10 Affordable Family Vacation Ideas for Summer

Family Vacation Ideas for Summer

Summer is approaching, and vacation is on everyone’s mind. While each trip will cost you dearly a little, there are lots of places to visit that won’t cost you a fortune too much. The key is to choose the perfect location – somewhere where the summertime is calmer or where housing and meals are inexpensive. When traveling with children, small things like pre-packing snacks and stopping at a local grocery shop to prepare some of your meals can go a long way toward minimizing your total cost.

To help, we have compiled a list of places where you may have a fantastic holiday for a reasonable price. Free and inexpensive activities, as well as facilities that welcome children with complimentary, family-friendly amenities, are among the greatest family holiday destinations.

There are a few calm beach vacation places, lively city adventures, and vacations that combine the two in our list of the top summer vacation ideas. We’ve included both domestic and international choices, so you can get ideas for a full-fledged journey as well as a long weekend getaway.

1. San Diego, California

San Diego, California’s sunny city, offers a plethora of family-friendly activities, including theme parks, water parks, kid-friendly museums, and 70 miles of beaches. The Go City All-Inclusive Pass can be used to save up to 50% on prominent attractions in Balboa Park, including the San Diego Zoo, Legoland California, harbor cruises, and museums.

2. Winter Park, Colorado

While most people think of Winter Park as a wintertime destination, it’s also a terrific place to visit in the summer, particularly if you want to get away from the heat. Hiking, ropes courses, gondola rides, climbing walls, and Colorado’s longest alpine slide may all be done in a single day for families. If you purchase your day pass in advance (which includes entry to all of the activities listed), it costs $10 for children under the age of four and $59 for those aged five and above. One of very few summer tubing hills in the United States, as well as miniature golf, swimming, and indoor and outdoor climbing walls, can be found at the nearby Snow Mountain Ranch.

3. Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor has a variety of swimming opportunities (all of which are free), including the freshwater beach at Echo Lake, which features quiet waves that are ideal for children. One can also build their walking tour by following signs labeled “The Museum in the Streets” around Bar Harbor, or by hopping on one of the many hiking, walking, or cycling trails. A $30 vehicle permit gets the whole family into adjacent Acadia National Park for a day of hiking and sights of Maine’s wildlife and untamed coast.

4. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

From the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, “Kidsburgh” offers a wealth of family-friendly activities. There is a 10-day Grand Prix in the summer with historic cars and walking tours to appreciate the city while getting some exercise. There are other lunch restaurants where you can grab a meal for under $10, and the Golden Triangle subway line provides free rides around downtown.

If you want to spend a little time outside, bike along the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile track that provides a lovely opportunity to see the city’s various bridges and tunnels.

5. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is an excellent choice for a family beach vacation, with resorts and all-inclusive properties starting at $100 per night. While the country has many wonderful places to visit, it’s difficult to beat Punta Cana for family vacations. The town has a 30-mile stretch of white-sand beach, gorgeous coconut palms, and direct flights from more than 28 countries and 96 cities across the world.

6. St. Louis, Missouri

Purina Farms, where children may enjoy dog agility events and animal barnyards, and the Saint Louis Art Museum, which is highly kid-oriented, are both free attractions in St. Louis. For kids two and up, admission to the City Museum, which features a 10-story slide, a massive ball pit, and a 40-foot high Ferris wheel, is $18. After that, pay a visit to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, which is noted for its thick custard shakes that may be served upside down.

7. Lisbon, Portugal

Are you ready to travel the world with your children? Families may combine a city and beach holiday in Lisbon. Explore the city’s diverse neighborhoods, castles, and palaces, or take a ride on the city’s steep hills on a rollercoaster. You’ll spend roughly $4 for a ride up and down, providing you with an affordable and gorgeous tour of the city.

8. Vienna, Austria

The accessibility of Austria’s capital city contributes to its affordability as a family destination; also, there are various free walking tours available, including ones that expose you to the city’s music, gastronomy, and recreation.

The Vienna Pass gives visitors free entry to more than 60 of the city’s best attractions, including museums, a large Ferris wheel, Madame Tussauds, and Tiergarten Schoenbrunn, the world’s oldest zoo, which was founded in 1752. There are single-day and multi-day passes available.

9. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Canada offers plenty of free entertainment just across the border. In Victoria, families can walk through Beacon Hill Park, take their chances at lawn bowling, or see the park’s resident goats at the children’s farm. Take a walk along the sea at Fisherman’s Wharf and stop by Jackson’s Ice Cream for a free day of coastal joy.

A day at Wildplay Element Parks (an aerial adventure park) costs below $20 per participant and includes various activities such as zip lines, wobbly bridges, rope swings, ax tossing, and bungee leaping.

10. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Go to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, if both you and your kids enjoy the beach. Visitors can enjoy five water slides, six on-property pools, a sunken pirate ship, and a long lazy river at resorts like The Breakers. Shuffleboard, huge chess, and corn hole are all available. If your family enjoys mini golf, go no further than this seaside town, which has over 50 courses to choose from.