Summer is almost upon us again as I write this and I know what millions of families are doing: they are prepping for a 1-week or 2-week vacation. It's fun to take the kids somewhere new and show them a part of the wider world. It's also expensive. As the years have rolled by we've experimented with different types of vacations. I've learned that you don't have to fly 10,000 miles to have a great trip.
Here are a few ideas that we've tried, and maybe a couple that we have discussed with friends. What I like about these ideas is that they reduce travel time, expenses, and family frustration. I hope you find some great ideas in this article.
1. Visit Local Venues
Whether you go camping, visit an amusement park, or just go visit friends and relatives, plan a vacation that doesn't require more than four hours' drive from home. Even a two-hour trip takes you about 100 miles from home.
The idea is to stay in a hotel or a camping spot so that you really do get away from home. There are reservoirs with campgrounds in many states. You'll find hotels close by, water activities, and even boat rentals. You might even be able to rent a time-share houseboat. We did that one year.
You're not likely to find 5-star accommodations in any of these local venues. These are places you've heard about from your friends and family and everyone eventually makes a visit. So take a few cleaning items with you to sanitize and deodorize your accommodations.
My wife always packs anti-allergen Febreeze and air freshener. We spray down the place and air it out for a few minutes before settling in. You'll be glad to know that most types of Febreeze contain alcohol so they act as mild disinfectants. But we take a more seriously cleaning agent along, too.
Depending on where you live you can dig for gems, pan for gold, go white water rafting, canoeing, camping, hiking through the woods, and do other outdoor things with the kids. And nearly every town over 5,000 population has at least one museum, although you're not likely to be impressed with most museums.
You could look for special venues that have been featured on television, such as haunted houses, old forts, battleground parks, and similar memorials.
2. Fly 2 States Over
Any plane trip that lasts more than 2 hours will be too long for the kids and too expensive for most families. But a 1-2 hour flight is pretty cheap. You can take the family to a big city attraction they won't normally get to see because it's too far to drive.
The great thing about flying to your destination is that it helps you really feel like you're traveling. You go to the airport, pass through security, ride the shuttles, pick up your luggage, and all that. You can even treat the kids to an airport dining experience if they have never done that.
When all is said and done, you have more choices for higher quality accommodations on these kinds of trips. Instead of looking for a hotel in a small town you're choosing from hotels in a city. And there are some really nice medium budget hotels, like La Quinta Inn & Suites or Residence Inn. You'll find plenty of these kinds of hotels near the airports and big cities.
The best budget hotels to stay in are either newly opened or recently renovated. You can usually find lists of grand openings on the hotels' official Websites. So before you decide what destination you want, see where you can save some money AND stay in a nice budget hotel.
You'll be able to visit more theme attractions including shows, theme parks, large museums, and special entertainment venues.
3. Take a Staggered Road Trip
Have you ever driven across country? I have. Doing 2500 miles in a single vacation run is crazy. You drive all day, look for a cheap hotel at night that you're not afraid to sleep in, and then hit the road again in the morning.
Along the way you have to squeeze in bathroom breaks, lunches, snacks, gas fill ups, and emergency stops for one thing or another. By the time you reach your destination you're already exhausted. If you have to drive for 3-4 days to get to your vacation spot, how much time will you be able to stay there? Maybe 3 days tops, right?
A few years ago we started taking staggered road trips. Instead of driving three days straight we leave late in the morning and drive half a day to our first destination. We spend two nights there. So we enjoy ourselves for a full day before hitting the road again.
I found that by plotting a semi-circular path I can cover 4 nice stops in about 8 days. Driving time averages around 6 hours. One year we went east. Another year we went north. Last year we went west.
By taking our time and not trying to cross the entire country we found we were able to enjoy ourselves and our company much more easily. Those shorter road trips between hotels gave us time to wander around in a few extra tourist stops. You know the kind: they are curious shops with a lot to offer, but you don't want to spend an entire day there.
I like to get out of the car and walk around for about 20 minutes every 1-2 hours. This is good for your health and it gives the kids a chance to burn off some energy. Your pets will love you, too, if you take them along.
I Wish I Had Known All This Years Ago
The first time I led my own family vacation was fun. It wasn't a disaster. But it led to a few surprises, not to mention some unexpected expenses. That's life. You make mistakes along the way and learn from them.
But there is nothing wrong with learning from someone else's mistakes, too. My hope is that you and your family will enjoy nice, fun vacations every year. Cherish those moments with the kids because when they grow up you'll miss the shared experiences.
