Anybody have any good ideas for a summer vacation? We're a family of four (me, wife, daughter (5) and son (3)). We were just in Disneyland in November, so I don't feel the need to break the bank this summer.
Here's what I'm working with:
~$4,000
10 days off
Within an 8 hour drive from Calgary (would be willing to fly somewhere, but doubt the budget will allow it)
That's about it...any suggestions? We're getting kind of desperate here lol.
Kelowna is nice, we did a big family vacation there last year where we rented out a house in a resort community out of town, and we've also rented a house in Peachland before as well. Lots of stuff to do in the area, and if all else fails there's the waterpark and beach in Kelowna which are perfect for kids that age. Check vrbo.com and the like for stuff to rent, find something that either has a pool or is in a resort community with a pool and you are golden.
Invermere is another one we've done, beaches, parks, hiking, etc all around.
For a bit more driving you could make it to Vancouver.
Or (gag) rent an RV, this does not appeal to me but I know lots of families that do it and love it, especially with kids that love the outdoors.
EDIT: Palm Springs is also nice, we rented a house with a pool there once and there was lots of stuff to do with the kid too, and flights aren't too expensive, but that might be too much for that many people.
We did a Glacier, Whitefish, Sandpoint circuit last year and had a great time. Sandpoint was a bit boring I thought, but they had a great restaurant called Spuds which made it worthwhile. I rented a boat there and that was fun, too. Whitefish on the fourth of July was a blast.
Yellowstone sounds neat and I really don't mind stretching out the drive, but I wouldn't say we're super outdoorsy. We'd rather hit a water park than go for a hike, for example.
Invermere we've kind of done to death, so I don't really want to go there. I think Kelowna might be our bitch. I'd love to rent a place - thanks for that site Photon. I'll check it out and we might book something on there. My daughter could swim all day every day so a place with a pool is an awesome idea. I hadn't even thought of that.
I hear the "gag" on the RV idea. I actually own one, but we'll probably only use it a couple of weekends this summer. I don't want to burn my main vacation sitting in a campground.
I'd suggest Sandy Beach in Naramata (on the Okanagan). Family friends of mine have been going annually for 20 years now and I've been there a few times. It's awesome, very relaxing, and a friendly place. Naramata is a small town (I do mean small as in, no traffic lights and maybe 5 main roads), with everything you need. Lots of vinyards and orchards in the area, if you want to go on tours. It's about 20 minutes from Penticton which always has something to do. Everytime I've been there, there's been kids of all ages which gives them something to do. They're always playing games or having water fights and such.
It's $2700 for a week in peak season (Last week of June-Labor Day.) It can be pretty steep, but if you bring food and such from home, then you won't need a whole lot of spending money.
This summer we're renting a house with the family between San Diego and LA, it's a big house with a big swimming pool outside, out on an acreage or something so no neighbours to worry about. Within driving distance of the beach, and all the stuff we'd want to see (Lego Land, Seaworld, Zoo, etc) but quiet. And takes advantage of the dollar.
House rental works out to around $100 per night per family.
This summer we're renting a house with the family between San Diego and LA, it's a big house with a big swimming pool outside, out on an acreage or something so no neighbours to worry about. Within driving distance of the beach, and all the stuff we'd want to see (Lego Land, Seaworld, Zoo, etc) but quiet. And takes advantage of the dollar.
House rental works out to around $100 per night per family.
Get three of those small, plastic kiddie pools. Fill one with ketchup, one with mustard, and one with mayonnaise.
You buy a giant bread (at least 8 feet) and hollow it into a sort of bread-boat.
You buy a few slides of varying heights and sizes, and a small-medium sized jungle gym.
The, buy at least 6,000 hot dog wieners. You can save big if you buy in bulk like that.
You set up the pools in a sort of circle, with the slides' ladders coming out of each pool and the slide pointing into the next one. You put the boat in one of the pools. You have a giant vat in the middle of the circle filled with the 6,000 cooked hot dogs. You surround the vat with the jungle gym.
One child sits in the vat of hot dogs and throws them at the other contestants, who are all floating in one of the condiment pools on the giant bread boat. If a hot dog lands in the boat, you must peel off a portion of the boat and eat the hot dog , using ONLY the condiment from the pool you are in. After 10 minutes or 40 hot dogs, get out, carry the boat to the top of the slide, and slide into the next pool. Switch roles occasionally.
The person in the hot dog vat must only escape from the vat using the jungle gym, and they can only use their right arm and their left leg. Any other limb touching the jungle gym, or the ground, is an automatic penalty.
Anybody have any good ideas for a summer vacation? We're a family of four (me, wife, daughter (5) and son (3)). We were just in Disneyland in November, so I don't feel the need to break the bank this summer.
Here's what I'm working with:
~$4,000
10 days off
Within an 8 hour drive from Calgary (would be willing to fly somewhere, but doubt the budget will allow it)
That's about it...any suggestions? We're getting kind of desperate here lol.
Holy crap, it'll cost me $4,000 to take a "reasonable" vacation with two kids?!? Better start saving up!
My suggestion: find a cheap Westjet flight to Vancouver/Abbotsford, and then rent a car and drive down to Seattle. Lots of shopping, lots to see and do (including kids), and the weak US dollar keeps things reasonable.
Various places, vrbo.com is a good place to start to gauge demand and prices, then you can dig into similar sites (just google vacation rental wherever), craigslist/kijiji/etc, that sort of thing.
Timeshare sites are good too, there's usually lots of people trying to rent out portions of their timeshares.
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My suggestion: find a cheap Westjet flight to Vancouver/Abbotsford, and then rent a car and drive down to Seattle. Lots of shopping, lots to see and do (including kids), and the weak US dollar keeps things reasonable.
Another option is to fly to Victoria, and take the ferry to Seattle. Kids like boats, so it makes it a bit more of an adventure. Could do a little side excursion to Tofino or something too.
Another option is to fly to Victoria, and take the ferry to Seattle. Kids like boats, so it makes it a bit more of an adventure. Could do a little side excursion to Tofino or something too.
True, but the Clipper is more expensive, and it isn't always the best ride out to Seattle (due to choppy waters). Flights to Victoria are usually a little more expensive as well (although the benefit is that you get to visit Victoria)
If you do go this route, perhaps take the Clipper to Seattle, and then take the train back to Vancouver Harbour (which I heard is a nice trip). Then you can take the Ferry back to Victoria, which could also be fun for the kids.
Of course, each of these steps will cost you more money; if you're frugal like me, a rental car from Vancouver or Abbotsford (which they'll let you drive into Washington state) is the way to go
Step 1: Go to www.yycdeals.com and go to the deals map. Choose under $400, and see what comes up. One option is San Diego, which is a pretty good place for a summer vacation.
Step 2: Go to www.redweek.com and type in San Diego, choose San Diego and area. Then go through the different choices and pick something that works for you and is a reasonable price.
As an example, June 18-25 is $439 to San Diego, and then 1 week rental of a two bedroom at the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort for $1200 http://www.redweek.com/posting/R350107
Total comes to $2956 for 4 flights and a week stay. You'd have a kitchen/BBQ, so you could probably stretch the last $1000 cover food/entertainment.
Spend a couple of days by the pool, some time at the beach, maybe splurge for legoland for a day.
Step 3: Profit!
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Summer Vacation Ideas?
