The summer is nearly over and last-minute planning on summer vacations can limit your options—but don’t let that stop you. You may want to consider last-minute vacations that are local and also simple. Explore your city or state, and involve the kids in taking photos, collecting postcards, and keeping a journal. Exploring the "local" scene as a family gives kids great resources when they're asked to write or talk about their summer vacation once they return to school. Yes, school! It's right around the corner…
If you're short on time and ideas, here are some tips:
- Involve the kids and take into account their ages. Despite our desire to educate and expose our kids to the culture of far-away places, a last-minute reservation at a local hotel with a pool is a sure-fire successful "vacation." It's a great change of scenery for all.
- Think about the things in your hometown that you've always meant to do, but haven't yet. Line up trips to the library, town museum, mom-and-pop diner, pick-your-own-fruit farm, or even a municipal building—pack a picnic—and head out. Be a tourist in your own town.
- Or, perhaps you really do want to get away—far away—but you’re worried about making last-minute travel arrangements. Your budget will dictate some of the guidelines here, but many hotels and airlines have last-minute availability, cancellations and/or other discounts. If you can be flexible about which airport you use, stop-overs, and dates of departure and return, you’ll be surprised how much is available. Also, kids love to try new modes of transportation. Ever been on a train or a ferry? That alone can make for a cool way to get to your destination (or it can be the destination).
Several web sites can help you with seat-of-your-pants travel arrangements. Go to Trip Advisor or Hotels.com to get started, or check out last-minute-travel web sites such as Last Minute.com, Travel Zoo, or Smarter Travel to get going with your plans immediately. Remember to check with the Chamber of Commerce or Travel Bureau in your destination town or city.
Hope this helps you and your family find the opportunity for one last summer vacation before back-to-school!
Cheers,
Sheila
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