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