hillside homes. Wyandotte Cave, located about 16 miles west of Corydon on scenic SR 62 offers tourists a look at one of Indiana's most spectacular cave systems. There is a history of pre-historic Indians using the cave for gathering flint for tool making and a continued use by the endangered Indiana bats.
Marengo Cave offers cave tours, special kids activities, camping, and nearby Cave Country Canoes offers canoe rental and kayaking down the scenic Blue River.
Gas is a factor in everything we do these days, and traveling out west by car or by plane to visit real ghost towns may be the plan but the cash just isn't going to stretch that far so try something new, try visiting some ghostly towns deep in southern Indiana.
West Virginia - New River Gorge
If southern Indiana still isn't enough of a challenge and you already live in the small towns outside of Indianapolis or Cincinnati or even St Louis and you really need those mountain scenes and rough and ready outdoor activities, come on home, to West Virginia. It is only 6 hours from Indianapolis to Fayetteville, West Virginia, and under 5 hours from Cincinnati and 8.5 hours from St. Louis. Ok, that sounds like a lot, but think about it, take a long weekend - leave work early Thursday and fill the tank, drive through the night... let's see $4 a gallon x 20 gallon tank = $80 and if you get 30 miles to the gallon x 20 gallons= 600 miles per tank. Well, even St. Louis is a one tank trip. Expedia and Orbit have hotel discounts and rental car discounts listed on their travel website for West Virginia and hotels in Beckley and Fayetteville. Believe me, I know from experience that what you have ahead is worth the trip and no mountain scene in Colorado is more beckoning than the rich lush forested mountains that surround Charleston, Beckley and the New River Gorge.
