Recently there has been a movement toward taking "staycations": vacations where you take time off work to be a tourist in your own area. To plan a successful staycation, look for attractions in your own city or area that you may not have gone to before. You could spend a few days going to the zoo or the aquarium, or visiting every water and amusement park nearby. Either way, staycations save you money, as your only real costs are admission fees. Have each person in your family make a list of local places they've always wanted to go, and then narrow your choices down to make a staycation plan everyone can agree on.
A short weekend getaway can be just the way to relax and recharge in place of a conventional vacation. Choose a place that is less than a day's drive away from where you live. It could be a lake or camping area, the beach, a national park, a historical site or a neighboring city. Choose an itinerary where you visit a few tourist areas, and then spend the rest of your time relaxing. This option lets you explore a place far enough from your town that you'll feel you're on vacation, but close enough to not break the bank.
If you're willing to be flexible, you can get great last-minute deals on mini-vacations across America. Some websites offer ideas for mini-vacations for the coming weekend. The deals include hotels, cars and even flights if you plan on heading somewhere far away. Be spontaneous and choose a mini-vacation to a location you haven't considered before, as long as it suits your family and budget.
