A camping trip to a national or state park is one cheap family vacation option you should consider, especially if your family enjoys spending time outdoors. Also look into privately run campgrounds like KOA which can offer you more security and amenities not always available at state and federal parks. Extras can include a campground kitchen, an electrical hookup, hot showers, a laundry and a convenience store on site. There are some state and federal campgrounds that offer amenities similar to those found at private campgrounds. Go to the state's park Web site to find a park that matches your needs. The National Parks Web site should be checked for information on its campgrounds. You can also save money on a pass that is good for an extended period of time--possibly as long as a year.
A beach holiday need not be out of reach for your family because of high beach resort prices. You simply need to look for family specials. You may also find hotels/motels not directly on the beach that suit your budget. When possible, choose a beach community that caters to families with young children and teens. A vacation to Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, for example, can be the perfect destination choice for a family with young children. There is a mini golf course, a water park with rides and a bumper car ride arena near the beach. With public beach areas for swimming, playing beach volleyball and building sand castles, this sort of location can be an ideal vacation spot for your family's next trip.
Check out theme parks online such as Disney World, King's Dominion and Busch Gardens for discounted ticket prices often available off-season. For example, see the Disney World Web site "special offers" page to search for discounted Disney resort hotel rooms and more. Alternately, to really save money, try finding a local hotel near the theme park you plan to visit. Or, consider renting an RV for a week so your family can save additional funds by cooking meals instead of eating out each night. There are companies that offer daily rentals under $100 dollars per day.
