With gas prices fluctuating wildly every time you hit the pump to fill up, airfare skyrocketing one week and plummeting the next, and your entertainment budget hitting rock bottom, trying to plan an affordable weekend family getaway can make you want to run and hide. But all is not lost! There are still plenty of things to do close to home that can be inexpensive and still loads of fun. If you are having trouble coming up with an affordable weekend family getaway, here are a few ideas for things to do that won’t cost a ton of money and can provide an entertaining weekend away from the house.
Escape to the Embassy – No, not a foreign embassy or even the U.S Embassy — we’re talking Embassy Suites here! No matter what time of year, heading to an Embassy Suites hotel can be a great break for the whole family. Complementary breakfasts, nightly manager’s reception, suites with a kitchenette and pull out sofa — what more can you ask for? While the initial cost of the suite might be higher than most typical hotels, the amenities can more than make up for the price. Factoring in the cost of feeding a family breakfast, the fact that you can fit a family of five comfortably in one room, and that there is often an indoor pool at these hotels, you can more than make up for the higher room rate on your affordable weekend family getaway.
Head for the hills – If you live in or near the mountains, you might have the perfect affordable weekend family getaway at your doorstep. The foothills and mountainous regions offer a variety of inexpensive family fun. From camping to hiking, exploring to taking a river rafting or canoe trip, going to the mountains can be an exciting, scenic, not to mention affordable weekend family getaway.
Hit a water park – For an affordable weekend family getaway that everyone can enjoy, consider heading for the nearest water park. In many metropolitan areas, you might only have to drive across town to find a hotel complete with its own indoor water park. If you can afford a hotel room for a night or two this might be cheaper than buying the entire family passes for an outdoor water park.
Park/forest preserve – If you live in an area without geographic features such as the beach or mountains, consider hitting a state or local park or a forest preserve for an affordable weekend family getaway. Parks can be amazingly cheap, often only charging an entrance fee per vehicle, and possibly a camping fee. Those with inns, cabins, or lodges typically are very affordable, especially during off-peak seasons. There are plenty of inexpensive activities you can do outdoors with the family, like having cookouts, picnics, playing games, hiking, exploring the woods, and maybe even doing a little swimming. Parks are one of the best affordable weekend family getaways out there.
Visiting grandparents – If a set of grandparents live close by then this might be a very affordable weekend family getaway. Seeing grandma and grandpa can be a load of fun for the kids, and it can be a nice break for you as well. Having one of mom’s famous home cooked meals or spending the afternoon playing cards and drinking lemonade with your parents can make you feel like a kid again and cause you to remember how nice it is to be taken care of — especially when it’s only costing you the price of gas and maybe a nice dinner out.
