Affordable Holiday Adventures

Tis the season to be taking advantage of the assortment of holiday events being offered from coast-to-coast. Whether you want to travel near or far, there are a slew of winter wonderland-themed attractions just waiting to be enjoyed by your entire family. And the best part–you won’t have to drain your wallet to experience them: California: The Viejas Outlet Center in Alpine ushers in the holidays with the opening of the largest outdoor ice skating rink in Southern California. If that doesn’t get you in the holiday spirit head to the San Diego North County community of Carlsbad for two … Continue reading

Simple and Affordable Seasonal Fun

Summer 2012 officially ends on Friday. However, that doesn’t mean the end of outdoor family fun. Fall marks the start of apple and pumpkin-picking season. Whether you live in the north, south or mid-Atlantic, the nation is teeming with farms that allow visitors of all ages to pick their own produce. These u-pick farms offer fresh fruits and vegetables at affordable prices. What’s more, you will be able to bond with your clan in the great outdoors, which is a priceless experience for most folks. In addition, if you have kids, visiting a farm is a great way to show … Continue reading

Affordable Fall Family Fun

The first day of autumn is just two weeks away, and just because Wal-Mart and Target already have their Christmas displays up doesn’t mean you should fast forward over this wonderful season. Fall is a great time to bond with your family in the great outdoors before Old Man Winter arrives and your kids refuse to move away from the warm TV. To help spice up the season, consider attending ones of the following fall-themed parades, festivals and kid-friendly events that won’t bust your family’s budget: Half Moon Art and Pumpkin Festival, San Francisco, California: On October 13-14, you can … Continue reading

More Fun Spring Festivals for Families

Ready for a spring fling? With the economy in the dumpster most families have a tight grip on their budgets. However, this doesn’t mean you have to skip out on a much-needed spring break. Rather than jet off to an overpriced resort, consider sticking closer to home and visiting one of the dozens of unique spring festivals being offered from coast-to-coast, most of which are free or exceedingly affordable: WASHINGTON Who says you have to fly thousands of miles to view flowering tulips this spring? Instead of jetting off to the Netherlands, consider traveling to Skagit Valley, Washington. Located between … Continue reading

Affordable Winter Escapes—-Iceland

Well, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why travel deals abound to this destination this time of year. As I continue my series on affordable winter escapes I’m spotlighting Reykjavik. The Icelandic capital city excels at embracing cold weather by offering a host of outdoor festivals and fun activities during a time when most of us are looking for the nearest fireplace and cup of hot chocolate. In Reykjavik family friendly events heat up in the winter months, most notably with Þrettándinn (or Twelfth Night) on January 6, which features Elfin-inspired dances, bonfires, and winter-inspired games for children. … Continue reading

Family Vacation Planning Fun

There is not very much that is more enjoyable in life than a fun summertime family vacation. But how do you decide where to go and what to do? Most families have only one week a year (worth of time and money) to enjoy a vacation and since the world is so big and there are so many amazing places to see and share with our children, how can we ever choose? Personally, I love to involve my girl in just about everything we do as a family – from cleaning her baby sister’s room to picking out the wallpaper … Continue reading

Family Vacation at Dollywood

Just about everyone loves Dolly Parton and for one of the best family vacations, you can visit her theme park – Dollywood. Located in the beautiful Smoke Mountains of Tennessee, this park is spread out over 125 acres. While there are many excellent theme parks, Dollywood has been rated among the top contenders. We visited a few years ago and I have to say – I WAS IMPRESSED! Some of the rides in the park include The Thunderhead, an award-winning wooden roller coaster, as well as live entertainment, glassblowing, woodcarving, kiddie rides, and much more. If you want some place … Continue reading

Family Travel Budget Savers

If you are a budget-conscious family trying to find a summer vacation destination that is kid-friendly and affordable, then this is the blog for you. Finding ways for a family of four to enjoy a day or evening together without having to shell out a ton of money to cover the cost of admission or pricey meals can be a challenge. However, it is possible. All it takes is a little planning and creativity. Here are some of my favorite suggestions: For $10: · Pack a picnic; strap it to your bikes and head to one of the many local … Continue reading

Affordable Family-Friendly Festivals

You’ve heard it echoed in neighborhoods, playgroups, offices, grocery stores, even in the doctor’s waiting room. Seems like you just can’t escape “it.” “It” is the insanely high price of gas and nowadays, it’s the topic of conversation wherever you go. Ironically, it was a topic brought up last weekend during a mini-road trip my family took to attend a local Kite Festival. Ironic, because like many families, the skyrocketing price of gas has forced us to eliminate our “big” summer road trip. Instead, we have opted to save gas (and money) by attending a variety of area festivals that … Continue reading

End of Summer Budget Savers

Labor Day is fast approaching. For many families the holiday weekend is the last chance for them to soak up summer fun before the new school year begins. However, when you are working on a tight budget, it can be challenging to commit to a high-priced weekend getaway. Fortunately, there are a number of affordable end of the summer travel options available across the country for clans to consider, including: Outdoor Adventures: Outdoor enthusiasts will be able to stretch their end of the summer dollar by taking advantage of the Labor Day Overland AdvenTour sale. The deal includes 40% off … Continue reading