Search Results for: blog summer travel expect to pay more at some national parks

Cheap Camping

Camping is one of the most affordable vacation options available, unless you are roughing it at a National Park. Some of this country’s most spectacular natural treasures charge an arm and a leg for lodging, which makes affording a summer getaway quite challenging, especially for families traveling on a tight budget. Fortunately, there are ways you can experience the wonders of nature at some of the country’s most awe-inspiring parks without going broke. The key is timing. Waiting until late summer/early fall when kids are heading back to school and group travel takes a dive, provides you with the opportunity … Continue reading →

Indulge Your Messy Side with Goofy’s Paint ‘n’ Play

Although I desperately want to visit a Disney park, I’m really only interested in attending the domestic ones. I know I’d have a great time at Hong Kong Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, or Tokyo Disneyland, but if I manage to travel in either China, France, or Japan, I’m not going to spend my time at an amusement park. There are far too many other more unique places to visit in each of those countries. Sometimes a story comes along, however, that makes me wish for a second that I could visit an international Disney park. Today I encountered one of those … Continue reading →

National Park Tour—-Adventures in Nature Part 2

If your summer vacations to major malls, amusement parks and water worlds have left you searching for better ways to spend quality time with your family why not consider getting away to the great outdoors? The United States’ national park system is one of the finest in the world. Not only do our country’s natural wonders provide an alternative to long lines and stomach-turning thrill rides they also offer an affordable way to escape from the chaos of everyday life and reconnect with the people that mean the most to you. So, turn off your cellphones, unplug your iPods, say … Continue reading →

National Park Tour—-Adventure in Nature

If your family is anything like mine then you are probably battling a serious case of cabin fever. We live in the Upper Midwest where spring has not yet sprung. Tomorrow the forecast calls for snow, wind, and freezing temperatures. I don’t know if Mother Nature got the memo—but the calendar says we are just a few weeks from summer! When the temperatures do begin to rise we plan to head outdoors (and stay there until fall). Our summer travel plans include hitting some of our favorite national parks, though with near record gas prices we will likely choose ones … Continue reading →

National Park Travel Package

Have you ever dreamed of visiting some of the United States’ most legendary sites, such as Mount Rushmore, Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park… all in one summer? It might sound like a massive undertaking for a single family but one travel company is making it simple by offering a national park travel deal. For $995 per person BudgetTravel.com is giving adventurous families the chance to tour some of the country’s most historic sites. The journey begins in Rapid City, where you’ll spend two nights at the downtown Radisson. Your travel itinerary includes trips (via air-conditioned motor coach) to Mount … Continue reading →

National Park Service Mansion Tour

Very few of us will ever be lucky enough to live in a mansion, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to dream. I love touring other people’s homes and getting inspiration for my own. And apparently I am not alone. Did you know the National Park Service offers tours of some of the country’s most historically and architecturally significant mansions? Hampton Mansion in Townson, Maryland is one of the Park Service’s largest dwellings, though it doesn’t attract anywhere near the number of visitors that sites half its size do annually. Hampton mansion sits on 63 acres just outside the Baltimore Beltway, … Continue reading →

Another Reason To Visit Waco, Texas

Waco, Texas is already home to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum and other noteworthy attractions such as a world-class zoo, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame & Museum and the Dr Pepper Museum, but city leaders are hoping the area’s newest addition will draw in even bigger crowds. Waco tourism officials want massive crowds to experience a new park that features mammoth artifacts—literally. The Waco Mammoth Site is home to the skeletal remains of the gigantic creatures that walked the region 70,000 years ago. The attraction is currently on track to become part of the National Park … Continue reading →

Saving Money On The Road

One of the best gifts I received upon graduating from college was a membership to AAA. Sure the AAA membership and a new car would have been even more reason to celebrate… But, seriously, I consider the auto club membership one of the smartest travel investments a person can make. And these days who isn’t looking for a way to save money while on the road? From record high gas prices to sky-high airfare—family travel is not exactly cheap. However, there are a few ways you can make it from point A to point B without breaking the bank. The … Continue reading →

Arizona’s Must-See Attractions

Grand Canyon I’ve written about the Grand Canyon in previous blogs, but never about viewing the famous attraction from the sky. You can do so on Grand Canyon Airlines, which offers daily round-trip tours from the Scottsdale airport. A deluxe tour, which includes a bus ride around the canyon, rim stops, lunch, a ticket to watch the Grand Canyon IMAX film, and a tour over the canyon in a helicopter will cost you about $450 per person. In total, the tours are about nine hours long, and include complimentary ground transportation to and from most Scottsdale hotels. It’s a good … Continue reading →

The Quest For Peace and Quiet

How many times has your family vacation been interrupted by the incessant ringing of your cellphone? What about that weekend trip that was meant to be alone time for you and your spouse… how many times was the peace and quiet shattered by an alert from your husband’s BlackBerry or cellphone? If you answered “many,” then you are clearly not vacationing in the right place. Believe it or not, there are places you can vacation that don’t allow you to reach out and touch anyone with a wireless device. Take for example, California’s Death Valley. Seriously, the place is 3,000 … Continue reading →