Under $100: Asheville, N.C.

Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville, N.C., is a smart pick for those on a shoestring. With a busy downtown and access to hostels, camping and plenty of trails, Asheville is a fun, mid-sized city with lots of Appalachian charm.

Waking up at Sweet Peas Hostel is a great place to start a day in Asheville, where comfortable private “pods” cost only $35 a night. From there, stroll over to Malaprops cafe and bookstore for a “Rocket Surgery”— one of their specialty drinks made with macadamia nut mocha ($4.25).

For architecture buffs, just walking along the city streets can be its own reward in Asheville. The town boasts one of the most fantastic collections of Art Deco-style buildings in the country. Asheville residents play up the genteel, old-fashioned feel and there are a number of vintage boutiques where you can spend the cash you saved by staying at a hostel.

Snag a fried green tomato sandwich at the Sunny Point Cafe ($9.50) and get ready to explore one last place in Asheville that’s completely free: the beautiful Smoky Mountains. Several scenes from The Hunger Games were filmed in the area, and fans can visit recognizable locations at Triple Falls and DuPont State Forest.