Archive for the ‘Last Minute Family Trips’ Category

Ideas for Free Family Road Trips and Free Last Minute Family Day Trips

Saturday, April 5th, 2008
Ideas for Free Family Road Trips and Free Last Minute Family Day Trips
Ideas for Family Summer Vacations in Massachusetts with your Kids

With the weather slowly getting warmer, parents are becoming more and more interested in planning day trips for themselves and the kids to enjoy. What is even better than a day trip is a free day trip and there are quite a few ideas with regard to day trips on a budget. Not all of the following free day trips may be available to you depending on where you live however many individuals can take advantage of at least a good portion of the free day trip options which follow.

Free Day at the Zoo

Free family day trips to the zoo with your kids

Depending on the city, some zoos will offer free day admission to those who visit. This is often in honor of a special holiday or on a certain day of the month. If interested in visiting the zoo for free and spending the day at this great family-friendly location, try calling your local city zoo or viewing their website to see if free zoo days are available.

Historical Landmarks

Visit Historical Landmarks with your kids for free family day trips

For those families who love history, visiting historical landmarks in your local area may be a great way to spend the day for free. Many parks where historical landmarks are present or historical landmarks along certain roadways and in various towns are usually free to view. Before setting out on your day of free history, look up various landmarks online and map out a few set destinations so that you know exactly where you are going and what you are going to see.

Free Museum Days

Visit the Museum with your kids on Free Museum Days for a great last minute family road trip idea

In addition to free zoo days, some cities which have art museums and historical museums will offer free admission days. This is a wonderful chance to take advantage of visiting museums for free and viewing all of the wonderful displays they have there, whether they be art, historical or cultural in nature.

Picnic and Outdoor Fun at a Park

Picnic and Outdoor Fun at a Park

If the weather is nice, another suggestion for those who want to embark on a free day trip with the kids is a picnic and outdoor fun at a local park or national park within driving distance. Depending on where you live, you are almost always likely to have a local park and some individuals are even fortunate enough to have a national park within their local vicinity. Pack a picnic lunch and load up the car with some outdoor fun items such as Frisbees, bikes, baseball equipment and more.

Biking Expedition

Family Biking - Take a Biking Trip Outside with Your Kids on a Biking Expedition

Another wonderful day trip idea for those who love good, free fun is a planned biking expedition. This can be carried out by leaving from your house on bike if you live in a bike-friendly area or you can drive to a local park where biking is allowed. Take a lunch along and stop somewhere in the midst of your biking expedition to enjoy the sights and the company of your family.

Trip to the Outlet Mall

Take a trip to the outlet mall with your family and kids for a free fun day trip idea

For those who love to window-shop and stroll along enjoying each other’s company, a trip to an outlet mall is another option for a free day of fun. Even though it will cost money to buy items, if you are a window shopper and simply like to look through stores without having to buy anything then outlet malls are a nice way to browse around, get some exercise and enjoy your family time together.

Fun Day at the Beach

Take a road trip or day trip to the beach with your kids for a fun free trip idea

 

If you are within driving distance from the beach and the weather is suitable, why not enjoy a fun day at the beach. This free activity provides a lot of options for you and the kids such as swimming, soaking in the sun, playing in the sand, Frisbee and more. In keeping with the free part of the day trip, bring along a picnic lunch to enjoy.

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Last Minute Family Trips - Ideas for You and Your Kids to Take Last Minute Vacations

Thursday, March 13th, 2008

You and Your Kids Should Take that Last Minute Family Trips - Ideas for Last Minute Family Trips 

You didn’t think that you were going to be able to take a vacation with the kids this year but then something changed and now you’re ready to take off at the last minute on a family trip.

 

Maybe you got a bonus at the job that gives you the extra spending money or perhaps you just admitted to yourself that another week home alone with the kids on their summer vacation would drive you batty.

 

Whatever the case, you’re ready to go somewhere with the whole brood but you don’t have a lot of time to do your trip planning.

 

What do you need to think about in the days before you take off?

First off, consider where you can realistically go on vacation given your budget and your family dynamics. Yes, it’s tempting to just hop on a plane and go to

Disneyland because you know that the kids will have fun there, but is that the best use of your spontaneous vacation time?

 

Usually, if you’re doing a trip last minute, it ends up costing you some bucks, so it’s a better idea to stick close to home and to avoid major tourist destinations which take advantage of the last minute family in terms of cost.

 

Besides, your teens might actually be happier doing some shopping at a new mall in a nearby town or seeing a concert during a family trip than putting on the Mickey Mouse ears.

You should also think about who you want to see on your vacation. Last minute trips can be really stressful and you don’t want to add to that by agreeing to visit relatives that you don’t actually enjoy spending time with. Save the big family vacation for a planned reunion and take advantage of your spontaneous urge to travel by enjoying a new destination with your immediate family. Alternatively, maybe you just need a break from the day-to-day grind with the kids and heading to Grandma’s house can give you that much needed break. Think about why you decided to go on vacation with your family and who you want to see to realize that reason. Finally, don’t sacrifice safety for spontaneity. One of the biggest mistakes that families make when they take last minute vacations is that they get so enmeshed in the details of pulling off a last minute trip that they forget to take care of important things that need to be taken care of to keep the kids safe. If you’re traveling by car, this means taking that extra day at home to make sure the maintenance on the car has been done. If you’re going to a foreign destination, this means double-checking that your kids’ vaccinations are all in place. Sure, it’s nice to be spontaneous with your family but not at the cost of being unsafe. Last minute family trips can provide some of the most memorable vacation experiences that you’re family will ever have. Your kids will say one day, years after the trip, “hey, remember that time that we decided to go explore that little town in the northern part of the state?” Or you’ll be visiting Grandma and she’ll reminisce about that great long weekend when you unexpectedly turned up with the kids. Just make sure that you put your important items in order before you leave even if you’re taking off mostly on a whim.