Finding places that are cheap and also family friendly can be a challenge, but the rewards are well worth the effort it takes.
Washington D.C.
One of the cheapest and most family friendly places that you can go for a weekend getaway in the United States is Washington D.C. Our nation’s capitol is the perfect place for the entire family. The Smithsonian Museums are all free and nothing is cheaper than free. No matter what interests your family there is a Smithsonian Museum that will fascinate them. You can choose between the National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of the American Indian, National Postal Museum, National Museum of American History, National Air and Space Museum and a whole lot more.
You can visit the White House and the Capitol Building for free. The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and all the War Memorials have no charge. On Saturday morning consider attending the free performance at the National Theater as the shows are geared towards families. Take a free walking tour of the Mall for kids or take the kids to the National Zoo – imagine getting to see the Pandas for free.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes for freebees in D.C. For a more complete list check out http://www.washington.org/visiting/browse-dc/attractions/100-free-things-to-do. Consider staying in Crystal City where hotel rates are lower. The Embassy Suites Crystal City will include a free breakfast and afternoon drinks and snacks.
Philadelphia
When it comes to cheap weekend getaway ideas for families, Philadelphia is right up there with the cheapest. You can bring your family to the cradle of liberty and show them the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall for no charge whatsoever. You can tour the United States Mint and it won’t cost you even a penny. On Sunday morning the Philadelphia Art Museum has special entertainment for children and also allows you to pay whatever you choose to enter. If you want to pay $1, that is fine with them.
One thing that you should consider doing with the family is taking the Lights of Liberty Tour. It isn’t free and it isn’t really cheap unless you have a two for one coupon (which you can get online), but it is something the entire family will enjoy. If you can’t find an inexpensive hotel right downtown, it is easy to drive in from any of the suburbs and hotel rates will be much lower.
Cape Cod is a wonderful and cheap family getaway destination any time of year except the summer. The fall is beautiful on the Cape. The beaches are deserted, the roads are nearly empty and you can find a family friendly resort with an indoor pool and plenty of things for the family to do. One that our family likes is Sea Crest in North Falmouth. The fireplace rooms have a sofa that becomes a bed and a gas fireplace, as well as a small fridge and coffee pot in every room. They have a private beach, indoor pool and hot tub, gym and game room.
Everything a family could want plus an outdoor playground and plenty of space for the kids to skateboard or ride their bikes.
When you want to get way to somewhere that the Stars call home, L.A. is a great place to start. While you will have to do a little work to find a family friendly cheap hotel there are plenty of activities to do and sites to see for free. Plan ahead to get tickets to the taping of a favorite show, this of course is not something to do with small children but will fascinate teens and tweens.
The Getty Museum, the La Brea Tar Pit, The California Science Center and The Hollywood Walk of Fame are all free of charge. The Los Angeles Farmers Market is a great place to shop or just browse and the whole family will have a great time. Olvera Street is the place to see the original Los Angeles; you can take a free tour of the historic area and enjoy eating some authentic Mexican food.
Go Camping
One of the cheapest getaways that you can do no matter where you live is to go camping with your family. Don’t have any camping equipment? Not to worry, there are many campgrounds that have cabins that can be rented for inexpensive rates. Check out the national, state and local parks for campgrounds as well as KOA http://koa.com/.
These are just a few suggestions for a cheap weekend getaway with your family. Why not pack up the car and get going this weekend?
