Spring has sprung, and it’s time to start making those summer vacation plans. With the cost of airfare and amusement park tickets, it’s hard to get excited about spending all your hard-earned cash. Additionally, now more than ever, families want to connect, learn about the world around them, and try something new. Traditional places like Disney World and California always come to mind, but if you don’t want to break the bank and want to venture off the beaten path, there are plenty of places you can go. Vacations can be expensive, but they don’t have to be, especially if you take the road less traveled.
The best family vacations offer free or very inexpensive things that are fun for everyone. Building time around history, nature, and bonding are the keys to making something memorable and cost-effective. The trick is picking things in times that are off-season or lesser-known. Those snacks and added adventures can really add up when kids are in tow. With a tiny amount of additional planning, you can keep those costs under control. Prepackage snacks and souvenirs like glow-in-the-dark bracelets and bubble blowers to pull out when the sun is setting and your kids start begging for extras. You can buy many of these things in bulk very cheaply. Fill a bag with their favorite treats like chips, granola bars, fruit snacks, peanut butter crackers, and water bottles to keep young tummies from grumbling.
Bring a large cooler and keep it filled with pop, water, juice, and milk. You can also keep cheese and lunchmeat for a quick and easy lunch on the go. If you choose lodging with a kitchen, you can stop at the grocery store and plan some meals to cut costs even further. The hectic pace of work, activities, and school can make it tough to enjoy each other’s company during the school year. However, when your family is on vacation, time slows down, and you can talk and reconnect. Don’t forget to pack a deck of cards and games for casual evenings at home.
This list includes a mix of educational, laid-back, weird, and action-packed ideas. All of the choices are unexpected, inexpensive, and family-friendly. Some of the picks are destinations that always come to mind but are done in unique ways. So whether you are looking for a week-long excursion, a long weekend, or something in between, we have a trip for you. Here are 10 Cheap Unusual vacations To Take Your Kids This Summer.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
This spooky vacation is better for a slightly older crowd that likes haunted stuff. Billed as Gatlinburg’s oldest and scariest haunted house, the Mysterious Mansion is open all year round. It is cheaper outside of the Halloween season and reportedly is actually haunted. They offer discounts for military and police responders as well. Stay in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and make the easy drive as lodging can be significantly cheaper in the Forge. Cabins can be found for $85 a night or cheaper.
There are many outdoor activities, including hiking, zip-lining, white water rafting, and mini-golf, that will keep everyone happy and cost very little. The Smoky Mountains have a lot of haunted places, including Greenbrier Restaurant, or take a drive to Roaring Fork, where the spirit of Lucy may hitch a ride in your back seat.
Fort Meyers, Florida
Fort Meyers offers both the allure of a beach vacation and a good old-fashioned ghost hunt. During the daylight hours, the beach is the place to be. You can swim, build sandcastles on the clean beaches, kayak, and parasail. This often-overlooked city is definitely cheaper than Sarasota or Naples. After collecting all your shells, head over to the Bailey-Mathews National Shell Museum, where you can touch live mollusks and watch a Giant Pacific Octopus. This museum has a ton to see, so plan to spend several hours here. Kids under 5 are free.
In the evening, take a 90-minute Haunted History Tour for only $20 a person. This supernatural history lesson is educational and creepy. Many people claim to have photos taken during the tour with unexplained shadows and figures in abandoned buildings. There are plenty of inexpensive hotels under $100 a night in Fort Meyer, but spend a few dollars more for a condo and plan on cooking your meals to save money. You can camp on Cayo Costo, a remote island only accessible by boat. Chances are, you will nearly have the entire island to yourself.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is easy to get to in the middle of the country, and the Midwest is historically inexpensive, friendly, and underappreciated. It is also an extremely haunted city. Drive down Zombie Road and be prepared to be assaulted by spirits or take one of many haunted tours. The best one is STL Haunted History which is $25 for adults and $10 for children over 6. Younger kids are free. There are tons of reasonably priced museums, including the City Museum and a Science Center, that are educational and fun or head over to watch fudge being made for free at Union Station.
Terror Tacos has hands down the best Vegan tacos I have ever eaten, and a cool horror vibe inside that is weird but not overpowering for younger kids. Visit the Lemp Mansion Restaurant and Inn. You can tour the building or splurge and eat in the delicious dining room. Stay at a Drury Inn, which serves light meals each night during cocktail hour, and save even more money by avoiding the massive cost of a meal.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is a great city for kids. There’s a Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, and the Zoo and PPG Aquarium are amazing and not budget busters. Car aficionados will be excited by the ten-day Grand Prix event featuring walking tours of the city and so many vintage cars. The subway will take you free to any place along the Golden Triangle, giving you access to downtown. Bike the Allegheny Passage to explore all the bridges and tunnels in the city. Food is very reasonably priced in this city, especially during lunch.
If you have older kids, stay at the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast, not to be confused with the Lizzie Borden Murder House in Maine. Although it isn’t the actual house, they try to immerse you in the period and the personal life of the Borden family, which makes for some macabre fun. You can also take ghost tours from the US Ghost Adventures folks for those who only want a few hours of scary thrills. Stay at a hotel that has suites, so you have a kitchen like the Shadyside Inn so you can eat lunches out but make dinner in your room and save some dough.
