Pitch A Great Family Vacation

May 16, 2008 By Tisha Kulak

With the cost of gas, airline tickets, and family budgets tightening, vacations may begin to seem like luxuries of the past. Fear not, Families! There is a low-cost, family friendly alternative that will not only get you out of the house for a few days; it can also bring you and your family closer together for some good old fashioned fun. Wherever you live, there is probably a state park or campground within a reasonable driving distance to your home. For a quick reference, use http://www.campgroundsofamerica.com/ and find one close by.

Camping is a great way to get away from it all, turn off the television, and have fun. It does not cost much money to rent a campsite and even if you have never gone before, supplies are quite reasonable. A family-sized tent can cost as low as $30. There is a large selection of tent sizes and styles available to suit any family’s budget. Sleeping bags are good to have but are not required. You can designate some old bed sheets and blankets to use in the tent instead. Bring enough to keep everyone warm. Roll them up and tie them with a piece of string or twine to aid in packing.

Food can be taken right from your pantry. Coolers are relatively inexpensive. You may want to have two coolers. A smaller one will be easier to cart on a hike or if you take a walk to the lake. To make things easier, cook some dishes beforehand and pack them in the cooler in airtight containers. Consider that you will have to reheat the food over an open fire unless you have a camp stove so only bring simple dishes that will reheat easily. Snack foods and drinks are especially important, especially if the weather is hot or you plan to do a lot of outdoor activities. Remember to bring plenty of extra storage bags that seal well to store the leftovers in the cooler. You may also want to bring an extra storage container to store any non-cooler foods otherwise the raccoons and chipmunks will be dining well at your expense. This is also very important if there are even larger animals in the area who have been known to raid campsites (ie:bears!)

Depending on the age of your children, consider what activities are available at each campground. A swimming pool, park, or schedule activities may be a good option to keep the kids entertained. More rustics campgrounds may offer fishing, boating, nature trails, or biking trails as the only activities. Bring along some things to keep kids amused but encourage everyone to try something new and have fun in the great outdoors.

Make a checklist before you leave and list them by categories such as health and beauty, food, clothing, eating utensils, and so on so you don’t forget anything. Camp stores prices will be comparable to convenience stores so it’s more cost-effective to bring what you need. Designate jobs to each family member. Even the littlest kids can help hunt firewood and everyone will feel they have participated. Enjoy a rare few days tuning in to the world around you and those you love. Whatever you do, don’t forget the most important thing - Marshmallows!

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