Affordable Family Outings

We all need to get away every now and again! And spending time with the family is relaxing and a lot of fun and can be adventurous! But we also have to make sure we don’t break the bank, so here are some suggestions for some family fun which doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg.

1. Weekend trips

Weekend trips are more economical for a large family than taking a week’s vacation. You can pile everyone into the car and head for the mountains or the coast for a weekend of fun. For one night everyone can sleep in one or two hotel rooms. Think of it as ‘roughing it. Visit a zoo, museum, national park, monument, or other point of interest. Make it exiting by packing lunches so you don’t have to spend a lot of money on food. Use you phone with camera or digital camera to save those special moments. Did you know that you can save a lot of money by using photo printing websites? They print your pictures online and so your family can view them and order the one’s they like best!

2. Camping

This is a great way to get away, have a few laughs and experience the great outdoors! It lets kids and adults experience what it’s like to live with instead of against nature and teaches survival skills at the same time. If one person in the family has a lot of camping experience he or she can lead the rest of the group. What about fishing and catching your dinner. Cooking it over and open fire (check those fire safety rules though!). Camp in areas off the beaten track and keep the element of adventure that the vast wilderness has to offer! Camping is the ultimate adventure for kids and adults alike!

3. Have a family picnic

You can find parks all over the place. You don’t have to drive far to find a nice place to have a picnic. Some of them even have cookout shelters and trails for running, cycling, or hiking, water activities and playgrounds. How about getting everyone together once a month (for example on a Saturday) and get the whole family together (also include extended family that live nearby). Have a picnic cookout in the park! Make sure you reserve a shelter in advance and ask everyone to contribute to the meal. Either by paying a small amount or by bringing some of the ingredients for the picnic – GO DUTCH! Don’t forget to bring board games, balls, blankets, bikes, skates and of course your most comfortable sneakers. Get there early and make a day of it – have fun and relax together.

4. Family vacation

A family vacation is, of course, the ultimate! For a kid there’s nothing better than going away somewhere new and having a lot of fun. And if the kids have a great time, so do the parents! If this is what you want, make sure you get an early start in saving for your vacation and getting organized. Try and find out what kinds of travel are most economical for your family size and budget. Keep informed about travel deals and not just the peak and off-peak seasons. You can find great travel deals – also in peak times so that everyone can have a great time. If you’ve got family living in the area you want to visit, ask if you can bunk in with them for a few days. This cuts down on costs considerably and you get to visit family you might otherwise not see so often!

Having fun as a family doesn’t have to come with at a high premium! There are many ways to engage the interest of the whole family without having to worry about the money you need to spend! Be creative and have lots of unforgettable times with your family!