Winter blues start to dissipate with thoughts of summer vacation. Family vacation plans start with the dreams of places to visit, Europe, Disney World, the Caribbean then reality sets in of the expensive for a family of five and plans start to downsize. Your budget can only afford a minimal vacation, so what do you do now? You still want something enjoyable and relaxing possibly even educational for your children but definitely entertaining.

This is not as hard as it appears especially with a little research beforehand. As you sit in front of the computer your vacation still has endless possibilities and within your budget. Start with your own state and depending upon your budget you can start expanding beyond to surrounding states for less expensive activities. There are more things to do than you have ever imagined. Factory tours, museums, kids club memberships, throw in a day at the water park and it will be a vacation your children will never forget and one your wallet will love.

Many businesses have relatively inexpensive or even free factory tours. These are not only educational yet fun for the kids. Some of these include Jelly Belly Candy Factory or Hershey's Chocolate World. Even smaller companies offer tours such as these like Eli's Cheesecake and Hansel and Gretel Candy Kitchen. You can wind your tour up with a treat for everyone and still spend less than you would to take your family to the movies.

Museums offer additional vacation opportunities with some offering overnight stays in the museum for an unbelievable nighttime experience. How many people can say they had the experience of a flashlight tour through the Egyptian exhibit equivalent to walking through a tomb. Overnight stays offer a unique aspect to anyone and help develop an appreciation and excitement in your children for learning. Other options are choosing a museum that coincides with your interests such as Louisville Slugger or Pro Football Hall of Fame sure to please your sports fans.

Chicago offers a Great Kids Museum Pass through the library, which allows a child and two adults access to many of Chicago's museums at no charge. Check out family memberships at museums, they can provide opportunity to visit over 200 museums nationwide if they belong to reciprocal affiliations.

Sports the highlight of your family interests? Check out your nearest major league for kid club packages. The St. Louis Cardinals for example have a Kids Crew club membership for children under 15. For a minimal cost you get two tickets and souvenirs for the kids. They won't be front row seats but this is about the experience of a major league game.
Hotel packages can provide additional entertainment with more and more hotels providing indoor water parks. Some even have bowling alleys, laser tag and arcades all encompassed in one facility. Just watch the amount you spend at the arcades as this cost can add up quickly.

Following these guidelines you can plan an inexpensive vacation. You can be sure your family will have memories to last a lifetime and you won't have to break the bank to do it.

Learn more about this author, Brenda Putman.
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