Feature: Family Vacays For The Budget Minded

Summer is prime time for family vacations but with the tough economy, families are cutting back on what they spend for vacations, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have a great time. Whether it’s day trips or a few nights away, there’s deals and discounts everywhere and places that everyone can visit.  Stanley T recently took his family to Hershey Park in Hershey, Pennsylvania.  After you read about his experience you’ll find a list of family vacation opportunities from all over the country.

If you’re like me, you may not like some of these types of places due to the high volume of people, waiting on long lines to enjoy your favorite ride(s) and your kids wanting to experience everything they see. I have to tell myself “patience dude, patience.” However, Hershey Park turned out to be as advertised…”the sweetest place on earth”, especially with their Sweet Access Pass!

Continue reading for the rest of Stanley T’s reviews, and many other offers on family vacations! You’ll find information on places in Florida, California, Wisconsin, Texas, Arizona, Utah, North Carolina, Oregon, and many more! Click on the names of the destinations for more information!

We had the time of our lives. My my wife and daughter had and saw more chocolate than they could imagine. Chocolate World is a must see. Check out the 3D show. We went sightseeing and chocolate tasting on our second day there. The first day we were there, it was so hot we decided to hit the water right away.

They have a lazy river, called Intercoastal Waterway (see 2nd photo) and a huge wave pool they call The Shore. Both of these are in front of private cabanas, which you can rent for an additional fee. Here’s a tip, reserve these in advance because they sell out pretty quickly. The cabana includes a refrigerator, table, and chairs (including sun chairs). The fridge is stocked with complimentary bottled water, and they give you free beach bags with your cabana rental, including towels, sunscreen, and souvenir mugs. Also, as a cabana guest you’ll enjoy the exclusive ride access to the International Waterway.

My boys and I went on every thrill ride/roller coaster we had the strength, or should I say stomach, to handle. Our favorite was Storm Runner. After getting off, I found myself very thankful to be alive. That thing goes from 0-72 mph in the blink of an eye.

I suggest requesting the Sweet Access Pass.  It will cost you a little extra but it’s worth it.  The Sweet Access Pass gets you your very own concierge who brings you to the front of every line so that you don’t have to wait (how sweet indeed!). Our concierge was named Toni, and she was absolutely wonderful. I also want to thank Mindy who tipped me off to the Sweet Access Pass (and everything else). The pass makes you feel like a VIP at the park. It lifted all my anxiety about whether we would get to try all the rides we wanted too. We all waited less than 2 minutes to get on the rides.

We stayed at the Hotel Hershey, where everything is first class and there is every amenity that you can think of. As guests of the hotel you automatically receive free passes to the Hershey Story, the museum on Chocolate Avenue. The museum, which is a tribute to Milton Hershey, just opened this year. It’s interactive and a great way to learn about all things Hershey – the man, his business, the town, and legacy that Mr. Hershey left behind. Guests also receive free passes to Hershey Gardens: a botanical garden that includes a butterfly house (a favorite of my daughter). The people there are really knowledgable and courteous (as is everyone that works for Hershey). The hotel has an indoor and outdoor pool, and even provides a shuttle bus that takes you directly to the park. Hotel Hershey underwent what they call “the grand expansion” and added a ton of outdoor activities; everything from basketball to golf, even a ice rink that’s open year round. The hotel also gives you a Hershey Kiss with every turndown (awesome!). If you plan to come to the Northeast, or if you perhaps you live in the area, I highly recommend Hershey Park. If it wasn’t in your plans, make a plan to come visit. You’ll be glad you did, and tell them Stanley T sent you!

Below are many other offers on family vacations! Click on the names of the destinations for more information!

Pennsylvania:

Hersheypark in Hershey, PA:  This place has rides of every kind of ride for everyone – kiddie rides, family rides, water rides, rollercoasters, etc. They also offer a number of different shows at the park including an acrobatic take on Beauty and the Beast, The Ultimate Road Trip which takes you across the country, musically, and The Great Candy Caper where you help discover what happened to the Chocolate Pearl.  And after a long day of rides and shows, Mom and Dad, relax with a little pampering at The Chocolate Spa.  There are many discounts and savings on park tickets including $8-$10 off with a coupon available at certain retailers, discounted tickets when you come later in the day, and free late day admission when you buy a ticket for the following day.  Here is a list of all the discounts on Hershey Park tickets, and you can also get a deal when you stay at Hershey Lodge or The Hotel Hershey when you book any one of their “Hot Dates” (marked off in red). If you decide to stay at Hershey 3 or more nights, you can add Hershey Pack season passes in for the lowest price they offer all season long.  The perks of a Hershey Park season pass are unlimited use of rides and shows, 15% off food and merchandise, and you will also receive a coupon book for 2009.

