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America’s Best Low-Cost Cities to Visit

Inexpensive diversions in beautiful — and budget-friendly — towns

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2. Branson, Mo.

This mecca of mainstream entertainment in the heart of the Arkansas Ozarks packs ’em in with good-value Grand Ole Opry-style venues, family-friendly revues, amusement parks, miniature golf courses and wax museums. Midrange hotel chains and reasonably priced family-run resorts rule the day, and a new airport, combined with the expansion of the existing airport, has ushered in low-cost airlines and competitive fares. More good news: Most businesses are up and running again after recent tornado damage. Look for ongoing packages, deals and coupons on the websites of the Branson Tourism Center or the Branson Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. — Photo by Age Fotostock/Getty Images (The Uptown Cafe Diner)

En español | Even in these penny-pinching times, it’s easy to satisfy a case of wanderlust in the sprawling, diverse American landscape. The United States has plenty of lovely locations where the cost of living is low and the diversions are free or inexpensive. Here are some of America’s best-value cities.

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Las Vegas                      Amsterdam

New York City                Paris

London                          Phoenix

Chicago                         Beijing

Acapulco                       Seattle

Bora Bora                     Easter Islands

Fire Island                    Galapagos Islands 

Santorini                      Martha's Vineyard

San Juan                      Virgin Islands

Capri                             French Polynesia

Grand Canyon                 Badlands

Algonquin                        Yellowstone

Yorkshire Dales                Kruger 

Gettysburg                       Glacier Bay

Walt Disney World           Flinders Ranges

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