| Stretching a dollar has never been more | | | | important to stay within a few hour's drive. |
| important than it is right now. But if balancing your | | | | Possible destinations include the state capitol of a |
| family budget has meant foregoing the annual | | | | neighboring state, or a nearby metropolitan area |
| summer family vacation, don't despair. These | | | | that offers plenty of free family festivals and |
| money-saving tips will help your family take a few | | | | activities. |
| days together on the cheap. | | | | 4. Consider camping. If your budget is really |
| 1. Get creative about your destination. How many | | | | stretched, camping may be a great way to spend |
| times can one family visit Disney? By breaking | | | | some family quality time and distract the kids |
| out of your annual vacation habits, you may be | | | | from their video games for a week. Even if your |
| able to save as much as 70% on | | | | favorite destination is one of the major theme |
| accommodations -- just by picking a | | | | parks, you can usually find a nearby campground |
| less-than-famous vacation destination. Did you | | | | to reduce your lodging expense. |
| know that Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, was | | | | If you want somebody else to organize the |
| recently named the best amusement park in the | | | | camping experience, consider sending your entire |
| world by Amusement World? If you're staying | | | | family to camp for a week. The American Camp |
| more than a day, consider the pass that also | | | | Association has an online directory that allows you |
| admits you to Soak City water park next door. | | | | to search family camps by location, price and |
| 2. Be flexible in your departure dates. Rather than | | | | length of stay. |
| picking a destination and departure date, let the | | | | 5. Travel after peak season. This may be difficult |
| last minute deals be your guide. You can use an | | | | if you have school-aged kids, but families with |
| online service like Airfarwatchdog,com to keep | | | | babies and preschoolers will find plenty of |
| you informed by email of the best airfares | | | | discounted rates by scheduling a fall vacation. This |
| departing from your city. For the extremely | | | | is particularly true in Southern regions such as |
| flexible traveler, consider a service like that | | | | Mexico and the Caribbean where resort stays are |
| provides last minute travel deals as late as three | | | | much cheaper in the spring and fall. |
| hours before departure. | | | | Working with a budget means getting creative in |
| 3. Choose a destination within driving distance. | | | | every way possible, so break out of your |
| Don't fool yourself into thinking that driving across | | | | vacation rut and start planning a family vacation |
| the country will be cheaper than flying. A | | | | that will build treasured memories -- without |
| gas-guzzling SUV can cost you just much on a | | | | breaking the bank. |
| cross-country jaunt as last-minute airfare, so it's | | | | |