5 vacations for under $400: take off for a three-day outdoor getaway that won't break the bank - Ventureout

Shape, April, 2004 by Gina DeMillo

How far can you stretch four $100 bills in these tightwad times? Our bargain-minded writer managed to find five escapes ranging from the Florida Keys to southern Oregon--all for less than $400 for a long weekend (transportation and taxes not included). Plus, she's thrown in a few splurge options worth the extra cash!

Wallet-Friendly Wilderness Retreat

Rockwood, Maine, two hours northwest of Bangor International Airport

Grand total $335 (accommodations, $165; food, about $100; fitness activities, about $70)

Budget digs Stay in a cozy, rustic cabin at The Birches Resort (800-825-9453, birches.com) with a friend; rates start at just $55 each per night. Cabins offer fully equipped kitchens and electricity, and some even have fireplaces. This four-season resort sits on the shore of Moosehead Lake, Maine's largest at 40 miles long.

Affordable fitness Participate in guided canoeing, kayaking or mountain-biking tours through the 11,000 acres of wilderness surrounding The Birches, or pick up a free trail map from the concierge and explore on your own. Keep an eye out for the majestic bald eagle, black bear, beaver and Maine's state animal, the moose. Take the four-hour "Socatean Sojourn" kayak trip along Socatean Stream and Bay on a moose-safari eco-tour ($59). Or tread the tree-studded granite formations of spectacular Mount Kineo, which rises 700 feet above Moosehead Lake. Indian Trail is a moderate hike, just under 2.5 miles round trip, that leads to an abandoned fire tower with a view of Quebec.

For a more challenging eight-mile hike, you can follow trails that trace the top of the mountain's sheer cliff face. Summer access to the Mount Kineo peninsula is possible only by boat. A privately owned former Navy launch motorboat that now serves as a shuttle to Kineo docks at Rockwood Landing, three miles from The Birches ($10 round trip; 207-695-2702).

Frugal gourmet Before or after conquering Mount Kineo, fill up on country-style home cooking at the lakeside Moosehead Inn, a short walk from Rockwood Landing. Five dollars will get you a stack of buttermilk pancakes and coffee; about $6 buys a lunch of hearty chili or a chicken Caesar salad.

Sample the fresh local catch at Kelly's Landing on the southern end of Moosehead Lake in Greenville Junction. The restaurant's lobster and crab cakes topped with sun-dried tomato and rosemary butter ($15) are worth the 20-minute drive from Rockwood. And definitely don't miss Kelly's Sunday all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet ($8; 207-695-4438; kellysatmoosehead.com).

Splurge! From the resort, embark on the evening Moose Cruise Combo, which includes a dinner in The Birches Dining Room (available May to October; $50). Follow up the cruise with an hour-long Swedish massage from Katia, the resort's talented masseuse ($95).

Seaside Steal

Key West, Fla., about 160 miles southwest of Miami International Airport via a connecting flight into Key West Airport

Grand total $294 (accommodations, $164; food, about $90; fitness activities, about $40)

Budget digs Boots, the resident black-and-white cat, greets visitors to Artist House (305-296-3977, artisthouse keywest.com). The lavender clapboard mansion-turned-hotel--the former residence of Key West painter Robert Eugene Otto--has hardwood floors, antique furniture and even a private garden with a hot tub and pond in the backyard. Rates for doubles start at $54.50 per person, per night.

Affordable fitness Walking and bicycling are the best ways to see Old Town Key West; you'll head past maritime museums and the vendors on Duval Street. Moped Hospital rents bikes for $6 a day (866-296-1625, www.mopedhospital.com).

There are plenty of gorgeous beaches, but for a truly memorable underwater experience, visit North America's only living coral barrier reef (just 30 minutes from Key West) with Sea-Breeze/Reef Raiders Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, and Scuba Instruction. The three-hour trip includes equipment, a free snorkeling lesson and snacks. Wetsuits are available for a $10 rental fee ($25; 800-370-7745, keywestscubadive.com).

Frugal gourmet Local favorite Bahama Mama's Kitchen (305-294-3355) is best known for its conch fritters, red snapper and soul-food staples (from $12.75). Or stop by Waterfront Market to pick up cheap lunch fixin's for less than $10.

Splurge! Snorkel on a Wild Dolphin Encounter & Shipwreck Snorkel tour provided by Catamaran Echo in Downtown Key West. After exploring a shallow-water shipwreck and a living coral reef, enjoy a warm shower and fresh tropical fruit, snacks, beverages and a cruise back to Key West ($79; 305-292-5044, dolphinecho.com).

Budget Babes in the Woods

Nisswa, Minn., 2.5 hours northwest of Minneapolis, in the Brainerd Lakes region

Grand total $358 (accommodations, $293; food, about $45; fitness activities, about $20)

Budget digs Built in 1919, the rustic Grand View Lodge (800-432-3788; grandviewlodge.com) on Gull Lake has a 1,500-foot-long natural lakefront beach as its backyard, an on-site state-of-the-art fitness center, seven tennis courts, a 110-foot-indoor waterslide, and swimming pools and hot tubs. Rates at the lodge, which include full breakfast and dinner at any of the resort's six restaurants (choose the Modified American Plan), start at $97.50 per person, per day.