| Funand Frugal | | | | pool. |
| >Perfect Family Vacations | | | | Estes Park and other prominent winter activity |
| That Won't Blow Your | | | | destinations are |
| idi-font-family:Arial">Whatmakes a perfect family | | | | mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"> |
| vacation? Thatdepends on your family; what they | | | | Lodging options include cabins and lodge rooms. |
| like to do, where they like to go, the ages ofyour | | | | Cabins range from two to five bedroom and |
| children, even your parenting style. Butmost | | | | include a fireplace and fullyequipped kitchen.yes"> |
| families will agree that a perfect vacation needs | | | | Rates begin at $138/night. |
| to be relaxing and funwith something for | | | | Lodge rooms have two queen beds and a set of |
| everyone. Thereis a seemingly endless list of | | | | bunk beds. |
| resorts in the United States that fit | | | | Rates begin at $64 during off-peak times. |
| thatdescription. But for many parents,there is one | | | | Accommodations are not luxurious but then you |
| more essential aspect of the perfect family | | | | are on a budget,right? |
| vacation. | | | | Northwood's |
| It needs to be | | | | a;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Someof America's |
| na;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Again,the term | | | | original family resorts focused on simple |
| affordable is a relative concept, but for many | | | | accommodations thatprovided easy access to the |
| families, a resort thatcosts more than $350 per | | | | great outdoors. |
| night takes the fun out of the vacation. | | | | Nitschke's Northern Resort, in Minocqua, Wisconsin |
| Parents on a budget are too busy worrying about | | | | has carriedon the fine example of the original |
| how they will fund thetrip and are unable to relax | | | | resort, with its tidy accommodations,coupled with |
| and enjoy themselves. | | | | the pristine setting on the edge of a lake, |
| Or limited funds means that a more expensive | | | | surrounded by |
| resort results in less tospend on tours, attractions, | | | | so-bidi-font-family:Arial">Activitiesinclude fishing, |
| and food. Manyfamilies end up staying in cheap | | | | hiking, boating, jet skiing, or simply relaxing on the |
| hotels with no kid-friendly amenities ratherthan | | | | porch ofyour cabin. The beach andplayground |
| spend all their vacation money on lodging. | | | | provide additional play opportunities for |
| But by searching for discount resorts or obtaining | | | | children.yes"> Icefishing and snowmobiling trails |
| the services of aknowledgeable travel | | | | provide winterentertainment options. Despite |
| consolidator, it is possible to find many affordable | | | | thesecluded, natural setting of this family resort, |
| familyresorts across the U.S. that won't blow your | | | | the town is within boating,walking, and driving |
| budget. | | | | distance when you need groceries or a change of |
| Here are some examples. | | | | ;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Cabinsaccommodate up |
| The | | | | to eight people easily and rates start at an |
| Criteriamso-bidi-font-family:Arial">§ | | | | amazingly affordable |
| Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">U.S. resort | | | | $180 per night. |
| under $350/nightmso-bidi-font-family:Arial">§ | | | | Award-winning |
| Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Structured | | | | so-bidi-font-family:Arial">Manyof the award winning |
| activities for kids of all | | | | family resorts are beyond the means of those on |
| agesmso-bidi-font-family:Arial">§ | | | | a budget,but Woodloch Pines Resort in Hawley, |
| Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Family friendly | | | | Pennsylvania offers theamenities of a luxury |
| atmospheremso-bidi-font-family:Arial">§ | | | | resort for under $350 per night. |
| Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Wide range of | | | | Located on a private lake in the Northern Pocono |
| activities to accommodatedifferent | | | | Mountains of |
| ;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"> | | | | Northeastern Pennsylvania, this family owned |
| DisneylandArial;font-weight:normal" | | | | resort was voted Favorite Family |
| class="results-property-number"> | | | | Vacation Spot by the readers of Better Homes |
| class="results-property-number">Disneylandis one | | | | and Gardens. |
| of the world's all time favorite family vacation | | | | Open year-round, the resort offers an amazing |
| destinations. | | | | feast of activities fromwaterskiing, sailboating, and |
| Anyone who has traveled there with children | | | | bumper boats in summer to snow tubing, ice |
| knows that it meets ourcriteria of a wide range | | | | skatingand snowmobiling in the |
| of family friendly activities. | | | | so-bidi-font-family:Arial">Kidsof all ages love the go |
