Louise Sacco shares frugal ways to see fall foliage

(NECN) – For many people, this time of year means leaf peeping! But who wants to spend a lot of green to see those beautiful fall colors? Louise Sacco of frugalyankee.com joins Good Morning Live with tips on saving money without being cheap. As she says, there’s a big difference. FRUGAL LEAF PEEPING: That rainy spring means that we now have a spectacular fall. Don’t miss it. PHOTOS: Bring the camera. And take a few minutes to learn something about taking dramatic fall photos. For instance, get something in the foreground. That distant, colorful mountain will look more dramatic if you’ve got some nearby rocks, leaves, or people in the shot. BE READY: Weather is very changeable this time of year. Bring extra sweatshirts or jackets, even gloves and hats. The sun is getting lower in the sky – sunglasses are essential, especially for the driver. Pack a cooler with drinks, snacks, maybe sandwiches. A thermos of hot coffee might be a good idea too. DO THE RESEARCH: you don’t want to get to some cozy B&B and find that the trees are bare . . . or still green. CONSIDER DAY TRIPS: When peak color gets to your area, a nearby state park, forest, or country road might be enough to satisfy your leaf-peeping needs. Stop at a farm stand for apple cider and pumpkins. Include a hike in your day trip. Stay on marked trails. Backpack is easiest for water, snacks, camera, extra sweatshirt AVOID WEEKENDS: If you can, take your trip mid-week. If you are going for a weekend, try to leave early Friday and return on Monday. Traffic gets very heavy for the big fall foliage weekends. COUCH SURFING: If you have friends or relatives living around New England, this is the time to ask if you can stay for a night. You know how to be a good guest: Bring food and wine, take them out for a meal, tidy up before you leave. Maybe you’ll be asked back next year. And, of course, invite them to stay at your house anytime. Try couchsurfing.org for ideas and help. CAMPING: It’s inexpensive and fun. Many campgrounds are not busy in October. (Of course some have closed for the season.) OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS: Youth Hostels still exist. And they’re not just for students. They provide basic lodging that starts at $20 a night. B&Bs usually fill up fast and can be expensive. But if they do have any empty room in the next few days, many are willing to negotiate prices. Frequent Fliers – a lot of people have frequent flier or credit cards points that they never seem to use. You don’t pile up enough points for a trip. You may be able to use your points for hotel lodging. Priceline, Hotels.com, etc.: Worth a try. Be sure you understand the rules before you put in your bid or your reservation. You will not be able to make changes, even if you become sick and can’t make the trip. But you may find a great price and be willing to take the chance. SEE IT IN STYLE: You’ll find fall foliage train trips at www.foliagetrains.com/ There are the Essex Steam Train in Essex CT, foliage trips from various towns in NH, and the Conway Scenic RR. A number of ski slopes open their lifts at this time of year. You can soar over the brilliant forests. DRIVING: If you more than one car in your household, consider which one gets the best gas mileage. If the difference is significant, you could save some money on gas. Map out your route with Mapquest or GoogleMaps. But bring along paper maps too. If you’re a member of AAA, you can pick up maps and guidebooks free at their office. If you veer from your planned route, a paper map may help you find your way back. If you get stuck behind a tour bus, it can really get annoying. Passing on winding roads may not be a good idea. This is the time to stop for a few minutes. Stretch your legs, take some photos, eat something. When you get back on the road, the bus will be too far ahead of you to be a problem. You don’t have to drive. There are a lot of bus trips organized this time of year by churches, community center, and the like. It’s a different experience from driving yourself, but you might find you like it. EATING: That cooler in your car will take care of some of your meals, but you’ll probably want to have some meals in restaurants. Local, independent restaurants will add some character to your trip and will usually be inexpensive too. Ask the people you meet for recommendations. Restaurant.com will help you find eating places. And if you’re pretty sure you’re going to eat in one of them, you can buy $25 gift certificates for $10. As always, restaurants often serve much more food than you want to eat. You can order soup and appetizer and skip the entrée or split an entrée. If there are significant leftovers, take the doggie bag for later.