What Makes A Perfect Family Vacation?

That depends on the family; 
what they like to do, where they like to go, the ages of the children, 
even your parenting style. But most families will agree that a perfect 
vacation needs to be relaxing and fun with something for everyone. 
There is a seemingly endless list of resorts in the United States that 
fit this description. But for many parents, there is one more essential 
aspect of the perfect family vacation. It needs to be affordable.

Fun and Frugal

by Klaus Urbantke

Again, the term affordable is a relative concept, but for many families, 
a resort that costs more than $350 per night takes the fun out of the 
vacation. Parents on a budget are too busy worrying about how they 
will fund the trip and are unable to relax and enjoy themselves. Or 
limited funds means that a more expensive resort results in less to 
spend on tours, attractions, and food. Many families end up staying 
in cheap hotels with no kid-friendly amenities rather than spend all 
their vacation money on lodging. But by searching for discount resorts 
or obtaining the services of a knowledgeable travel consolidator, it is 
possible to find many affordable family resorts across the U.S. that 
won't blow your budget. 

The Criteria
U.S. resort under $350/night
Structured activities for kids of all ages
Family friendly atmosphere
Wide range of activities to accommodate different interests

Disneyland
Disneyland is one of the world's all time favorite family vacation destinations. Anyone who has traveled there with children knows that it meets our criteria of a wide range of family friendly activities. Known to be one of the more expensive family vacation destinations, there are affordable lodging options that provide easy access to Disneyland and help keep costs down. The All Star Music Resort is one of Disney's most affordable resorts. As the name implies, it has a music theme, with different areas decorated to reflect various music genres including jazz, rock, country, and Broadway. The resort's two pools are shaped like a piano and a guitar. Kids love the playground and arcade. Parents love the baby-sitting service.

The basic amenities are in keeping with a budget resort but are more numerous than those of a standard hotel. Most rooms sleep four with two double beds. Dining facilities are limited to a mall style food court, but the wide variety of choices is sure to please everyone. Rates for a family of four at this 2000-room, Disney resort start at just over $100 per night. Because it is part of the group of Disney resorts, there are often vacation specials and packages available.

Rocky Mountains
Many parents are familiar with the family-oriented mission of the YMCA programs. Located in urban areas internationally, this kid friendly organization offers many educational, sports, and social opportunities. The YMCA of the Rockies, Colorado also operates two budget vacation resorts that help families get out and enjoy the legendary beauty of the Rocky Mountains.

Snow Mountain Ranch and Estes Park Center are nondenominational programs open to any guest. However, members receive a slight rate discount and have their reservations processed first. In addition to opportunities to enjoy the mountains, summer children's programs operate daily for ages three through 16. Age appropriate activities include hiking, hayrides, roller skating arts and crafts, campfire cooking, orienteering and archery. In winter, families can spend the day cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on 125 miles of groomed trails, and return to the resort to warm up in the indoor pool. Estes Park and other prominent winter activity destinations are nearby.

Lodging options include cabins and lodge rooms. Cabins range from two to five bedroom and include a fireplace and fully equipped kitchen. Rates begin at $138/night. Lodge rooms have two queen beds and a set of bunk beds. Rates begin at $64 during off-peak times. Accommodations are not luxurious but then you are on a budget, right?

"You will be able to Book Your Own Cheap Vacations with America's best online travel consolidators! Reduce your travel expenses with lower prices on airline tickets, hotels, car rental, cruises and travel packages. 
Turn vacations into cheap vacations with big savings from airfare to complete travel packages available from our travel partners. We have done some research for you and have featured the best online travel consolidators and agencies on this site. Travel consolidators negotiate the lowest prices through partnerships with leading airlines, hotel chains and cruise lines. They have been given access to unsold inventory - i.e. empty seats on flights, empty hotel rooms, empty cabins on cruise ships, unsold travel packages- and they pass the savings on to travelers who are flexible with their travel plans or who can travel on short notice. 

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Northwood's Getaway
Some of America's original family resorts focused on simple 
accommodations that provided easy access to the great outdoors. 
Nitschke's Northern Resort, in Minocqua, Wisconsin has carried 
on the fine example of the original resort, with its tidy accommodations, 
coupled with the pristine setting on the edge of a lake, surrounded by 
forest.

Activities include fishing, hiking, boating, jet skiing, or simply relaxing 
on the porch of your cabin. The beach and playground provide additional 
play opportunities for children. Icefishing and snowmobiling trails provide 
winter entertainment options. Despite the secluded, natural setting of this 
family resort, the town is within boating, walking, and driving distance 
when you need groceries or a change of scenery.

Cabins accommodate up to eight people easily and rates start at an 
amazingly affordable $180 per night.
.

An Award-winning Resort
Many of the award winning family resorts are beyond the means of those on a budget, but Woodloch Pines Resort in Hawley, Pennsylvania offers the amenities of a luxury resort for under $350 per night. Located on a private lake in the Northern Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania, this family owned resort was voted Favorite Family Vacation Spot by the readers of Better Homes and Gardens. Open year-round, the resort offers an amazing feast of activities from waterskiing, sailboating, and bumper boats in summer to snow tubing, ice skating and snowmobiling in the winter.

Kids of all ages love the go carts, batting cages, pool water slide and hayrides. Parents enjoy the Jacuzzis, massages for themselves and the all-inclusive rates that are difficult to find at U.S. resorts. Prices vary depending on room selection, time of year and number of people, but a family of four can purchase a four-night package that includes room and 12 meals for under $350 per night.

Another All-inclusive
The family-friendly, all-inclusive pricing draws hundreds of families south of the border to Mexico each year. But families don't have to leave the country to find all-inclusive deals.

Tyler Place Family Resort on Lake Champlain in Vermont also offers this pricing that includes meals, snacks, lodging, and most activities.Tyler Place's eight different kid's programs offer structured nature and outdoor programs for children of all ages. Family water activities include sailing, canoeing, kayaking, waterskiing, paddleboats, bumper tube rides, banana boats, and lots more. Other entertainment includes tennis, mountain biking, indoor and outdoor pools, and group sports. Newborn and infant care is provided for parents who want to take art, yoga and aerobics classes, or visit vineyards in Quebec.

Discount, off-peak rates for a family of four are just under $300 per night and include lodging with separate children's rooms, all meals and access to services and activities.

Explore the Wonder of Caves: Did you know that the longest cave in the world, Mammoth Cave, has more than 350 miles of mapped passages, with more being mapped each year? A cave in France is almost a mile deep! Tennessee has the most caves in the U.S., with over 8,350 caves registered so far.

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The River of Rafts:  Just mention a vacation with white water rafting and your kids will roar with excitement.  

Take a Flurry of Adventure Vacations with Theme Parks all across the United States, listed by state.

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This list of affordable family resorts is just a taste of what's available 
out there for perfect family vacations if you are willing to sacrifice some 
of the luxurious accommodations in lieu of a more family friendly 
atmosphere. As with many vacation destinations, traveling during off 
peak seasons will cut costs, and watching out for vacation specials, 
cheap airfare, and discount car rental can also help keep costs down. 
Vacation planners who work with a variety of destinations and packages 
are often able to locate great vacation deals for you and your family. 
The perfect family vacation doesn't have to blow your budget. It just takes 
a little planning and research.

The End

About the Author
 C.J. Gustafson is a freelance writer and photographer who travels 
extensively for work and family vacations. A cheapskate by nature 
and necessity, she is always on the lookout for bargain travel deals 
and affordable vacation destinations. 

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