The Annual Family Vacation ~ Even If Money IS Tight!
Posted: Thursday, May 14, 2009
by Camille Strate
JoyZAChoice
Listen up, people...we do NOT have to skip our vacation this year. Honest to goodness! I keep hearing how people are canceling the annual family vacation because money is tight, gas prices are still too high, etc., etc. And I, for one, say DON'T DO IT! Don't let the fear-driven media keep you from that once yearly Fun Time with your family. Because even if money is tight, there are still ways to vacation. And you don't have to travel far to do it. Besides, you DESERVE some time off, doncha think?
So, rather than ditching the idea of a week of fun in the sun, how about you consider one (or more!) or these choices:
If you've got small children, say under age 13, and you're not too disturbed by the idea of sleeping in a tent, then you may want to take them camping. Most places in the U.S. have KOA Campgrounds which are surprisingly affordable and offer lovely surroundings, clean bathrooms and are nearby other places of interest for you and the family to spend a day. Even if you just rent a canoe and paddle down a river, it'd be something cool for the kids to experience. If you're a good story-teller, you could paint a picture of some Native Americans canoeing down the same river, in search of fish or other game to hunt. Or maybe you could pretend you're explorers, searching for a new land to pitch your tepee! The point is, you can make it as fun or exciting as your imagination allows. Go on....S-T-R-E-T-C-H! It's good for ALL of you!
If your kids happen to be a bit older, and have more of a "voice" in the matter, you might consider just doing a long weekend kind of thing, and allow them to bring a friend. Teens are much more likely to want to go with you if they can have a friend along. Especially when they get to that "age" where they think Mom and Dad are "uncool". They don't want to be seen with you, let alone go on a vacation with you! But, if you make it a bit more "cool" for them to go, they may not be kickin' and screamin' the whole time. Usually, once you get to your destination, they'll find ways to entertain themselves and YOU get to have some lounge time. It's worth a shot.
Here's another "no brainer". I've lived in some of the most beautiful cities in the country. I grew up about 30 miles from New York City...and even though my family rarely went on week long vacations, we did do some pretty cool stuff during the summer months, that kind of made up for those "other kinds" of vacations. My parents would take us into the City by train (always exciting!) and we'd go do "tourist" stuff in the city. You know...the Empire State Building or Coney Island or Yankee Stadium for a ball game (no. NEVER Shea Stadium. My dad was a diehard Yankees fan!) As we got older, and my dad wasn't as keen on these little excursions, my mom would take us in for a show on Broadway or a concert at Madison Square Garden. To this day I still call them 'vacations', even though noone else considered them as such. But my mom always made such a big deal about it, that it sure seemed like vacations to us. And I recall every one of them with great fondness. You don't have to live near New York City to do such things. All across the country there are very cool things to see that are nearby where you live. And, chances are, if you live nearby you've likely never visited them as a "tourist". It's all about mindset!
One last little "silliness". I recall one year in particular when money was super tight. We were all sorely disappointed that we weren't going to be doing anything "special" over the summer. So, my mom, in all her creativity, decided we'd camp...in our backyard. We happened to live on a few acres, and when we were on the back end of the property, you couldn't even see the house. So, one day she went out there, pitched the tents, set up a little "campfire" pit, along with the barbeque and coolers, and then came in and announced that we needed to pack our bags. My dad had no idea what was going on and I remember him starting to argue with her about it. She quickly pulled him into their bedroom, shut the door, and a few minutes later they both came out with their overnight bags packed and big smiles on their faces. And so, we got in the car, they made us wear blindfolds (how clever of them!) and we drove around for about an hour. Came back to the house, blindfolds still on, and they walked us back to the "campsite". Once there, we were allowed to remove the blindfolds. We were probably somewhere between 8 and 14 at the time (I have 3 siblings), and it took us a while before we realized where we were. BUT, we all knew that they'd done it to make us happy and create that sense of being elsewhere. So we appreciated that...and ended up having a blast! We only camped for 2 nights, but it was 2 nights of "pretend" that live in my memory still.
Anyway, I guess all I'm trying to say is, even if you think you can't "afford" your usual vacation, if you use a little imagination and some creativity, you can still enjoy a week with your family (or just the 2 of you, whichever is appropriate). It's called "quality time". And you can have that in your own back yard!
This Article has been viewed 1,640 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)I really enjoyed this article, Camille. Your ideas on how to have a "vacation" without the ridiculous expense are "priceless!" I, too, have "camped out" in the backyard, and even pretended the living room was flooded with gators!This write took me back to a simpler time.Thank youThanks for the 'picture', Ken! Very cool stuff. Yep. Gotta be creative sometimes...but it doesn't mean ya can't have some fun!
Hugs to YOU~
This article struck a chord with me Camille. I grew up in a poor family, but my father insisted on saving money and taking us all on inexpensive vacations every few years. He was roundly criticized by my aunts and uncles for wasting money on frivolity, but as an adult, I am so glad for the wonderful childhood memories and I do not wish he had invested the money so he could leave it to me when he dies!Dear Jean~
Thank you so much for that note...and I'm happy to know it "struck a chord". Sounds like we both grew up "in the same boat". Luckily, our parents realized what "priceless" meant!
Happiest Summer to you, Dear Jean!
hi camille,i'm on the same page. this was a great article.we have a manmade lake behind our house, and you can barely see the house once you get to the dock, and i would take my kids down there, snacks and drinks in tow, and they'd play and swim for hours. it was a good way to pass the "summer vacation" from school.when i was growing up, we were about an hour from seaside, down the shore, and would walk the boardwalk for hours. that was always something to do, and not too expensive.thanks for your suggestions, and your vitality,my best to you,sue
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.