Florida:

Walt Disney World:  We’ve all heard of Disney World and know that’s it a great place for families, whether you just want to hit the park for a day or stay for longer.  But here are some deals currently going on that might help you take advantage.  If you book a 5-night/6-day Magic Your Way hotel & theme park ticket package by July 26^th, you get the Disney Dining Plan, FREE.  It saves you about $654 for a family of four.  Plus, the package price for a family of four starts at just $1,390, which comes out to about $58 a person.

California:

Disneyland: When you buy a 3-Night and 3-Day Ticket package by August 11, you get 2 more nights free. How about some deals on passes? If you are a Southern California resident, you can buy a 3-Day Summer Fun Pass for $99.

La Costa Resort, San Diego: Big Thanks to SIRIUS|XM pal Tony Hawk for Tweeting about this place and letting us know about it.  This place has activities for the whole family – Dive-in movies (where families can watch movies poolside), s’mores in the evening,  an awesome playroom with aquarium called the Kidtopia Kids Club, and an arcade & game center called the Vibz Family Game Lounge.  They even have a waterslide race called The Sliders Cup Speed Challenge where you can win poolside smoothies or even an entire vacation.  Right now they’re offering 20% 2-Night stays and 30% 3-Night stays in Guestrooms, 50% off Suites, a third night free when you book 2 nights in a Villa, or 25% off a Villa with a kitchen.

Wisconsin:

Wisconsin Dells:  Welcome to the waterpark capital of the world!  This place has an indoor waterpark, an outdoor waterpark, and a combination indoor/outdoor water park (what?!)  They also offer river tours of the area, a Wizard Quest Museum ( calm down you Harry Potter fans and World of War Craft players), a casino, petting zoos, horse stables, the International Crane Foundation, spas, golf, and more.  You can stay at a variety of places including hotels, motels, resorts, cabins, cottages, bed & breakfasts, or even rent a house.  They are offering a ton of different packages and deals, to many to name so for a click here or you can even search the specific kind of package or deal you’re looking for.

Vermont:

Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont:  With 8 pools and 4 water slides, your fill of water is definitely going to be fulfilled.  Smugglers’ is totally geared for whole families to be participating in activites together.  Included in a FamilyFest Vacation Package is a science show, a magic show, family game nights, guided walks & hikes, family karaoke, movies, bon fires, sing-alongs, bingo, two teen centers, and access to the FunZone Family Entertainment Center (which has an obstacle house, miniature golf, arcade and more).  Right now, Smuggler’s is offering 15% – 20% off and if you vacation anytime between now and Labor Day, you are eligible for an extra 10% in savings.

Hawaii:

Four Seasons Resort, Manele Bay:  Ok, it’s in Hawaii, need we say more.  Of course, there’s a pool and they also have golf and tennis.  If you let them know ahead of time that you have small children with you, they will greet the kids with milk and cookies when you get there. The resort has the Surf Shack Teen Center featuring a Playstation 2, a 46-inch TV, pool table, and a lounge.  Beach parties and fishing trips are among some of the programs that are organized for teens by the hotel.  For kids ages 5-12, there is the Kids For All Seasons program which organizes a number of indoor and outdoor activities that help teach them about Hawaii like build their own erupting volcano, hunt for lizards, or watch a child hula show.  From now until December 18, 2009, this Four Seasons is offering a Family Values-Two Room package.  This package guarantees a connecting or adjoining second room for families traveling with children 18 and under at 50% off the standard rate.  Click the Four Seasons link above for more package details.

Texas:

Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Texas Hill Country (right outside Austin):  Right off the bat, if you’re a AAA member you get 10%-30% off advertised rates.  The resort offers a U.S. Savings Bond Package.  Request this package when you book a room and you will pay an additional $10 per room, per night, and in return receive a $50 U.S. savings bond per room, per night.  It seems like an odd package to offer but the savings are there.  A family that books two standard rooms for three nights can get six $50 savings bonds, at a total value of $300, for the cost of $60.  ( http://www.bartoncreek.com/rate_packages/#USA) Barton Creek has two programs for kids to participate in, Fort Barton and Kid’s Club, which includes Camp Barton, a themed weekly camp for kids.  There are 4 golf courses, mini golf, a nature trail and the resort also offers list of 110 Things to Do at their resort as well as the surrounding area in case you need any ideas.

