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11 Inexpensive Family Vacation Ideas That Will Make Everyone Happy

Summer is coming to an end and that means that almost 100-million families have already gone on memorable trips. If you haven’t gotten to enjoy your vacation yet and are planning to, time is running out.

Maybe you’ve been putting off your vacation intentionally because you’re worried that it’s going to cost you too much money to take the whole family out. We appreciate that concern and hope to alleviate it with the information in this blog post.

Our team has scoured the country to cook up what we think are the best, inexpensive family vacation ideas that you can invest in!

1. Scale Lake Tahoe, California

Unless you’re from California, you probably haven’t heard of Lake Tahoe. That’s a shame because this lake is big on fun and small on prices!

Lake Tahoe is flanked by beautiful mountains which means that you’ll have to zig-zag your way up narrow highways to enjoy its splendor. Once you park your car though, you’ll be rewarded by getting to dip into the lake’s crystal blue, refreshing waters.

2. Explore the Nevada Desert

When people think of Nevada, they think of Las Vegas. That’s not a bad association and contrary to popular belief, Las Vegas can serve as an inexpensive family vacation ideas pick if you plan carefully.

The truth is though that Nevada is much bigger than Las Vegas and what lies beyond the City of Sin is what we think packs the most value!

Whether you choose to tour the Hoover Dam or explore Red Rock Canyon National Park, you’ll definitely find ways to create monumental memories in this sunny desert state.

3. Gawk at the Grand Canyon

Bordering Nevada is none other than one of the wonders of the world, The Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon draws in families from across the globe and offers activities ranging from hiking to helicopter rides.

No matter your family’s preferences, we’re confident that you can put together an affordable itinerary when touring this national park.

4. Get Patriotic in Washington D.C.

D.C. is a common destination among people’s inexpensive family vacation ideas because of the volume of free activities that this capital city offers. Touring the Smithsonian, exploring the National Mall or the National Zoo are all 100% free favorites that you and your kids can enjoy!

5. Soak Up the Sun in San Diego, California

San Diego is popular because of its outstanding weather and plethora of things to do. While San Diego can get expensive, if you do the city right, you’ll be able to enjoy a cheap vacation.

For example, San Diego’s La Jolla beach is absolutely breathtaking and doesn’t cost a dime to visit. You could easily make a whole day out of enjoying a picnic on its shores.

In addition to soaking up the sun, exploring San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter or enjoying an affordable ball game at Petco Park are both great activities to enjoy.

6. Find Culture in Ashland, Oregon

Educational vacations might draw some “boos” from your household at first but believe us when we say that everyone will fall in love with Ashland, Oregon’s culturally significant Shakespeare Festival once they’ve seen a couple of shows. Ashland isn’t big on tourists which means low prices year-round and more attention for you and your travel companions!

Be aware that Shakespeare festivities are typically held between March and October.

7. Get Your Thrills on in Anaheim, California

If you don’t know much about Anaheim, California, know this… It’s where Disneyland is. We don’t need to tell you that your family can absolutely create special memories when visiting Walt Disney’s very first theme park.

Unfortunately, Disneyland might get a little expensive for some travelers. If that’s the case for you, you can hop one city over to Buena Park and enjoy the almost as fabulous Knott’s Berry Farm!

8. Experience Nature in Portland, Oregon

Portland is an edgy town in the Northwest that is perfect for families that like good food and even better hikes. Also, if you’re a beer/wine lover, Portland and its neighboring suburbs offer world-class selections.

Getting a hotel just outside of Portland can represent an excellent deal and since much of Portland’s fun revolves around taking in its ambiance, tons of entertainment can be had for free!

9. Step Into a New World in Orlando, Florida

Disney World and Universal Studio’s theme parks live in Orlando. When you grab a hotel in the vicinity of these parks, it’ll literally feel like you’ve entered a new world where fun is the number one priority.

Similar to Anaheim, Orlando can get expensive when buying theme park tickets for the whole family. If you go during the off-season though and stay at non-amusement park owned hotels, you might save enough to make this vacation worth it.

10. Adventure in Astoria, Oregon

Steven Spielberg’s classic film “The Goonies” was filmed in a sleepy beach town called Astoria. Today, that town is still sleepy and makes for a great place to explore the beach, learn about marine biology and enjoy quality time with the family.

If you want to save money and avoid crowds, try visiting Astoria in mid-spring.

11. Enjoy a Larger Than Life Little Town in Independence, Missouri

Want to relax on vacation every bit as much as you want to save money? If you answered yes to that question, head over to Independence, Missouri.

Independence is a town that’s defined by a slow pace of life and an undying love for hometown hero, President Truman.

There’s an unlimited amount of things to do in Independence so learn more about the town on its website and plan your trip today!

Inexpensive Family Vacation Ideas Can Make for Priceless Memories

There’s no shortage of memorable and inexpensive family vacation ideas that you can tap into in order to have a great time this summer!

We hope that you found our suggestions to be helpful and invite you to check out more of the parent-centric content on our blog for additional family vacation tips.

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