Just because the economy is down doesn’t mean that you can’t get away with your family. There are many cheap and fun ways to enjoy time away from home. Many of these excursions can also help your family to bond with nature and enjoy the outdoors.
Beach Vacations
Many beaches are free to access. If you have friends or family that live near a beach front area, you can plan to visit them. There are also many affordable hotels if you are willing to stay a few miles inward from the beach instead of right along the coastline. While at the beach, you and your family can enjoy swimming, surfing, building sandcastles, volleyball and relaxation. Save money by packing lunches instead of eating pricey snack stand food.
Camping
Going camping is easy on the wallet and can be exciting. Sleep for free by pitching a tent instead of renting a cabin. Hot dogs and s’mores make great campfire foods and are inexpensive to buy. You can tell scary stories by the campfire by night and go hiking by day. You can even make the trip educational by going bird watching, searching for certain types of leaves or identifying animals.
Lake Front Wonders
Get together with another family and split the cost of renting a cabin near a lake. While at the lake you can enjoy fishing which can serve as both a way to spend the afternoon and have a free dinner by cooking what you catch. You can also enjoy swimming, tubing and other water sports. Make memories that will last a lifetime by doing activities with your kids and the other family. Have races, swimming contests and a competition to see who can catch the biggest fish. At night relax under the stars and enjoy being in nature.