By Lindsey Meier
Is your family itching to get away from the daily routine of work, school and housekeeping? While Disney World or a Caribbean cruise may sound like the vacation of your dreams, that may not be feasible. A less expensive vacation may even prove more relaxing. So why not take it easy with a simple low-cost trip to a nearby paradise. Take a trip that you can save up for quickly, relax to the utmost, and keep everyone entertained.
Closer Means Cheaper and Easier
There's nothing quite like the stress of racing through airports, only to find that you have lost one-third of your baggage, a toddler, and your sanity -and still missed your connecting flight. Every now and then such a trip is just what you need, but not when you are trying to save money or get some serious relaxation. Instead opt for a short drive. Airfare can be ridiculous, especially for a family, and driving cross-country doesn't always save over flying anymore. Besides, a short drive means less whining, less potty breaks, and more time having fun. If you live in the country, head for the closest metropolis. If you are sick of city life, get out of town.
So since you're already online, open up another browser and log onto maps.yahoo or maps.google. Find the towns, parks, and bodies of water within 200 miles of your home, and start dreaming. A 400 mile round-trip drive will cost about $60, which is much less than a one-way plane ticket to anywhere. You can probably find a few fun spots less than an hour away, too.
What To Do
After choosing a couple of nearby vacation spots, check the Internet for city websites or visitor information. You will probably find more things to do than you have time for, so just start making a list for your family to choose from. Break your list down into several categories.
- Nature -bodies of water, geological sites, forests, bat caves...
- Food -restaurants, wineries, dairy farms, orchards...
- Culture -art shows, antique shops, theaters, shopping malls, live music, libraries, museums...
- Sports and Recreation -local teams, playgrounds, horse trails, amusement parks...
You may also have your own stress-busting activities that you want to take with you, such as reading, painting, or scrap booking. So add those to your list, too. You'll find yourself starting to relax just thinking about it.
Find Your Resort
Once you have an idea of what your group wants to do, find a place to stay. If it's couple time, check for a Bed and Breakfast. If the weather is pleasant, look for campgrounds. Cabins and RV rentals may also be options. And of course you can probably find an affordable hotel or two as well. In high tourist traffic areas, some homes or condos are for rent to vacation parties, too. Remember, it doesn't have to be a fancy themed resort with five heart shaped swimming pools and housekeepers dressed in hula skirts to be relaxing.
Make A Smooth Get-Away
If you do it the relaxing way, half the fun of going somewhere can be in the planning. So have fun packing and be sure to make arrangements for any loved ones or pets who will be staying behind. Print out all the information you might need like maps, phone numbers, tickets, and your loosely scheduled itinerary. Remember to pack a camera, cell-phone charger, and a little journal to jot down what you did and saw along the way. Have the kids clean out the car and load up some snacks, then before everyone takes their final trip to the restroom, do a quick clean-up of the house. Packing can be messy. Take out the trash and do the dishes so you won't have any smelly surprises when you return. Coming home to your clean abode is the icing on the cake of easy vacationing.
Do it Again
If you have a good time on your simple and affordable vacation, start planning another one when you return. Since you won't need to recover from post-vacation stress syndrome, you might feel up to another trip sooner than usual. Making a return trip to the same location can be even more relaxing. While going somewhere for the first time is adventurous, having an established retreat can be a great memory building experience for your family. Even if you only do it twice, years later your kids will be saying, “remember when we used to always go there? That was fun.” So go ahead and take that much needed vacation, and actually be glad you did.
Lindsey Meier lives in Texas with the love of her life and their two children. Between diaper changing and dish-washing she enjoys writing, reading and art. Lindsey and her husband aim to live productively and purposefully but don't mind having a little fun along the way.