San Antonio: The city of San Antonio offers tons to do.  The Alamo, the 4.2 acre complex a small group Texans defended in the Texas Revolution, is a wonderful piece of history to visit and best part about it is admission is free. Then there’s the Buckhorn Saloon & Museum.  The saloon is said to be where Teddy Roosevelt recruited his Rough Riders (who knew DMX was such a Teddy fan), and supposedly Pancho Villa planned the Mexican Revolution here too. Grab a drink and take a walk around The Hall of Texas History Wax Museum as well as any special exhibits they have, and afterwards head back to the saloon/café` for some grub.  Admission to the museum, saloon, and gift store are free. KiddiePark is America’s oldest and original children’s amusement park. $9.25 will buy you unlimited rides, and in a180 degree turn, in this park, adults ride free! Natural Bridge Caverns is the largest cavern in Texas and is not too far outside San Antonio.  There are a 6 different tours and activities you can partake in at the Caverns, starting $9.95 for children 11 & under and $17.95 for adults, to $99.95 a person. Then there’s also the San Antonio Zoo – $10 for adults, $8 for kids 3-11, Botanical Gardens – $7 for adults and $4 for kids 3-13 ( http://www.sabot.org/ ), shops at La Villita, and Market Square, and the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park that has within it four Spanish Colonial missions, each one containing an active parish ( http://www.nps.gov/saan/).

Utah:

Salt Lake City:  This Utah city is packed with things to do.  The Hogle Zoo is only $8 for adults and $6 for children 3-12.  A short drive from Salt Lake is Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park. Adults 18 & over are $7, children 13-17 are $6 and children 2-12 are $5. This 8 acre park is like real life Jurassic Park, only the dinosaurs aren’t really trying to eat you.  Trails take you around life-sized dinosaur replicas hiding behind trees that robotics and the park’s sound system bring to life and there are even caves that you can explore.  You can even watch scientists work on actual dinosaur bones and teeth in the Park’s Elizabeth Dee Shaw Museum, which is also where you can get up close and personal with full sized dinosaur skeletons.  The Gateway section of Salt Lake has Clark Planetarium where you can walk on the moon, see scaled models of the planets, check out the observatory and learn how telescopes work, and even try your hand at giving a TV weather forecast at the weather station – all for free (there is no admission cost). Also at The Gateway, you’re your bathing suit and check out the water fountains.  The fountains are timed and the water shoots out from the floor so it’s pretty fun running around trying to guess where the water is going to come from next and getting drenched.  Salt Lake’s Gallivan Center holds free concerts throughout the summer.

Arizona:

Arizona Grand Resort, Phoenix:  This resort won ParentConnect.com’s 2008 Best Place For Family Bonding award.  Maybe it was because of their Grand Playcation package.  It starts at $149 a night and you receive a stay in a new suite, a $50 resort credit, 4 tickets to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, and 4 passes to the resort’s Oasis Water Park.  The water park offers dive-in movies and along witht heir regular menu, the Oasis Bar & Grill offers a buffet menu at $15.95 for adults and $8.95 for kids.

North Carolina:

Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst: It has the standard pool and golf course of course.  For $55 a day, it also offers KidsClub – which provides children with a number of indoor games, art projects, activities at the Beach Club, and a play center.  On Saturday nights, KidsClub offers dinner and a movie for ages 6-12.  They also offer specific spa treatments for kids so while your pampering yourself, your child can get a little pampering as well.  Also pretty cool, children under 12 stay and eat for free with a paying adult and again with paying adult, children under 17 can play golf for free.  Pinehurst offers a summer escape package where for each night stay, you can choose either two 50-minute spa treatments or one round of championship golf.

Yogi Bear’s Yellowstone Park Campground, Cherokee, Marion, & Tabor City:  This campground has a multitude of locations, not just in North Carolina. The campsite offers tons for families to do.  There are swimming pools, waterslides, rivers & lakes to explore, fishing, hiking, gem mining, campfires, biking, mini-golf, playgrounds, volleyball, gamerooms, golf carts, movies, theme weekends, karaoke, live bands, and more.  Each campsite offers a variety of activities and things to do.  A few even have laser tag!

