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Post by bwife on Nov 7, 2014 1:54:53 GMT
A little bit of a background info... We are a family of 5 ( kids, 12, 15 and 18) We live in the Midwest, KC area . We go on a larger vaca every 2 years and usually do nothing the off yrs. Summer of 2015 will be our vacation yr. Last summer ( 2013) we did 10 days in Cali. Covered as much of the state as possible. While it did cost us a bit, We felt it was worth it as it was the vacation before our DS senior yr of High school. 2 years before that we traveled through South Dakota. 2 years before that was Disney World / florida. So now... While we usually have the $ to spend on a vacation, I would like to cut back this year. With DS in college and our house needing somethings ( its at that age where things are starting to need replaced) I would like to put more $$ towards the college fees and house then into a large vacation. And as easy as it would be to say, No vacation this year. My DH works hard for everything we have and he really looks forward to getting away for the week or 2. So cutting it out, is not really an option.
So... this is where I need help! Tell me where you have been or have done that you would consider a "cheap" or "Budget" vacation! We are willing to drive... I would rather not fly as the airfare could get expensive for the 5 of us and then we would need to rent a car/van when we got there. ( that is what made our trip so expensive in cali! but DH did not want to spend the extra days to drive) And I guess I should add, We have been to all of the Major cities around us... St. Louis, Chicago, Dallas for small and Large trips in the past.
I am looking forward to hearing where the peas have gone! TIA!
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tomboymama
Junior Member
Posts: 97 
Location: NE Missouri
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Post by tomboymama on Nov 7, 2014 2:09:23 GMT
We live in Missouri and our favorite budget vacations so far were to Michigan. Not too far of a drive. The dunes and beaches are beautiful. Lots of quaint little towns. We enjoy outdoors activities like kayaking or hiking, and there was plenty of that. We went tall ship sailing.
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Post by msbee on Nov 7, 2014 2:31:14 GMT
drive to colorado. Rent a vacation condo in a ski area in the summer. It's off season so it's lower cost. Head for Winterpark. It's not too far to Denver for day trips and it's close enough to Rocky Mountain National Park.
spend a week exploring that area. Then head for Arches National Park and Colorado National Park. As long as you don't eat all your meals out it could be a less expensive vacation.
You can go hiking, swimming, rafting, hit musuems in Denver etc
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Nov 7, 2014 2:35:20 GMT
What do you like to do on vacation? Sight-see? Historical things? Shop? Hike?
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Post by cmpeter on Nov 7, 2014 2:38:17 GMT
I am not familiar with the areas around you that are within driving distance. But, some of our favorite less expensive vacations involve driving to visit family in nearby states. Sometimes we book a rental with AirBNB, a hotel, VRBO or stay with family. Then we play tourist and take advantage of the activities/experiences that are unique to that area...hiking, rivers, museums, etc.
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Post by freecharlie on Nov 7, 2014 2:43:05 GMT
I agree with Colorado. You could do the denver metro area, the Colorado springs and surrounding area, up the i-70 corridor, hit the western slope, go south and hit the sand dunes and Mesa verde, or go up north in the mountains.
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Post by supersoda on Nov 7, 2014 2:56:53 GMT
I would rent a cabin or a beach house. Any city where you want to go sight-seeing is going to make entertainment costs high. With a cabin or beach house, your biggest expense will be lodging. You can mitigate your food costs and manage your entertainment costs based on your budget.
I suggest Gulf Shores, AL for budget-friendly beach condos and agree with the Corado suggestions. We rented a cabin in Creede, CO a few years ago, and it was very economical and so pretty there.
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Post by 950nancy on Nov 7, 2014 3:29:54 GMT
Colorado has awesome sights! Pretty drives for miles and miles. I prefer a beach, but that isn't cheap for a family of five.
