This sign greeted me while visiting my parents over the weekend.

Actually, it read, "Welcome to Pennsylvania, Now Get Out." It was an ad at Salt Springs State Park meant to promote outdoor activity in PA.

In these uncertain times when we are trying to relieve stress and save money, I had one of the best weekends of my life. Read on to see how you can do the same...

Each October I try to visit my parents during fall foliage peak season in the Northeast. This time if was different, though, because they recently retired.

I am not sure if it is because they have always loved the outdoors, or if they having a nagging personal trainer as a daughter, but their retirement presents to themselves were a pair of mountain bikes.

It is their new hobby, and a way of traveling, getting exercise and having a refreshing and beautiful experience for free on scenic bike trails that used to be railroad paths. This weekend, we biked and hiked within an hour of their house each day. I am writing today to share the research, that they actually have the time to do, with you.

You have a busy and stressful life. On your next day off, save money, have fun, lose weight, connect with nature and relieve stress by looking up www.railstotrails.org  or www.dcnr.state.pa.us (for the last one, just insert your state's abbreviation instead of PA). I trudged through rainbow leaf-carpeted trails, biked alongside waterfalls and picnicked under a tree canopy surrounded by my family and serenaded by birds.

The cost was almost nothing and the experience was priceless.

Welcome to (insert state here) and get out!