YES! We did that for a stay at The Great Wolf Lodge last year. Was a great time.

It will, give it time and keep on doing what you're doing! Many people have seriously overextended themselves in their homes, which has created a huge mess and I don't think it's bottomed out yet.

I probably should have mentioned that having one child in a wheelchair seriously cuts out some options for vacation. But really, anything can be overcome if you put your mind to it. Just takes a little more planning and work.

I'm using nursing services this week so the one daughter and I can go canoeing and then the 3 of us will do something together on the other days.

Something hilarious.......right this minute on the tv I'm listening to ways you can do vacation on a strict budget and close to home. Funny how god will provide....

You guys are great!

I didn't have much money when My kids were growing up but we had some fun times.. Just do what you can afford to and enjoy the time with your kids. They will understand......

As much as you talk about camping heather, you should have had it all planned out inexpensively before the time off. Outdoor adventure is cheap. You can take a family outing with food and beverage and camping sites for as little as a hundred bucks. It sounds like you were not sure on plans up to the last minute and then "Just winged it" and it ended up costing more. Plan and budget next time. Create the memories for the kids. They will be oblidged to help in your planning. Maticulous planning saves dollars. That's why I have my adventure packlist thread up. On this years adventure I really have to budget time and money absolutely effectively to work. Unlike my monster adventure in 2007 where I sold some gold I panned and had disposable income to play with. What should have cost me $2500 ran close to $5400. Still cheaper than a $6000 cruise. But I rode 7000 miles on a motorcycle, 17 states, 12 national parks, and climbed 14,270 foot mount evans first on my bike. Then on a rope. I did rocky mountain national park, peak to peak, royal gorge bridge, 3 sisters, mesa verde national park, 4 corners, monument valley national park, grand canyon tip to tip, got arrested solo climbing in kaibob national park, uahlipu state park, death valley, joshua tree national park, sequoia, inyo, and yosemite. It was quite a vacation. 40 days. This years vacation is on a budget of 20 days, and $2500. And many wonderful, dangerous, and adventurous things to do.

Thank you! They are at the library's summer reading program right now but will be home shortly and eagerly awaiting my decision..... It's all I've heard for the last few days...."what are we going to do today?".

Do you have a minor league baseball team near you? Or a small racetrack? Often, tickets for games and stuff are as little as $5, they often have family packs with tickets, hot dogs, sodas, etc for about $25.

Also, if you live near a state park, check out any programs there. Many offer nature walks, etc that are free or really, really cheap. Pack some pb&j's and a pitcher of water and voila, you're all set. Local museums also tend to offer kids programs for free or really cheap.

We tent camp for now....and the kiddo in the wheelchair will only tolerate a day or two. I've been looking all summer for a cheap pull behind I can gut out and make handicap accessible. Hopefully by next year that will be a reality. Camping is for sure the most economy friendly vacation there is right now.
I won't be rock climbing with this fat arse......but I hope you have fun!!....

Good ideas! Columbus Clippers are home on Thursday. Might add that to the list of possibilities!

Spend it like ya got it

Brings back good memories from my own childhood. We used to spend a lot of time at Riley Creek. Looking for crawdads in the summer and traipsing around in the water and ice skating on it in the winter.

I'm off to shower and get ready for the day..11:30 and I haven't showered yet.........usually have been at work for 5 hours by now. Yay vacations!

Keep those good ideas coming!

I camp at KOAs and have a card. I carry a cookstove, oatmeal, canned chicken, noodles, a fishing rod n reel, and everything else you can imagine on a motorcycle. I will be camping out exclusively on this adventure. And lack nothing. Ohio is great this summer. Here's a tip- get on the net and look up campsites where you are interested in going. Look at all amenities and what they have to offer. Call them. You will be surprised to find some of these private campgrounds have more luxuries and amenities than a luxury resort and offer unbelievable compensation packages. We have did this in the past and have found some serious great places we return to because of the bargain and benefits they offer. Can't find them if you don't look for them.

Planning is a good thing and has it's place and all. There is also something to be said for winging it. Some of the best times I have had were trips that I planned pretty well, but changed as I saw fit. I try to ask the locals, wherever I go, "What is there to do fun around here?". I have gotten some amazing advice and it usually led to something that was free or mostly free.

It might be the best spot on the river, the best lookout, a campsite with tame wild animals, an old house (haunted of course), or whatever. It doesn't cost anything to ask.

Yes. Asking around always leads to great inexpensive adventures. Word of mouth can be wonderful.

Make sure to take lots of pics and some videos!!

Pick up random things where you go...

(I brought along a few baggies in my purse/pockets)

at some point, it was great fun to take out the pictures, take out all the random things we picked up and make a scrapbook of the time!

I was always picking up things on sale to use for these projects...kept them in a box...funny, even when my children got older, we would sometimes take out the box of "prized rif raf" and put together a scrap book of sorts...

Those are so priceless now...they can never be replicated...


and the kids and I talked and talked and talked while we were doing these projects...

Just have fun with your children...sometimes, it is fun to just color!!

And, for the non-campers here, there are lots of relatively inexpensive motels in almost every place you want to go. Those take a lot of searching sometimes and a great ability to be flexible. When you're working within a budget, the mantra is "clean and safe." But, I've gotten hotel rooms for as little as $10 before. Sign up on every motel chain website, they will send e-mails of non-advertised specials, etc (which is how I got my $8.88 hotel room at Super 8). It was clean, in a safe neighborhood and had a pool

Never, ever (unless you're thrilled with the price), pay in advance for a hotel. Book a room, sure, but if you pay in advance, you're stuck if you come up with something better. Many hotels, especially those away from well-travelled roads (interstates and such) will lower their rates significantly a few days before if they're not booked. And look for ones who offer breakfast, even if it is cereal and toast! Save you money right there

how old are your kids?

I buy season passes to Six Flags for my son and me. $200 and I can go anytime from April to November

My kids are 11 (twins).