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A trip to Disneyworld or a similar theme park can be quite expensive. But a vacation doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Here are some ideas for things to do with the kids that are both fun and easy on the wallet.
- The most expensive part of most trips is the hotel room. This can be taken out of the vacation equation by taking a series of day trips to places near your home. Block off two or three days in a row and strike out in a different direction every day. This works especially well with outdoor activities like hiking, visiting the beach or having a picnic. Just be sure to limit distractions by blocking off those days as if you were going to be out of town.
- Camping is not some people’s idea of fun, but it is worth a try for families on a budget. Camping in a state park or national park puts plenty of activities right at your doorstep: hiking, swimming, fishing or sitting around the campfire.
- Pick one activity and then plan your trip around it. This works for day trips or weekend getaways. An activity like visiting an historic site or even trying a new restaurant can become a daylong adventure if you do a little research and find other activities in the area that you will do before or after the main activity. Having everything in the same vicinity saves families from having to take a long drive.
- Rent a place. If you plan on going further away from home or staying someplace longer than the previous suggestions allow, consider renting a condo, cabin or bungalow. Though rents can seem quite steep, they are usually significantly cheaper than choosing to stay in a hotel. Most places have kitchens and even washing machines so that visitors can save money by not eating out and by doing their own wash.
