Patrick St George

One-tank trips in five states

(CNN) -- Money's tight and gas prices are high, but a change of scenery is good for the soul.

As much of the country tries to balance prices at the pump with the all-American summer vacation, we asked six reporters across the country to share easy road trip recommendations from their stomping grounds.

CNN's Reynolds Wolf filled up a gas-guzzling Ford Expedition for $99 and traveled east from Waycross, Georgia, to the coastal islands and up to Spanish moss-draped Savannah in a day. Watch the video above to check out that adventure and read on for five more one-tank trip ideas.

On a budget? Take a road trip

MINNESOTA

From: Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Brainerd Lakes Area , home to more than 450 lakes, is about 125 miles from Minneapolis -- a doable one-tank trip. Skip the hotels or fancy lodges and try logging on to the website Vacation Rentals By Owner for a cabin tailored to your needs.

These lakes are home to hundreds of cabins, suitable for families large and small. It can be very economical, not to mention convenient, to have a little house all to yourself. I found a little cabin on Upper Gull Lake with its own stretch of beach and free use of the owner's canoe. The cabin was essentially one large room with a nice queen-size bed, a sitting area with TV, a kitchenette and a bathroom.

As for dining, if you want a fun family atmosphere where you can literally pull up your boat and order, check out Zorbaz on the Lake . It has a big kid-friendly menu and unique adult beverage concoctions, too. This spot can be a little touristy, so if quiet time is a priority for you, just bring something to throw on a grill or makeshift campfire by the beach.

There's plenty of fishing in the area, as well as golf, trails and swimming, and at night you'll have no problem hearing the occasional call of the loon. Not a bad way to spend a night -- or even two. -- Chris Welch

WASHINGTON

From: Kingston, Washington Travel time: About three hours each way

When summer finally arrives in Seattle there's not a moment to spare to take full advantage of the long days and spectacular natural beauty. Everyone here knows how quickly the grey and drizzly weather can return. Luckily you can drive in any direction from Seattle and come across amazing scenery.

My favorite trip is to head West to the Olympic Peninsula, which lies between Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean, and is home to towering snow-capped mountains and Olympic National Park. With temperate rainforests, mountains and amazing camping and fishing, there are more activities in the Olympics than one tank of gas can carry you to. I try to branch out when I go, but one spot I always come back to is Rialto Beach near the Peninsula's westernmost edge.

Zoé Patrick - Local News and Views: St. George's Day in Grove

This evening, I had the pleasure of attending the St George's Day celebrations of Grove Scout Group . The Revd. Paul Eddy gave a blessing and talk and I was the guest speaker and also presented some of the awards. I was a commitee member of 2nd Grove Scout Group in 1993 and became Chairman of the group in 1995 - so I was able to reminisce about old times and the fundraising events we held, especially our Pinewood Derby .  I paid tribute to the scout leaders and in fact all those who volunteered in the community who contributed so much to the whole ethos of scouting. After the speeches, I presented a number of awards and then we were entertained by a wonderful dragon taking on St. George  in a battle (see photo below).  I think that St. George's Day and the scouting movement just goes to show how important it is to keep our traditions in an ever changing world.  'The Big Society' has always been there in scouting and long may it continue.

University of Pennsylvania law review

Slater's national commercial directory of Ireland; including in addition to the trades' lists, alphebetical directories of Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Limerick. To which are added classified directories of the important English towns of Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, West Bromwich, Leeds, Sheffield and Bristol, and in Scotland, those of Glasgow and Paisley

Notes and queries

St Francis / St David / St George / St Patrick / St Andrew

Sadlier's Catholic almanac and ordo for the year of our Lord ...