Travel NC With Kids: March 2015

Traveling can be expensive; however, there are quite a few things you can do to save money when traveling with children. Here are my top five tips for saving money and getting the most out of your travel budget.

Tips for Saving Money on Vacation - Hunting Island State Park

#1 Determine a Travel Budget

When planning vacations, include the kids in the discussion. Would they rather do one activity that costs more or several activities that cost less? Determine your budget and consider a variety of options that take into account everyone's interests. Much of the fun of a vacation is looking at all the possibilities!

Including the kids in the process encourages genuine responsibility and can be a valuable learning experience. They might even want to pitch in some of their allowance money to be able to do an extra activity that would have been beyond the initial budget. Avoid the "buy me this...buy me that" syndrome that often happens when the kids see gift shops, vendors, or anything else for sale at the destination. Determine ahead of time how much money will be allotted for each person or let the kids know ahead of time that they will either need to bring their own money for those items or that this sort of spending is off limits.

A big percentage of a travel budget includes accommodations and food. Consider camping – it is generally much less expensive than staying in a hotel or house and you don't have to worry about whether the previous guests brought bedbugs into the room. Packing food can be a huge way to save money. Ensure that you properly store the food and have a way to prepare meals once you arrive. Many amusement parks will give you free ice water in certain locations, but they will probably not advertise it. Look to see what items are allowed or not allowed if visiting an amusement park or museum and whether or not you can gain re-entry if you go out to the vehicle to eat.

Driving is often less expensive than flying, although the distance might limit where you are able to go. If you are going to travel for days to get to your destination, consider frequent stops to enjoy the journey. You might post a question on social media asking if folks know of fun places to stop in various locations along the travel route. I do not recommend telling everyone on the internet when and where you plan to go on vacation due to safety reasons.

How to Save Money When You are Traveling with Children – Pick Local Destinations

#2 Consider Local Destinations

Visit your local Chamber of Commerce web site – they will likely have a calendar of events. Many activities within the community may be free or low cost or you might be offered a discount if you live in the county or state. Check out additional ideas at the local parks and recreation department, library, Smart Start office, children's museums, and museums.

Local movie theaters may offer a special summer price for a season pass to matinees during the summer. Many towns and cities offer special activities related to holidays. If you sign up early, you might find discounts or scholarships for various summer camps. If you choose local activities, you can decrease travel time, perhaps learn a bit about local history, and support the community economically.

Money-Saving Tips for Traveling with Children - Pack Food When Going to Places Like Disney World

#3 Do Your Homework

If you wish to visit a science center, aquarium, amusement park, or other area, research the various options for tickets. Many of these destinations offer discounted two-day passes and season passes. The biggest discounts on season passes may be offered at the end of one season a few months before the next season starts.

Research hidden charges. Some places love to charge for parking, for example. Actually, I think some places would charge extra for breathing if possible. Look for hidden charges, or you might contact the potential destination and ask about extra charges if it is not clear on the web site.

One of the biggest money-savers for places with admission fees is through reciprocal privileges. For example, you might be able to visit an aquarium for free or half price if you have a membership at a zoo that offers reciprocal privileges.

Once you've determined a destination, read visitor tips. The official web site may offer a suggested order for visiting the place or may post dates and times when they are offering special activities. For example, if you are going to an aviary, you are likely to see the birds quite animated if it is close to feeding time and might have the opportunity to learn a bit more about the various birds. Some books and/or web sites may offer travel tips by people who have visited those sites several times.

How to Go on Vacation on a Budget - Camping is Good Low-Cost Option

#4 Be Prepared

If you are driving, ensure that the vehicle is in good working order; you may wish to plan your route so that you will avoid any toll roads.

If you are camping, inspect the camper, tent, sleeping bags, or other items to ensure you are ready to roll a few days before the big date. After you arrive at the campground is not a great time to discover that the brand new air bed leaks or that you forgot to pack a rope and stakes.

If you are going to cook, make sure you have packed items such as a can opener, salt and other spices, oven mitts, cutlery, plates, etc. Remember to pack items such as medications, sunscreen, mosquito repellant, hats, trash bags, and proper attire for predicted weather. These items often have high prices on site.

Tips for Avoiding Overspending on Entertainment - Roller Coaster at Carowinds

#5 Consider Joining the "Out" Crowd

Although lots of people enjoy being in the "in" crowd, there are advantages to going against the grain. Visiting a travel destination during the off season or when the weather is not ideal may mean shorter lines. I would not recommend this choice every time, but if you weigh the pros and cons and find it worth the risk, this might end up being one of those times when you can smile because you got to ride those rides as much as the people who pay big bucks to go to the front of the line.

Save Money on Vacations with the Kids - Feeding Animals at Lazy 5 Ranch

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Salisbury First Friday Night Out 2015 Calendar of Dates

Salisbury, North Carolina offers Friday Night Out dates where the family can enjoy downtown shopping and activities until 8:00 p.m. These evenings have themes and those participating in the various activities may have a chance to win prizes. Free trolley rides always tend to be a hit with my kids! My nephew is going to be out there on March 6 and April 3 helping kids put together bird houses and teaching how to protect our birds.

Fun Family Activities in Salisbury NC

For all those parents who are looking at multiple make-up days due to the ice and snow this year, I feel your pain! Being in and around Rowan County might not be such a bad thing if you have some fun family activities tucked in your stash of ideas. You can also enjoy being outside and getting a little exercise together. Supporting local businesses boosts the economy and helps keep these shops in the area for everyone to enjoy.

A clown Wacky Do was at many Salisbury Nights Out - we miss you - RIP

Here are the 2015 dates - these were correct as of the date this article was published. For additional information, you may wish to visit the Downtown Salisbury web site. I'll plan to update the list if they offer any additional dates.

March 6	Luck O' the Irish
April 3	History Alive!
May 1	Tickle Our Ivories
June 5	Gallery Gallup
August 7	Summer Sip
September 4	Busker's Bash
October 2	End of the World Night
November 6	Paw Around Town
December 4	Salisbury Sings in the Season

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Travel NC With Kids

Friday, March 6, 2015

5 Tips to Save Money When You Are Traveling With Kids

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Salisbury, NC First Friday Nights Out 2015 Dates