Search Results for: blog backyard vacation

A Backyard Mystery

This past weekend, I went to Maine for a vacation. One day as I was driving between Belfast and Unity, I saw two headstones in a corner of someone’s front yard. The stones looked very old, and they probably are, as burials in residential yards are not very common any more. Seeing the headstones in someone’s front yard made me wonder how common it is for people to have old graves on their property. As I looked around online, I came across an interesting story out of Tennessee. Apparently, a man was doing some landscaping in his yard and he … Continue reading →

Stretching Your Vacation Dollar

I’m glad we did the bulk of our summer traveling at the beginning of the season because with the price of gas hovering dangerously close to $4 per gallon, the only adventure we can afford now is a campout in the backyard. Exorbitant gas prices are not the only money trap associated with family travel. Hotel room sticker shock is another common problem frugal families face when planning a getaway. Fortunately, there are ways you can stretch your vacation dollar when booking a hotel room: Timing is Key: Hotel rates fluctuate according to availability. For example, if a property is … Continue reading →

Getting Your Home Ready for Summer Vacation

It seems that summer is always ready before I am. I still haven’t finished all of the spring cleaning before everyone gears up for the summer activities. Even though my oldest child will be in school for almost another month, there are already evening summer activities lined up, such as music concerts on the lawn and summer barbecue parties. As the mom, I will be expected to host everything from backyard camp outs to worm gardens, all while smiling in my matching short set and carrying a cool pitcher of lemonade. Forget the fact that there is still insulating plastic … Continue reading →

Saving Money on Your Summer Vacation—Work It!

Continuing my series on ways to save on your summer vacation I’m turning my attention to a unique alternative that I doubt would appeal to those of you who enjoy leaving the daily grind behind to relax on a powdery white sand beach. However, if you are on a tight budget and can’t stomach spending a summer camping in your own backyard then you might not be turned off by the idea of taking a working vacation. If you have a passion for lighthouses consider heading to Northport, Michigan this summer. The Grand Traverse Lighthouse offers visitors the chance to … Continue reading →

Fueling Your Summer Vacation with Gas Savers

A couple of years ago I blogged about the incredible amount of North American lodgings offering gas-saving travel deals to vacationers who were keeping a close eye on their wallets. Well, here we go again. With the price of gas nearing record highs tourism officials around the nation are pulling out all the stops to lure visitors to their neck of the woods. One state making headlines with their new fuel discounts is New Hampshire. The state’s Division of Travel and Tourism Development has wallpapered New Hampshire and its surrounding states with ads for gas-saving travel deals. They include: The … Continue reading →

More Ways To Save Money On Vacation

Where will you be spending the Labor Day holiday weekend? The American Automobile Association estimates more than 20 million travelers will hit our nation’s highways and drive more than 50 miles sometime in the next four days. If you are planning to take to the roads this holiday you’ll find gas prices nationwide currently averaging $2.75 for a gallon of self-serve regular. That is down fifteen cents from a month ago and ten cents lower than last year. In my neck of the woods we are shelling out about $2.93 for a gallon of regular unleaded, which I still find … Continue reading →

Single Parent Vacations: Vacationing at Home

When we live in an area for any amount of time, we are usually so busy working and taking care of our family and homes that we don’t see all the reasons it would be a great place to take a vacation. Even when we do see the reasons, we don’t usually get a chance to visit the places that could be so much fun. That’s why staying where you are would be a great place to take your first single parent vacation. Now I’m not saying stay home, though you do have that option, I wouldn’t suggest it. If … Continue reading →

Do You Avoid Taking Vacations?

Have you ever avoided taking a vacation because you didn’t want to hassle with the planning? Do you regularly avoid taking a vacation because you figure it’s simply not worth the effort? If you answered yes, you are far from alone. According to a new study, more and more Americans are eschewing traditional vacations and working down time into their everyday lives. Frankly, the study results shocked me. I love taking vacations. In fact, when I worked outside the home I regularly counted the days until the start of my vacations. I couldn’t wait to take a break from the … Continue reading →

2006 in Review: Homeschooling Blog at a Glance

As a new homeschooling blogger at Families.com, I wanted to know everything that has been discussed to date. In response to my own curiosity, and in an effort to make perusing our articles easier for you, our readers, I have compiled all of the blogs for the year 2006. Deciding to Homeschool Why homeschool Am I qualified for this? Reasons that Homeschooling Works! My Most Important Advice for Homeschoolers. The Cost of Homeschooling Instead of standing up for their own kids, why not stand up for all kids? Disclaimer: I am hardly an expert in education. Did You Know? ‘Empirical … Continue reading →

Creating Your Own Backyard Water Park

Yesterday was sunny and warm, with just enough of a breeze to make playing outside tolerable. Perfect conditions for a BYOP party. BYOP or Bring Your Own Pool was the theme of our playgroup’s last get together of the season. (My daughter’s playgroup goes on hiatus during the summer months when families are on vacation and older children are home from school.) The premise was simple, the results were phenomenal, and the idea for a homemade water park is one I just had to share. Just as the invitation stated, each mom was responsible for contributing a plastic kiddie pool … Continue reading →