20 Inexpensive US Holiday Spots

The home of the Pittsburgh Penguins also has a lively cultural scene with highly acclaimed art museums, including the Andy Warhol Museum and the Mattress Factory. You can fly direct from Toronto.

Located on the east coast of Hawaii’s Big Island, Hilo makes a great base from which to explore the area’s natural attractions or to work on your surfing skills. Over the Easter weekend, the town hosts an internationally renowned hula competition.

In recent years, Charleston has become an increasingly popular destination because of its many historic attractions and laid-back Southern charm. It’s a foodie paradise too, with fresh seafood taking centre stage on the city’s restaurant menus.

Among the attractions in and around Dallas are the Dallas Cowboys, museums like the JFK-themed Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza and Southfork Ranch. In true everything-is-bigger-in-Texas style, the city also hosts the humongous State Fair of Texas. You can fly direct from Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.

Even though there are direct flights from Toronto to Cleveland, driving between the two cities will take less than five hours. Cleveland is a must for music lovers, with attractions such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There’s also a burgeoning microbrewery scene.

With the Curt Gowdy State Park and several dude ranches in the area, Cheyenne is the ideal destination for an outdoor or cowboy adventure. In July, the city hosts one of the world’s largest outdoor rodeos, Cheyenne Frontier Days.

The city that is home to The Alamo is a showcase of Tex-Mex history and culture and a popular destination for family vacations. There’s always something to see or do along the River Walk. You can fly to San Antonio direct from Toronto.

Its desert location means that Tucson sees an average of 350 sunny days per year. Clear night skies attract stargazers while foodies come for the Mexican-influenced cuisine, including the decadent Sonoran hot dog.

Pueblo heritage, a stunning desert setting and one of the world’s longest aerial tramways are just some of Albuquerque’s attractions. It’s worth remembering though that room rates soar in early October when the city hosts the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Whether it’s rock ‘n roll, the blues, soul, gospel, country or crunk, you’ll find that Memphis probably had a pivotal role to play in the development of your favourite musical genre. However, Memphis is also known as the BBQ Capital of the World. You can fly direct from Toronto.

Williamsburg is the perfect destination if you want to take a trip back in time to the Colonial era of the United States. As a college town, though, the vibe here is anything but stodgy.

There’s more to Salt Lake City than the Mormon Church. You’ll find events celebrating everything from Hinduism to goth subculture. The city is also very popular with lovers of the great outdoors, and you can fly direct from Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.

Weird and wonderful museums and amusement parks – including Dolly Parton’s Dollywood – will provide endless family fun in the Gatlinburg area. If you want to commune with nature instead, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park starts just outside town.

Jacksonville offers the beaches, golfing, hiking and water sports of a typical Florida vacation without the price tag of cities further south in the state. For a day trip, the amusement parks of Orlando are only about two hours’ drive away. You can fly direct to Jacksonville from Toronto.

Raleigh has a rich history and plenty of museums, but as a tech hub, the city is also forward-thinking. Several science centres will keep the kids fascinated while the grown-ups sample the goods at the city’s microbreweries. There are direct flights from Toronto.

Home to one of the world’s busiest airports, Atlanta has direct flights connections to Toronto and Montreal. There’s something for everyone here, from tours of the CNN studios or The World of Coca-Cola to Walking Dead-inspired zombie walks.

Branson is often called the "family-friendly Las Vegas" because of the huge number of kid-friendly live shows and amusement parks found here. The surrounding area’s lakes, caves and hiking trails provide a refreshing break from the neon lights.

Far more affordable than nearby New York, Philadelphia is no less exciting. It’s home to icons like the Liberty Bell, the Philly cheesesteak and the Rocky Steps leading up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and you can fly direct from Toronto and Montreal.

Warm weather, sandy beaches, crawfish and shrimp are some of the things that make Biloxi a great family destination. The city is also famous for its glitzy casinos.

Things in the USA don’t get much more spectacular than the Grand Canyon. You can explore by car, on foot, by bicycle, on the back of a mule, on a whitewater raft or, if you want to splash out, by helicopter. Cut costs by camping or staying in a lodge or motel a little further afield.