Don't assume that the grass is always greener, or the water bluer, a thousand miles away from home. No matter where you live, there are national and state parks, gorgeous lakes, vibrant cities, and idyllic summer resort towns within a day's drive.

Want to go somewhere hot without having to max out your credit card? Hit one of these 5 affordable destination getaways, as determined by HuffPost ...

I crossed eleven countries, travelled through a variety of climes, slept in forty different homes and acquired free food in more than 500 stores and restaurants. Net cost: $0.

Beach vacationing isn't rocket science. The three key ingredients are simple: sun, sand, surf. It's not all about the tanning butlers or 12-course molecular gastronomy tasting menus.

One of the most common questions I am asked is: "How did you afford to travel around the world?" Here is the simple answer: I saved money by traveling. It would have cost me a lot more to stay and live in Chicago than to travel around the world.