Summer Travel Destinations for Families on a Budget

Summer can be one of the most expensive--and crowded--times of year to travel, but for many families it's the only time of year to get away with the kids. In these trying economic times, we all could use an inexpensive summer family vacation. Here are five summer travel destinations for families on a budget.

1) National Parks & Monuments
There are 58 national parks in the U.S. plus hundreds of national historic monuments, landmarks, recreation areas, and seashores. There's something in just about every state so budget-conscious families can save on airfare, and with so many to choose from there's bound to be something just right for your family. In Utah alone there are five national parks within a few hours of each other, making the $80 annual park pass a real bargain. NPS.gov is an excellent site for planning your national park trip, with detailed park information, a search feature, and a kid's section. Kids can become junior rangers, and fill up a national parks Passport with stamps and stickers to document their travels.

2) The Beach
Whether you prefer oceanside or lakeside, tropical or local, beaches can be the perfect inexpensive family summer vacation. Many Caribbean resorts offer discount summer rates since winter tends to be peak season. Locally, consider splitting the cost of a beach rental with other families; rentals are usually cheaper by the week. Always bring a well-stocked beach bag with sunscreen, towels, beach toys, water, and snacks to avoid paying higher tourist prices for those necessities.

3) New York City
The Big Apple isn't the first place most people think of when planning an inexpensive summer family vacation, but you'd be amazed at just how fun and cheap a family trip to New York can be. Your biggest expense will be accommodations--there's just no getting around that--but you can offset the high cost of hotels with tons of free and low-cost cultural opportunities. You can read about free summer concerts, half-price Broadway tickets, free or discounted museum admissions, Central Park, how to eat cheaply, and more in my article "Budget Summer Vacation In New York City."

4) Visit family
There's no time like summer to visit distant relatives and friends. Friends and relatives are often willing to put you up--eliminating the need for a costly hotel room--and often relish the opportunity to act as tour guides.

5) Staycations
Last but not least, stay local and visit all the places you've always wanted to but never have such as museums and galleries, parks, concerts, beaches, neighboring cities, playgrounds, amusement parks, and more. You can site-see in your own backyard without the expense of airfare, hotels, and expensive restaurant meals. Check your state's tourism website for ideas, pick up the local paper, get a guide book from the library, and check out sites like www.onethousandthingstodo.com.

Finally, keep these budget travel tips in mind:

--Plan in advance. Although it's possible to get last-minute deals on occasion, budget travelers will typically save more if they plan in advance.

--Cut meal costs by packing lunch, snacks, and drinks. You don't have to eat every meal in a restaurant.

--Eliminate costly drugstore detours by packing necessities such as toiletries, diapers, wipes, Band-Aids, suncreen, insect repellent, spare contacts, OTC medications, and prescriptions.

--Set a spending limit on souvenirs. Postcards are an inexpensive way to commemorate your trips.