7 Affordable Family Vacations to Celebrate the End of Summer
Summer is going by fast and back-to-school commercials are already on the airwaves. As your kids wind down from their break, you might want one last trip such as going on a whale watching Long Beach before they hit the books.
There are many price-conscious spots where you can soak in the final days of summer without breaking the bank. Here are seven affordable vacations that the whole family can enjoy.
1. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach’s calm ocean and roomy beach make it an excellent place for the whole family to enjoy. Your family can celebrate the end of summer by camping, playing on the beach, swimming in the ocean or participating in parasailing and banana boat rides.
If you want to venture off the beach, you can visit the 350-acre Broadway at the Beach, which houses shopping and entertainment and hosts complimentary summer concerts. With mini golf, amusement parks and the Pelicans Ballpark, the entire family will have something to love at Myrtle Beach.
2. Branson, Missouri
Branson has a host of kid-friendly activities everyone can find fun.
The Strip is home to the World’s Largest Toy Museum, the Aquarium at the Boardwalk, the Titanic Museum and the Branson Ferris Wheel. You can also enjoy various shows — including the famous production The Shepherd of the Hills.
Branson is also home to mountains and lakes, which are great for biking, hiking and climbing. Find Silver Dollar City nearby — a combination theme park and immersive history experience.
3. Santa Monica, California
While California probably doesn’t come to mind when considering an inexpensive family vacation, Santa Monica is a hidden gem. You can visit the beautiful beaches where you can relax, surf or ride bikes along the boardwalk.
You and your kids can also enjoy rides at the famous Santa Monica Pier and shopping along the Third Street Promenade. Stop by the Santa Monica’s Farmers Market for a great meal or walk along the palm trees at Palisades Park.
Located just off the Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica is an excellent stop for an end-of-summer California vacation.
4. Winter Park, Colorado
With a name like Winter Park, you may not realize it’s a great place to take the kids in the summer.
The park offers a variety of summer discounts for the resort, where you can go zip-lining, horseback riding, climbing walls, mini-golfing, hiking and riding down Colorado’s longest alpine slide. Indoors, you can find more climbing walls and swimming.
Winter Park is also close to the United States’ sole summer tubing hill at Snow Mountain Ranch and offers free concerts throughout the summer.
5. Washington, D.C.
A city filled with nature, history and entertainment, the United State’s capital is a beautiful end-of-summer vacation destination for families.
Your kids can experience history by visiting the many outdoor monuments honoring veterans, presidents and historical figures. Enjoy walking through the National Mall or visiting the Smithsonian museums – which are free entry – housing many interactive exhibits families are sure to love.
Be sure to visit the elephants, giant pandas and more unique animals at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo or be surrounded by nature at the United States Botanic Garden.
6. Williamsburg, Virginia
A few hours out of Washington D.C., Colonial Williamsburg is a great cheap vacation for history lovers. You can watch reenactments of colony life with accurate buildings, costumes and residents and take a carriage ride.
When you’re done immersing yourself in history, you can spend a day at Busch Gardens or Water Country USA to cool off and ride the attractions. Williamsburg is also a short drive away from other destinations like Virginia Beach and the Richmond Raceway.
7. Hershey, Pennsylvania
Visit a chocolate lover’s paradise at Hersheypark, just east of Pennsylvania’s capital. The park is home to a chocolate factory, museum and amusement park for all ages.
Hershey isn’t just home to the theme park. You can visit the Zoo of America to see bears, birds, wolves and other wildlife or visit the Hershey Gardens.
Whether you want to be surrounded by chocolate, ride thrilling coasters or see wildlife, Hershey is a great place for all family members to wind down their summers.
Take a Trip Before the End of Summer
As summer winds down, you want to enjoy the time with your family before kids return to school and fall sports and events commence.
A new school year means new adventures, but there’s still time to get one last getaway in before your kids fall back into a routine. Finding an affordable vacation for your family is a great way to celebrate summer one last time.