You can camp here in three ways: bring a tent (lodging will then cost you $0) or rent one, bring your RV ($0 cost) or rent an RV (cost depends on where you rent), or finally, you can rent a cabin.  Prices for renting a tent or cabin vary depending on the site. There is Cherokee, Marion, and Tarbor City. Currently, Tarbor City is only offering a discount to Military persons at 10%. Cherokee also offers a 10% discount to Military but also to any member of Club Yogi, Good Sam, AAA, and AARP. The Marion site has a few specials and promotions going on: a Midweek special where you get 20% off your entire stay if you arrive between Sunday and Tuesday, stay 4 nights and get the 5^th free, and the family vacation package where if you stay a week your amenities are free of charge.

Oregon:

Enchanted Forest Theme Park, Salem:  A little kid’s fantasy come true, this park not only has rides but other attractions, including Story Book Lane – where you see fairytales come to life, the wild west in Tofteville Western Town where you can try the shooting gallery and explore underground tunnels & caves, a Haunted House, Comedy Theatre, Water-light show, and Ye Old World Village modeled after an old English colony town.  Admission is $9.95 for anyone 13 years old and older, and $8.95 for kids 3-12.  You can purchase tickets for rides individually or you can purchase ride bracelets for unlimited use of almost all the rides (a few you have to purchase separate tickets for no matter what). Ride bracelets are $22.95 for adults 13 years old & above and $22.95 or $16.95 for children ages 3-12 depending on their height & size.

Out ‘n’ About Treesort & Treehouse Institute:  This place is like Swiss Family Robinson come to life!  It is exactly what the title suggests, a set of rooms & suites built in the trees.  But don’t worry, you’re not sleeping on wood planks. There are beds, some of the treehouses have working kitchens and full bathrooms within, however, if it doesn’t the bathroom complex (which is made up of modern sinks, showers, & toilets and is not little wooden outhouse that is falling apart) is just a very short walk away.  Prices range from $120 a night for a 2 person treehouse to $250 a night for a 4 person treehouse suite depending on the number of people and style of the suite.  If you plan on having an occupancy bigger than they number specified, it’s an additional $20 per person per night.  Now, besides being awesomely cool and getting to stay in a treehouse, Out ‘n’ About offers a number of activities to participate in.  There’s horseback riding, a fresh water swimming pool with water from the East Fork Illinois River, giants swings & ropes, ziplines, volleyball, and arts & crafts.  Swing and zipline packages range from $15 to $90.

Montana:

320 Ranch, Gallatin Gateway:  A one bedroom log cabin will run you just $147 a night. The ranch is right near Big Sky mountain so skiers, get excited.  They’re also not too far from Yellowstone National Park.  At 320 Ranch, you can go hiking, fly fishing, rafting, biking, snowmobiling, horseback riding, and play golf. It’s a great outdoors experience and get-a-way.

Nebraska:

Island Oasis Water Park, Grand Island:  Woo hoo for water!  One day admission here is $7 for adults, $6 for kids 5 – 15 yrs old, and free for children 4 & under when they come with a paying adult.  They also offer group rates.  For all you crazy adrenaline junkies out there, Island Oasis has two 6-story high speed slides available – The “Island Falls” which is a straight drop and “Fury of the Isle” which gives you a few bumps down those 6 stories.  There’s also a Lazy River, wave pool, water slides, and a beach.

High Plains Homestead, Crawford:  Now if you’d like to get away for a few days VisitNebraska.gov is offering this great package for $1,615.  In it, you get 5 nights at the High Plains Homestead, and access to their onsite facilities such as mountain biking, horseback riding, fossil mining, and more, as well as, admission into the Fort Robinson State Park, Toadstool Geologic Park, Hudson-Meng Bison Kill Site, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, and a $100 gift card to Cabela’s.

VisitNebraska.gov as a few other family packages that you can check out.

Tennessee:

RiverStone Resort & Spa, Pigeon Forge: Riverstone offers a number of different packages. One package, called the Family Adventure Package, includes 4 nights in a 3 bedroom/2 bathroom condominium, 2 adult & 2 children’s tickets to Nascar Speed Park, 2 adult & 2 children’s tickets to Ripley’s Aquarium, and 2 adult & 2 children’s tickets to Dixie Stampede.