| The family vacation is a tradition intended to bring | | | | vacation and include it in your budget. This is the |
| families closer together and one that many of us | | | | easiest way to prepare for a vacation expense and |
| would just not think of giving up. Quality time for the | | | | take the stress out of planning.Since the goal here is to |
| family reinforces the importance of family values. It's | | | | get the most fun for your money, let's talk about some |
| sort of a "time out" from the day to day routine of | | | | low cost vacation ideas that could be right for your |
| living and growing. A chance to focus on getting to | | | | family.Camping is a great low cost option for families |
| know better those that are most important to us, our | | | | that enjoy the outdoors. Don't worry, you don't have to |
| family. Of course, how much importance you place on | | | | sleep in a tent. There are lots of state parks that rent |
| this event depends on your past experiences.In today's | | | | cabins for a very reasonable fee.I can highly |
| fast paced society a vacation just isn't a vacation | | | | recommend the Finger Lakes area of New York if it's |
| unless its costing you a small fortune to get to, and | | | | a convenient distance for you. About a five hour drive |
| stay at, some exotic venue that usually offers no | | | | for us, it turned out to be one of our most memorable |
| excitement without dishing out more money. I suggest | | | | vacations.I'll warn you, these cabins are booked full up |
| we put on the brakes and get back to basics. You | | | | to a year in advance. So, plan early. Tent spaces |
| surely won't have a better opportunity to do so than | | | | aren't as difficult to book. The park sports an amazing |
| on the family vacation.Let's not forget that the "family" | | | | gorge trail with thundering waterfalls, scheduled nature |
| extends beyond our home life. Most of us have family | | | | learning activities, and a large play ground. The activity I |
| that we rarely get to spend time with either because | | | | think the kids enjoyed the most was the natural |
| of distance or time issues. But, one should always | | | | swimming area, with diving boards, at the bottom of a |
| make time for family. Right? I knew you would agree! | | | | beautiful waterfall.As an added bonus, when you are |
| Not trying to make you feel guilty here but, we do | | | | registered at a state park, you gain free entrance into |
| have a way of letting life rush us through the years. I | | | | all state parks. This area is loaded with beautiful parks |
| call it "non-intentional neglect" and most of us are guilty | | | | full of gorge trails, lake views, and camping facilities. |
| of it at some point in our lives. So, let's re-invent the | | | | And, if you find the time, you can visit the Corning |
| family vacation to include some real quality time that | | | | Glass Museum not far from this campground.This is a |
| reinforces the value of our families.Would you consider | | | | tourist area you will definitely find yourself wanting to |
| a visit to grandparents, distant uncles, or a friend's | | | | revisit. We did not get to see all we had wanted to |
| home a vacation? When I was growing up, the family | | | | see in a weeks time. You are likely to find an area of |
| vacation usually meant visiting family members who | | | | such natural beauty convenient to you as well. Just do |
| lived some distance away. Coming from a family of | | | | a little research, you never know what you'll find! |
| limited finances, this tradition was budget friendly yet, | | | | If you want to beach it, be sure to check out all your |
| was sufficient to satisfy our need to escape the | | | | options for lodging. Sometimes a large family can do |
| norms of home life.Of course, as the teen age years | | | | better by renting a condo or home for the week |
| approached, it became harder and harder for my | | | | rather than staying at a hotel. Remember, you can |
| mom to convince us that "we would have a good | | | | save a tremendous amount of money if you can |
| time" visiting the relatives. Some of which we had | | | | prepare your own meals while on vacation. A good |
| already spent several vacations visiting and had, I | | | | portion of a families vacation budget can be literally |
| guess, lost their uniqueness to us as teenagers. That | | | | "eaten up"! Even a little kitchenette in a suite can save |
| said, if any of you can figure out what makes a | | | | you big bucks.If you're campers, you can almost |
| teenager happy, except socializing with their own | | | | always find a campground near popular beach areas |