| Known to be one of the more expensive family | | | | carts, batting cages, pool water slide and hayrides. |
| vacation destinations, thereare affordable lodging | | | | Parents enjoy the Jacuzzis, massages for |
| options that provide easy access to Disneyland | | | | themselves and the all-inclusiverates that are |
| and helpkeep costs down. The All Star | | | | difficult to find at U.S. resorts. |
| Music Resort is one of Disney's most affordable | | | | Prices vary depending on room selection, time of |
| resorts. | | | | year and number ofpeople, but a family of four |
| As the name implies, it has a music theme, with | | | | can purchase a four-night package that |
| different areas decoratedto reflect various music | | | | includesroom and 12 meals for under $350 per |
| genres including jazz, rock, country, and | | | | night. |
| Broadway. | | | | Another |
| The resort's two pools are shaped like a piano | | | | na;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Thefamily-friendly, |
| and a guitar. | | | | all-inclusive pricing draws hundreds of families |
| Kids love the playground and arcade. | | | | south of theborder to Mexico each year. |
| Parents love the baby-sitting service. | | | | Butfamilies don't have to leave the country to find |
| class="results-property-number">Thebasic | | | | all-inclusive deals. |
| amenities are in keeping with a budget resort but | | | | Tyler Place Family Resort on Lake Champlain in |
| are more numerous thanthose of a standard | | | | Vermont also offersthis pricing that includes |
| hotel. Mostrooms sleep four with two double beds. | | | | meals, snacks, lodging, and most |
| Diningfacilities are limited to a mall style food | | | | ;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Tyler |
| court, but the wide variety ofchoices is sure to | | | | Place's eight different kid's programs offer |
| please everyone. Ratesfor a family of four at this | | | | structured nature and outdoorprograms for |
| 2000-room, Disney resort start at just over | | | | children of all ages. Familywater activities include |
| $100per night.mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"> Becauseit | | | | sailing, canoeing, kayaking, waterskiing, |
| is part of the group of Disney resorts, there are | | | | paddleboats,bumper tube rides, banana boats, and |
| often vacation specials andpackages | | | | lots more. |
| ;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"> | | | | Other entertainment includes tennis, mountain |
| Rocky | | | | biking, indoor and outdoorpools, and group sports. |
| a;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Manyparents are | | | | Newbornand infant care is provided for parents |
| familiar with the family-oriented mission of the | | | | who want to take art, yoga and aerobicsclasses, |
| YMCA programs. | | | | or visit vineyards in |
| Located in urban areas internationally, this kid | | | | ;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Discount,off-peak rates |
| friendly organizationoffers many educational, | | | | for a family of four are just under $300 per night |
| sports, and social opportunities. | | | | and includelodging with separate children's rooms, |
| The YMCA of the Rockies, Colorado also | | | | all meals and access to services |
| operates two budget vacationresorts that help | | | | ana;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Thislist of affordable |
| families get out and enjoy the legendary beauty | | | | family resorts is just a taste of what's available |
| of the Rocky | | | | outthere for perfect family vacations if you are |
| na">Snow Mountain Ranch and Estes | | | | willing to sacrifice some of theluxurious |
| Park Centerfont-family:Verdana"> are | | | | accommodations in lieu of a more family friendly |
| so-bidi-font-family:Arial" | | | | atmosphere. |
| class="article">nondenominationalprograms open to | | | | As with many vacation destinations, traveling |
| any guest. However,members receive a slight | | | | during off peak seasonswill cut costs, and |
| rate discount and have their reservations | | | | watching out for vacation specials, discountflights, |
| processedfirst. In addition to opportunitiesto enjoy | | | | and discountcar rental can also help keep costs |
| the mountains, summer children's programs | | | | down. |
| operate daily for ages threethrough 16. Age | | | | Vacation planners who work with a variety of |
| appropriateactivities include hiking, hayrides, roller | | | | destinations and packagesare often able to locate |
| skating arts and crafts, campfirecooking, | | | | great vacation deals for you and your family. |
| orienteering and archery. Inwinter, families can | | | | The perfect family vacation doesn't have to blow |
| spend the day cross-country skiing and | | | | your budget. |
| snowshoeing on 125miles of groomed trails, and | | | | It just takes a little planning and research. |
| return to the resort to warm up in the indoor | | | | |