Cape May, N.J.

In this lovely corner of the Garden State, birders flock, foodies rejoice, and summer says a long goodbye.

Why it’s a great value: Transportation from Boston is cheap, a rental car isn’t necessary, and despite plenty of high-priced fine dining, you’ll find reasonable food options, too. Plus, visiting in the off-season (after Labor Day) means no beach entrance fees.

How to get there and around: Spirit Airlines (800-772-7117, www.spiritair.com) flies direct from Logan to Atlantic City International Airport for about $100 round-trip. Cape May is a 50-minute drive from the airport. Rent a car or use Tropiano’s private shuttle service (609-383-3402, www.tropianotransportation.com/ac).