| peers, then congrats! Let me know your secret. All | | | | and get maximum savings on lodging.Don't forget your |
| kidding aside, I believe that they still enjoy the family | | | | best resources, friends and family. Ask around to see |
| outings but have a strong resistance to acknowledging | | | | if anyone has visited an area you plan to go. You may |
| that they are actually having fun. In other words, they | | | | get lucky and have a "friend that has a friend" who |
| are having fun and just refuse to admit it!I was a single | | | | maybe has a vacation spot they wouldn't mind renting |
| parent for many years and just didn't have the money | | | | to you for a lesser fee. Sometimes people won't rent |
| for family vacations requiring hotel stays and admission | | | | out their vacation spots for various reasons, but don't |
| fees. I guess I followed in my mother's footsteps in | | | | mind doing so if the tenant is a trusted acquaintance of |
| hoping that a visit out of town would suffice. And it did. | | | | a friend or family member.When travel and lodging are |
| For many years, the family vacation consisted of a | | | | cost prohibitive, you can still have a vacation right at |
| visit to a dear friend or family member's home who | | | | home. Yes, in your own backyard. Many of us live |
| was willing to put up with four kids for a week. These | | | | within reasonable distance to museums, campgrounds, |
| are truly "beloved friends and family!"I am fortunate to | | | | historic sites, and beautiful state parks. You might be |
| have a good friend for life who has two children within | | | | surprised at what you find in your own local area.Do |
| the same age group as my kids. Since we didn't get to | | | | some research in your area to find free or low cost |
| visit often throughout the year, these visits were | | | | activities and sites to visit. Schedule something for |
| exciting for both my kids and hers who had become | | | | each day of the week, even if it's just a park visit for |
| good friends.So, by all means plan to visit a family | | | | a picnic. Some areas have local public beaches. Plan |
| member's, or friend's, home for a week. Young children | | | | an outing at a local public beach. Visit historical sites. |
| especially enjoy these trips. They make new friends | | | | Many of these are free, educational, and fun for |
| and the family ties are strengthened. This is an | | | | parents and kids. |
| excellent way to reinforce family values and the | | | | You can even plan activities at home just as if you |
| importance of keeping in touch with family members | | | | were at an exotic vacation spot. Have a different |
| that may live some distance from your home.Do a little | | | | theme for each day. For example: A beach day (sun |
| research before you go. Find out if there are any | | | | tanning, volley ball, make some fancy icy drinks to sip |
| museums, historical sites, low cost attractions, or state | | | | on in the sun, have a picnic)A camp day (stay in a tent |
| parks within driving distance from where you'll be | | | | or sleeping bags under the stars, build a little fire if |
| staying and plan to visit. Remember to ask the family | | | | allowed in your area, roast marshmallows, make |
| member or friend you are visiting if they have any | | | | smores, sing campfire songs)Have a backyard fair |
| suggestions. Since they live in the area, they will most | | | | (create booths with games like ring toss or balloon |
| likely be aware of popular spots. Ask about bowling, | | | | popping to win little prizes)A colonial day (dress, and |
| roller skating, or special movie nights in the area and | | | | live in another era!). This is great fun. I thought of this |
| plan accordingly. You can even plan some game or | | | | one purely by accident when the electricity went out |
| craft activities to keep everyone busy and having | | | | one day. The kids expressed how "neat' it was to live |
| fun.For those of you who have worn out your | | | | like they did in the "old days." No lighting except candles |
| welcome or simply don't have family within a | | | | and lanterns, no T.V. or radio, no video games or |
| reasonable distance, finding vacation spots that will | | | | computer. Sounds boring, but believe it or not, they had |
| provide a memorable experience for everyone in the | | | | fun coming up with ideas to keep occupied. A good |
| family can be a challenge. Especially on a tight budget. | | | | teaching tool too! |
| Don't be discouraged, it is not impossible. Plan for your | | | | |