Nederland, Colorado
Not only is Colorado stunning in the summer, but the weather is to die for. When you are tired of sweating like a pig in 100% humidity, head to the Rockies, where the temperatures are more moderate and the prices low. The previous gold and silver mining town is just 45 minutes outside of Denver, which adds another layer if you want to combine destinations as there are plenty of things to do in Denver that don’t cost a fortune.
The town’s motto is “Keep Ned Weird”, and the most notable news story out of the town was about someone who kept a dead body frozen in their backyard for months. Now they celebrate that event with the Frozen Dead Guys Festival, and you can actually see the frozen dead guy. You can take a picnic and hike the Hessie Trail to look at one of the prettiest flowered meadows in the world or take an easy loop around Jasper Lake. The Carousel of Happiness in town is great for kids and right near a grocery store to stock up on supplies. The Mining Museum is free and rich with the history of the area.
There are free camping sites all over Colorado but make sure you plan ahead as they fill up fast. Use iOverlander to find boondocking spots, and I found Campendium, FreeRoam, and RVParky great apps to find available campsites.
Phoenix, Arizona
Although the dog days seem like an odd time to visit the place that is literally hotter than Hades, it’s a great time to go. All the hotels have great pools, and there are some unique attractions in and around the city. For example, visit the Lost Dutchman State Park at the base of the Superstition Mountains. Located in the Sonoran Desert, it is a fantastic place for hiking and sightseeing. You might find the legendary lost gold mine but beware of the curse that drives people mad. Also, beware of dehydration. The heat is no joke so bring lots of water.
In Phoenix, visit The Pioneer Living History Museum that is not only educational, but many visitors have reported hearing children outside of the old schoolhouse when there is none present. Also, the ghosts seem to understand it’s beyond hot and provide their own unexplainable cold spots. Children under 5 are free, and adults are only $10. There are plenty of inexpensive places to stay in Phoenix, including some suite hotels that include kitchens to save money cooking meals. Pack a picnic lunch before heading out to the desert to save even more.
New Mexico
If aliens are more your vibe, New Mexico is the place for you. The most famous city in the US to be visited by extraterrestrials is, of course, Roswell. The UFO Museum and Research Center is interesting, and they frequently have guest speakers. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children over 4. They also offer military and first responder discounts. The Three Rivers Petroglyph Site is the largest concentration of petroglyphs in the Southwest. A small pueblo ruin and the Sierra Blanco looms in the distance. You can take a self-guided hike or get a guide to help you locate all the best things.
There is a campground here and a few RV parking spots. You don’t get much cheaper than camping, although the weather can be unforgiving during the day in the summer, so plan accordingly. The Bat Flight Program at Carlsbad Caverns National Park runs from May through September and is very interesting. It is free, and the bat amphitheater is first come, first serve, so come early to snag a spot.
Morro Bay, California
This California destination is all about the outdoors. There are plenty of things just a short drive away, but the beach is the jewel. Frequently overlooked Morro Bay is gorgeous and unspoiled. You can watch sea life, including whales and dolphins, from the shore or reserve a BBQ and bonfire right on the beach after spending a day in the sand and surf. The beach is rarely crowded, and the water is good for body surfing.
You can camp at the Morro Bay State Park, where you can spend countless hours hiking, exploring, and bird watching for free. For an additional fee, you could sail or fish here as well. If camping isn’t your thing, stay at one of several Morro bay inns. Some offer complimentary breakfast, and plenty are under $75 a night. Visit San Luis Obispo de Tolosa or Mission San Miguel Arcángel where ghosts roam the site. These historic locations are both educational and unsettling, making them perfect for a wide range of ages and interest levels.
Mackinac Island, Michigan
This old-school family destination has zero chain hotels making it memorable. It’s beautiful in the summer when you can spend your days riding bikes around the town and watching the famous Mackinac Island Fudge being made. You can take a ferry under the Mackinac Bridge or cruise around kayaking for hours. Fort Holmes, located on the highest point on the island, is haunted by soldiers, and Lucy, a young girl, is seen all over the island. Although there are several ghosts on the island, none of them are dangerous.
The Grand Hotel is pricier than anything else listed so far, but it comes with a ton of amenities. Croquet, bocce ball, dancing, afternoon teas, tennis, golf, mini-golf, and swimming are all options. If a large resort isn’t your thing, there are tons of hotels and motels scattered on the island that are reasonably priced. Most of them provide free breakfasts and pools for an afternoon dip.
Omaha, Nebraska
Another midwest gem has a lot to offer. The summer months are hot in Omaha, but it’s better than snow and ice in the frigid winter months. The Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is nationally recognized and suitable for hours of entertainment. The historic Old Market district of Omaha is brimming with places to stay, restaurants, and things to do. You can shop, see a show, explore a museum, or enjoy a meal at the Haunted House Restaurant. The comfort food eatery isn’t too scary for young ones, and the food is comforting and yummy. These are easy walks from each other, so you could park and walk for the whole stay.
The Museum of Shadows is not appropriate for the younger crowd, but for older kids and adults who want to explore the paranormal, it is a scary experience you won’t soon forget. Stay in Downtown Omaha at a wide range of hotels that offer shuttle service to the Old Market. Many of them are within walking distance.
These trips could be good for a few days or a week or more, depending on where you are in the country and how much time you want to spend. So pack some bags and grab your family for some well-earned time off. You and your family deserve it. You can go knowing you don’t need to worry about depleting your bank account either. This means you can focus on what’s most important, family time.