“Before the development of tourism, travel was conceived to be like study and its fruits were considered to be the adornment of the mind and the foundation of judgement.”  ~ Paul Fussel

There are two challenges to taking vacations. First is finding the time followed by finding the money. This entry is devoted to the money challenge. Traveling with a family can be a big money suck out of limited financial resources. This places more stress into what’s supposed to be a fun time. While you may long for a trip to the big apple or surfing in Hawaii, it may make more sense to explore closer to home. 

I live in flyover country, but still have wonderful times vacationing without busting budgets. Here’s how I do it. Many (not all) of our family trips are in the car. Eliminating air fare, airport parking fees, then car rental is a huge savings. Dining out is another major expense so, why not pack a cooler. Done right, accommodations can be quite nice, yet very affordable. 

One of our “go to” sources is VRBO.com. These are second or third homes people have purchased, and now they’re renting them out to help make the payment. My family adventures include the Black Hills, the shores of Lake Superior and island hopping, trekking through Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, and soaking up the funky vibe of Taos, New Mexico. 

Packing picnic lunches and firing up the grill for supper keeps the family food expenses in check while enjoying quality dining. There’s little correlation to spending a ton of money and having fun. The key is being together, exploring new places, and doing that frequently while not breaking the bank.

Get the entire crew on board and make a game out of it. Try to turn it into a great experience with minimal expense. My oldest son and I had cooking contests on the grill, giving my wife a respite from preparing meals. Give it a try this year! Commit to at least one additional vacation while challenging yourself to minimize expenses.

“Remembering you’re going to die is the best way to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”  ~ Steve Jobs