Wisconsin is centrally located and is less than a day's drive from many states in the Midwest and East Coast. Driving saves money on airfare for your family, though you can sometimes find good rates on flights into Milwaukee.
Wisconsin offers plenty of family-friendly campgrounds, which is an affordable accommodation option and often costs less than most hotels. Camping also offers plenty of fun activities that usually do not cost much, including hiking, fishing and hanging out around the campfire.
Wisconsin is also home to Wisconsin Dells, a city in central Wisconsin that offers dozens of indoor and outdoor water parks, affordable hotels and plenty of other family activities.
Chicago is conveniently located in the center of the United States and is accessible by car or by airplane into either of its two international airports, O'Hare or Midway. While Chicago can certainly be expensive, there are plenty of ways to save money on your family vacation to Chicago. Families can stay with friends living in the area to save money, or choose a hotel outside of the city near the northwest suburbs or near the airport for better rates than similar hotels downtown.
To see Chicago without spending too much, go in the summertime and stroll around the city on a warm weather day to explore. You can also take advantage of some free things to do in Chicago, like visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo, splashing in the fountains at Millennium Park or taking a ride up to the 96th floor of the Hancock Building downtown (the elevators that go to the 96th floor are free; the elevators that go to the observatory deck cost about $12 each).
Families can complete the experience with authentic Chicago pizza or hot dogs, meals that are both delicious and affordable. Many concerts and festivals are also free throughout the summer in Chicago, including Blues Fest in Grant Park.
Breckenridge, Colorado, is a ski town located in Summit County, about 90 minutes west of Denver. You can fly into Denver International Airport, but flights and rental car costs may be too much for families on a tight budget. Instead, take a road trip across I-70 from the west or east, but don't go during ski season; it is both expensive and dangerous for driving on slippery roads.
Instead, go during the off-season, when the ski town sees smaller crowds and lower rates at hotels and restaurants, sometimes half off or more from ski season prices. There are also plenty of condos and vacation homes to rent in Breckenridge. Vacation rentals are often cheaper per person per night than hotels and allow you to save on dining out by opting to cook in your kitchen instead. There are plenty of warm-weather activities in Breckenridge for the entire family, including hiking, biking, strolling through town and swimming.
