Planning the Perfect Getaway (Family Style)
mamma | Jan 22, 2010 | Comments 1
Families that play together stay together. Even in these challenging economic times, Americans still agree that family vacations are worth the money.
In a national study by Expedia.com, 94 percent of Americans agreed it was worth it to take a family vacation. Why? Because vacations help build memories that last a lifetime and reinforce family bonds. Nearly 85 percent of those surveyed think the time they spend together as a family is what makes a trip special. The good news is, travel costs have dropped significantly in the last year, making family vacations the most affordable they’ve been in years.
This year, rather than forgoing a vacation altogether, many people are staying closer to home and taking shorter trips. Whether you have a day, weekend or an entire week to get away, trips within driving distance can be fun and help save money. Other families are finding phenomenal deals online or through travel agents, and making the most of a great escape.
Travel Tips
1. Take advantage of last minute deals. More than a quarter of Americans (27 percent) who have been on family vacations feel a spontaneous trip is more fun for their family than one planned well in advance of the vacation date. The good news is there’s still time to take advantage of great vacation savings. Snap up dramatically discounted hotel rooms in top cities and beaches at online discounters’ last minute deals pages.
2. Revisit the past. Many of our fondest memories come from family trips to well-known attractions. Revisiting favorite destinations that you remember as a child can be a great way to spend time off with your family. Nearly two in three (64 percent) parents who enjoyed family vacations while growing up have taken their own families to destinations they visited as a child.
3. Don’t over schedule. Remember, this is a vacation! Trips to larger attractions can be alternated with inexpensive or free activities like picnics in nearby parks to help families stick to their travel budgets.
4. Involve the whole family. Wherever you decide to go, get the kids involved in the planning process. They’ll be more cooperative and have a more fun if they feel they have a say in where they’re going and what they’re doing. Cruises can be a great option for family vacations. They offer activities that are fun for everyone and help families stick to their travel budgets, since most cruises are all-inclusive, and aren’t as prone to surprise expenses and impulse buying.
5. Think off season. Booking travel during off-peak travel times can help maximize travel budgets. Planning travel for off-peak times allows vacationers to take advantage of big deals and smaller crowds. Thinking a trip to the Caribbean? Their off season is April through November.
6. Get it together. Booking air and hotel together is another way to save money. Travelers can save more than $200 per trip when they book their airfare and hotel as a package deal. According to travel agencies, vacationers can save up to 25 percent by making their entire trip a package deal.
According to Expedia, the average American who has taken a family vacation at some point in their lives says it has been at least five years since they had a truly great trip with their loved ones. There’s no better time than the present to hit the road and make some family memories to last a lifetime.
Vacation in Your Own Backyard
Has anyone ever told you are fortunate to live in Eastern North Carolina? With nearby beaches, historic landmarks, great attractions and plenty of in-and-out-of-the-water recreation offerings, residents of Eastern North Carolina live where thousands of people pay to vacation each year. If money, work schedules or other challenges keep you from planning the perfect getaway, explore the offerings and attractions found locally.
Major attractions with a nominal admission fee include the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens in New Bern, the Onslow County Museum in Richlands and the Beaufort Historic Site with its red double-decker tour bus. Other natural attractions like the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, Shackleford Banks and the Rachel Carson Reserve are free to visit, but require transportation to and from by boat or ferry.
Fabulous Free Fun
For family fun that’s absolutely free, there are a great many options in our area. Enjoy a day at the beach. Visit http://dcm3.enr.state.nc.us/website/nccoastal_access/viewer.htm to see public beach and water accesses for all of coastal North Carolina. Build a picture-perfect sandcastle, play in the water, find seashells or just enjoy the sun.
For more fantastic free fun, pay a visit to some of the local state parks, including Hammocks Beach State Park in Onslow County, one of the most unspoiled beaches on the Atlantic Coast, or Fort Macon State Park in Carteret County, featuring a meticulously restored five-sided Civil War fort with tours and programs offered daily during the spring, summer and fall.
Set sail for the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, offering free admission. Kids (and kids at heart) can get to know Blackbeard the Pirate, check out a megalodon tooth, and much more. Explore more of the area’s history at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum on Harkers Island or The History Place in downtown Morehead City. Both feature free admission.
Just south of New Bern, take a hike in the Croatan National Forest. Stop by the ranger’s office for a free brochure, and then take off to find Venus flytraps in their natural habitat. Go birdwatching, have a picnic, and take lots of pictures. Camping is also offered for those families interested in more than just a daytrip.
Just down the road from New Bern, off Hwy 101 outside of Havelock, hop or drive aboard the North Carolina ferry system to Minnesott Beach where it’s just a short drive to the quaint village of Oriental. Have lunch, enjoy some ice cream, or watch the boats, but kids will absolutely love the free ferry ride. Also free: a family bike ride on area bike paths such as those in Emerald Isle and Morehead City, or walks along the area’s many nature trails. You remember how much you used to love playing outside as a kid. Treat your children to the great outdoors.
Find it Online!
There’s lots of family fun to be found in Eastern North Carolina. Visit area or state visitor bureau websites for a listing of things to do and sites to see within our great state.
Crystal Coast Tourism Development Authority
www.crystalcoastnc.org
New Bern/Craven County Visitors Center
Onslow County Tourism
North Carolina Travel and Tourism
A special thanks to ARA Content for Expedia vacation statistics and information. Photo courtesy the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development.
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