Summer vacation time is almost here – and with a family of nine, and with the rising costs of, well, just about everything – I need some fun, inexpensive ideas.

Go loco – I mean – local

Every time I take a ride anywhere, I calculate how much the gas will cost me. I need a “kid hauler” with my large family, and gas can be costly. This summer, I am thinking of staying fairly local.

Try taking a vacation at home. Yes, you heard me. Think about it: no hotel costs, you can save on food by, gulp, cooking it, and you don’t have to deal with Long Car Ride Syndrome. (Long car ride syndrome n: 1. The condition of a car after extended vehicle travel, which consists of half-chewed strawberry Twizzlers gummed between seats, soda stains dotting the arm rests, Doritos crumbled in drink holders, and an unidentified – smell.)

Think of something different to do each day. Depending on where you live, there may be lots of activities in your own back yard that you may have previously overlooked. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Hiking: Fresh air, good exercise, pretty scenery, and free – hiking makes a perfect activity for a family vacation.
• Museums: Does your town have any unique museums? If you’re lucky enough to live in Columbus, Georgia, you can visit the lunchbox museum. (They have over 1,000 lunchboxes!) A lot of places have small, but interesting museums for a free or low-cost entrance fee.
• Park day: Go to the dollar store and get a bunch of fun outdoor toys: water guns, Frisbees, balls, or a croquet set. Go to a park and just have fun.
• Movies: Go to a movie together – you saved on gas by staying local, so go ahead – buy the popcorn.
• Bowling: Most towns have a bowling alley. Just make sure you get the lane with the bumpers – you’ll get a better score that way.
• Miniature golf: Little castles, windmills perched on a hill, cascading waterfalls – Who needs Europe?
• Water fun: You don’t need a boat or fancy toys to enjoy the water. Try skipping rocks, making sand castles, and enjoying the feeling of wet sand squishing between your toes.
• Camping: Why stay home with a warm soft bed, running water, and a flushing toilet when you can rough it in the great outdoors. I have fond memories of camping with my family: the cooperation of pitching the tent with my boys, roasting marshmallows over the fire, gazing up at the stars, taking down the tent in hurricane-like wind gusts, leaving two days early due to a rainstorm…okay, moving on….
• Bike riding: Find out if your area has some interesting biking trails and go for a ride.
• Stay in: Rent some classic movies from the library, order pizza, and have a board game marathon.

Don’t let the shaky economy stop you from having fun with your family. You can still build memories together without a fancy, expensive vacation. With some planning and a little creativity, you can still have a great time together. Sometimes it’s the simple things that bring us closer together.

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