Spring Break Activity Guide Part II

I don't like the term "cheap." I prefer to think of it as going for the best value possible. If I spend too much on a meal, it's hard for me to enjoy it very much. But when I've had a full meal and kept my wallet full, I can feel that much better.

FOOD: The key here is to find those places that are off the beaten path - avoid the mall like the plague, you'll throw your money away and the air is way too sterilized there anyway. Here are a few of the usual suspects:

Taquerias: No, not Una Mas or Baja Fresh. If it's a chain, then avoid it. Those places tend to be over-priced, if not a rip-off. Look for something that actually has "taqueria" in its name. If it's a little dark inside, there's Mexican music playing, and they sell those glass bottles of soda, then you're in the right place. Chances are, you'll get a great deal for a nice big burrito, soft taco (NOTE: most real taquerias don't have hard tacos) or quesadilla.

La Victoria Taqueria is on Santa Clara near San Pedro, and on San Carlos between 3rd and 4th streets in downtown San Jose. Come for the great food, stay for the mind-blowing orange sauce.

Asian: According to Jennifer Lee, author of the book "The Fortune Cookie Chronicles," America has more Chinese food restaurants than McDonald's, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken combined. That's probably because Chinese food is good, and for the most part it's pretty cheap too. Unlike sushi, which costs an arm and a leg to get a nickel-sized roll of seafood, Chinese food gets you more for less money. Then there's Vietnamese food. From sandwiches to soup, it's hard to go wrong with Vietnamese cuisine, but it's not hard to find a good deal.

Lee's Sandwiches is all over the place and offers some of the best deals on sandwiches known to man. The closest one to De Anza College is just down Stevens Creek Boulevard, one block past De Anza Boulevard, but it's a pretty big chain so I'd recommend Googling it.

Don't know what Pho is? It's a kind of noodle soup with your choice of meat or no meat all tossed on top. I like Pho Hoa at 1089 De Anza Blvd. (about three blocks north of Highway 85), but finding your own local pho joint will be a right of passage for the value-oriented diner.

King Egg Roll is god's gift to egg roll lovers. This egg roll mecca is a two-store chain, one at 980 Lundy Ave., the other at 1221 Story Rd., both in east San Jose. I've picked up bags of egg rolls from this place for less than $10.

Burgers/American: That's right, American food still matters. Now, I could list off some cheap restaurants you can go to, but I want to give you real value here. McDonald's is cheap, but about a half hour after devouring some of those burgers cooked under a heat-lamp, you'll feel like curling up into a ball and dying. But there still are good (and cheap) burgers to be found if you look.

In-N-Out Burger is still the one to beat. Even vegetarians like this place (they tell me the grilled cheese sandwich is pretty good). You can get great burgers and fries here for a minimum cost, not to mention the secret menu. Order a "4 by 4", four burger patties and four slices of cheese between two buns, (you can also order a 5 by 5, 6 by 6, etc.) Or try getting that burger "animal style", which is a burger slather with special sauce and grilled onions, or "animal style fries", which is fries covered in cheese, special sauce and grilled onions. Here's a list of In-N-Out restaurants in the area.

East San Jose: 2950 Capitol Expwy. (near Eastridge Mall)

Santa Clara: 3001 Mission College Blvd. (next to AMC Mercado)

Sunnyvale: 604 E. El Camino Real

Mountain View: 53 W. El Camino Real

Coffee: Listen, coffee is coffee. Don't spend $5 for some coffee milkshake that doesn't even get you refills. Go to a diner, or other restaurant that sells coffee and gives you free refills. My favorite is Panera Bread Company. They give you a real mug and as many refills as you want. If I've got to get some serious research done and need coffee to do it, I don't bother with Starbucks or even a local coffee shop, I go to where I can get refilled.

Dumpster diving: Hey, don't knock it till you've tried it. There are plenty of stores that send perfectly good food to go rot in a landfill. This is at the end of my food list because it's something that needs to done carefully. Obviously, you don't want to eat rotten or unclean food, but plenty of the food that gets thrown away each day is clean and fresh (well, not that fresh). One of my favorite dumpsters is Krispy Kreme - they throw out day-out donuts fully packaged and sealed, so they're clean to eat.

STUFF TO DO: I know you've heard this before, but there are plenty of things you can do without spending that much money. You've just got to get away from the beaten path.

Capitol Drive-In Theatres: It's only about $5 for a ticket to a movie here (half price on Tuesdays). But here's the real savings - you smuggle in a couple of friends, split the bill and that $5 price tag gets a lot smaller. Plus it's a unique experience being in a drive-in, and this is one of the last ones in the country. Find it at 3630 Hillcap Ave, just off Capitol Expressway in South San Jose.

Flea Markets and Thrift stores: Heck yeah I want that used circuit board for $2.50! There are so many Flea Markets and thrift shops you can go to, I can't possibly list every one of them. Check out the De Anza College Flea Market on the first Saturday of every month, right here on campus in Parking Lots A & B. Another great place is Saver's, on San Carlos Street and Bascom Avenue. But if you're willing to take the journey, you'll want to go to the mecca of cheap stuff you never knew you needed - Last Chance Mercantile. From old VHS tapes to actual street signs, this place is amazing. You can even get paint. It's located way down in Monterey County, in Marina, to be exact, at 14201 Del Monte Blvd. Take the Beach Road exit off Highway 1 and turn away from the sea. The drive is worth it.