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Visit Your Area’s Tourist Attractions To Save On Vacation Costs
August 25th, 2010 by Susanne Myers, under Vacations. No Comments
Many folks growing up in the “old days” went through the same money problems that people are going through today… there just isn’t enough to go around. We learned how to get by with less money, which meant we watched our budget closely and had to cut out anything that wasn’t necessary. Vacations during school holidays was one of those things we lived without. We did, however, figure out how to have fun a little closer to home on our budget.
Vacationing close to home doesn’t necessarily mean missing out on an adventure. Yes, many folks will strip their vacation right down to the bare bones, throwing a tent in the backyard, building campfires, and calling it good. Very young children might find this extremely enjoyable, especially if they get to sleep with the dog, stay up late with flashlights, and eat nothing but s’mores for three days. But, you may have to put a little more thought into your vacation if you have older children.
We know, of course, that the reason you are thinking of vacationing close to home is because you can’t afford to go much further. Some families don’t have the option; it’s either find a destination nearby or call off the vacation. With that said, there actually are some good reasons for exploring your own city, county, and state.
Consider the driving time you’ll be taking out of your brief school break if you head to a distant destination. It’s not much of a vacation when you spend most of your days driving. It’s also not very relaxing. Now, if you take those same seven or eight days and explore a lake nearby, maybe renting a cabin for a couple days, canoe a river the next day, and maybe visit a railroad museum, you’ll be able to enjoy more time together seeing the sights. After your days are over and it’s back to work and school, you’ll have stories to tell other than driving stories!
Besides saving money and saving your precious vacation days, there are other reasons to explore your own corner of the world on your vacation. If you’ve lived in your town or city for any length of time, you’ll notice that you either quit going to see the sights, or you never did. Most people will admit that they rarely explore the local points of interest in their own neck-of-the-woods. Except when family and friends visit, then they scramble to try and find something to do. Wouldn’t it be nice if you took an opportunity to learn about your own area’s unique offerings so that you can proudly escort your visitors around your own town?
That brings us to the learning opportunity for the kids, too. Just because it’s a school vacation, doesn’t mean it can’t be a time for learning. Every child should learn about their own town and state. Children are curious about their surroundings and a vacation traveling the area is not only entertaining, but enriching. You may also provide enough information about your surroundings so your child will have valuable news-worthy items in order to write that report you know they’ll be writing in school!
Time to gather some information about your state or region. Start with your own Chamber of Commerce or travel information center to gather brochures. Also, if you visit local hotels you’ll find brochures displayed to help visiting tourists plan their vacations in your area. Take that information for your family and start exploring the same destinations that the tourists are enjoying. You will find all sorts of new and exciting things to do, especially if you haven’t looked locally for some time now. You may have a fishing contest on one of the lakes in your area or a festival of some kind. With just a short drive, there may be a tower to climb or a cave to explore. How about a zoo, parade, boat tour, or carnival? You’ll never know until you look!
Give your local area a chance to entertain you and your family. You’ll reduce the travel time needed which could give you those extra vacation days needed to play in your family’s very own backyard campground. If your children are very young, this may be the perfect “escape” for them… and you! Remember, life is all about the journey, not about the destination. Relax and enjoy the time you have with your family, whatever you decide to do on your vacation.
Looking for new ways to budget for A Great Family Vacation? Start with simple ideas to account for all your expenses, like Your Family’s Movie Nights. Every penny counts.