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Post by bwife on Nov 7, 2014 3:47:42 GMT
What do you like to do on vacation? Sight-see? Historical things? Shop? Hike? We like to sight see, although we dont hike, My kids love to see stuff outdoors. They LOVED South dakota and their favorite spot in Cali was Yosemite and Sequoia National forest. they also liked seeing the Space Shuttle in LA. Most places we go ( like Cali) we figure we might not ever get the chance to come back, So we make a list of what we want to see while we are there and try and see as much of it as possible.  |
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Post by bwife on Nov 7, 2014 3:50:36 GMT
I am not familiar with the areas around you that are within driving distance. But, some of our favorite less expensive vacations involve driving to visit family in nearby states. Sometimes we book a rental with AirBNB, a hotel, VRBO or stay with family. Then we play tourist and take advantage of the activities/experiences that are unique to that area...hiking, rivers, museums, etc. that would be great, Except most of our family is here... the farthest someone is from my side is 4 hrs ( that is my dad and we see him a few times a yr) and DH's family is all here ( 20 mins from us) except his brother is in Cali. they have been there only a yr now ( before that lived here) and he just saw them in April. He went to a conference for work that was in BIL town. so he stayed with them. |
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Post by bwife on Nov 7, 2014 3:52:38 GMT
I will look into Colorado. that is one place we have not been. I was kind of saving that trip for when we drive to 4 corners and the grand canyon. that will happen before our youngest graduates. it is his dream to see the grand canyon and I have 2 that want to touch 4 corners. lol
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Nov 7, 2014 3:54:34 GMT
What do you like to do on vacation? Sight-see? Historical things? Shop? Hike? We like to sight see, although we dont hike, My kids love to see stuff outdoors. They LOVED South dakota and their favorite spot in Cali was Yosemite and Sequoia National forest. they also liked seeing the Space Shuttle in LA. Most places we go ( like Cali) we figure we might not ever get the chance to come back, So we make a list of what we want to see while we are there and try and see as much of it as possible. Mm. Well, I'm not outdoorsy, so I've got nothing. I'm sorry. |
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Post by ntsf on Nov 7, 2014 4:13:02 GMT
how about camping in yellowstone or colorado...we only car camped when I was a kid...super cheap.
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Post by bwife on Nov 7, 2014 14:02:24 GMT
how about camping in yellowstone or colorado...we only car camped when I was a kid...super cheap. we are not tent campers. We tried that 1x. it was a JOKE! We use to have a camper and go camping a few times every summer, But since the kids have gotten older and they had school stuff and jobs, it got harder to go, So this last spring we sold the camper. |
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Post by bearmom on Nov 7, 2014 14:12:35 GMT
We live in Missouri and our favorite budget vacations so far were to Michigan. Not too far of a drive. The dunes and beaches are beautiful. Lots of quaint little towns. We enjoy outdoors activities like kayaking or hiking, and there was plenty of that. We went tall ship sailing. I second Michigan. You can drive up the lakeshore and around the UP. You said you weren't tent campers, but many of the state parks in MI have mini cabins or campers for rent. My patents do this several times each summer as they don't tent camp either. |
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Post by alissa103 on Nov 7, 2014 15:40:43 GMT
I think I'd rent a cabin in an outdoorsy area that had things do do in the area (guided hikes, zip lining, fishing, etc.) Your kids are the perfect ages for this and it'll make some fun family memories. Maybe Arkansas? Or Smoky Mountain state park/east TN. But not in the middle of summer as it's stinking hot. Or yeah, Michigan!
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basketdiva
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,699
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Post by basketdiva on Nov 7, 2014 15:45:58 GMT
Once you decide on a location, check Visitor Bureaus websites for discounts. Even if it's only a $1 or @ person, they add up. If you have AAA, always ask about discounts. If you stay at a hotel, ask the desk clerk for dining recommendations. Staying at a La Quinta and some Choice locations, the clerk gave us idea and said if we showed our room key, we would get a 10% discount.
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Post by ukfan on Nov 7, 2014 15:47:38 GMT
I am another that would recommend Michigan. If you have 2 weeks I would stay one week in the lower peninsula on the West Coast and rent a house and do daytrips - Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, Holland, Grand Rapids (Gerald R Ford museum), Rockford, Lake Michigan, Saugutuck. Then I would rent a house near Cheboygan / Mackinac City so I could travel the UP. I would do Mackinac Island, Sault St. Marie, Canada, Lafayette, Marquette, Pictured Rocks.
So many beautiful options.
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likescarrots
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,879
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Post by likescarrots on Nov 7, 2014 16:27:40 GMT
What about driving to Louisiana/new Orleans? It would be a bit of a drive, but once you are there, tons of things to explore.
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