Rays of sunlight danced across the navy-blue waters, which sparkled like diamonds for as far as I could see, until the dark ocean collided with the pale sky at the horizon.

Slightly too chilly for the typical tourist crowd, the beach was nearly empty and the crashing of the waves was the only sound.

I hugged my arms tight across my chest as the wind whipped through my hair. I inhaled deeply -- feeling immediate relief as the fresh oxygen filled my lungs.

Desperate for a day trip away from the Valley -- and on a minimal budget -- I drove to Pismo Beach three weeks ago and caught up with a couple of old friends from my days as a student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. The quick trip got me thinking that in these stressful times, inexpensive vacations are a necessity. My trip to the beach cost me a total of $30 -- $20 for gas and $10 for lunch.

Two weeks later, I ventured to Disneyland. I paid for my day of fun with my sister and best friend at the "Happiest Place On Earth," ($71 for a day I deemed to be well worth it) but you can take advantage of Disney's year-long celebration theme and visit for free on your birthday. And I don't care how old you are, there is always something enchanting about the Magic Kingdom. If you enter free and bring picnic food along, the trip will only cost you the price of fuel.

To sign up for free admission on your birthday, visit http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/ and click on the link on the right side of the page that reads "Free Admission on Your Birthday."

For additional inexpensive vacation ideas, I asked around the community. I compiled a list of the responses I received below.

l Erin Holloway, recreation supervisor for Hanford, suggested visiting a nearby campsite -- overnight or for the day.

"We've got everything at our fingertips; the Sequoias, Yosemite," Holloway said.

Holloway also suggested the concept of "staycations" -- vacations you take inside your community. As an example, Holloway said you could spend a day at Hidden Valley Park at 11th Avenue and Cortner Street in Hanford for free.

"You can fish there or barbecue," Holloway said. "Feed the ducks, pack your sandwiches, pack your juice boxes and pack a board game and you've got your whole day. It's absolutely free."

l Dee Fricks, curriculum consultant for the Kings County Office of Education, said an inexpensive stay-at-home vacation she did with her children when they were younger was to set up a tent in the backyard and camp out.

"We told stories, we did crafts, we played games and made smores," Fricks said. "They loved sleeping outdoors all night."

l Rob Bentley, a teacher at Pioneer Middle School, said he takes his family on a drive up to Reimer's Candies, Gifts & Ice Cream in Three Rivers or to Kaweah Lake for an inexpensive and quick get-away. Take Highway 198 right up to Three Rivers. It goes right by Kaweah Lake.

"There are plenty of spots to pull over and enjoy the views or a dip in the river at Slick Rock or in the lake," Bentley said.

l Janet Barbeiro, secretary to the superintendent of Hanford Joint Union High School District, said she recently went to Long Beach and visited the Aquarium of the Pacific and took a whale-watching tour. She said she visited Priceline.com before her trip and made hotel reservations at the Hilton for $65 per night. She also pre-purchased the aquarium tickets online to save more money. Aquarium tickets bought online in advance were $18.95 per adult, Barbeiro said.

"We had a really good time for not a lot of money," she said.

l Erma Urias, coordinator of family and youth development for the Kings County Office of Education, said as a single mom of five, she always spent inexpensive vacations. She recalled taking her children to San Francisco and parking by the BART station and riding it to the Embarcadero, and just paying the cost of the BART tickets and gas.

l Karen McConnell, director of special services for Hanford Elementary School District, suggested a day trip to Fresno's Metropolitan Museum, which would only cost the price of gas and the museum admission ticket.

"The cost for the trip up and the price of admission is well worth it for the ... love of learning that you can experience," McConnell said.

l Lisa Butts, teacher at Hanford West High School, and Ed Martin, assistant principal at Lemoore High School, both said they find sitting in their own backyards to be the best vacation of all.

"I plan to sit in my backyard with my beautiful wife and kids and watch the dog harass the cat," Ed Martin said. "Now that's my idea of an inexpensive vacation."

l Silvia Sandoval, a teacher at Corcoran High School, suggested visiting relatives in different cities you haven't seen in a long time. If you stay with the relatives, you won't pay anything for accommodations.

"It gives you a chance to see a new place and reconnect with your loved ones," Sandoval said.

l Dwight Miller, superintendent of Lemoore Union High School District, said he plans to spend his upcoming spring vacation at the Central Coast.

"We live near some of the best geography in the world, with the Sierras and the Pacific within two hours," Miller said. "Cayucos fits the bill. Long walks and picnics at Montanoa de Oro State Park would be part of this time away, along with a little golf at Morro Bay. Beach walks, watching my dogs sniff things and chase birds is part of this idyllic spring week. Finally, the prospect of reading some good books and spending time with family and friends fills me with a peaceful joy."

The reporter can be reached at 583-2424.

(March 29, 2009)