Finances tight?  You're not alone.  But, if you're thinking about cancelling your summer vacation this year, don't.  Vacations are healthy.  They're a time to get away from the stresses of day-to-day living and just relax.  They're also a time to reconnect with relatives, friends, and bond with your family. They're also ways to create great memories to last a lifetime.  So, don't cancel your vacation, just be a little frugal about it. 

If the beach sounds like the perfect summer vacation destination, you have a number of options.  Popular beaches, that are designed for those on a budget in the United States may include, but are not limited to, Virginia Beach, Pensacola Beach, and Long Beach. You might want to check out some of the national chains which have lower-priced accommodations in pricier beach towns.  For example, Pismo Beach in Central California has a couple really nice Best Westerns that are pretty decently priced which are situated right on the ocean with spectacular views.  Oceanside and Carlsbad (both convenient to Legoland) also have many cheaper hotels.  You may not always stay on the beach, but you can get a cheaper hotel and spend your days on the public beaches, or at some of the many nearby attractions.

Golf resorts are also popular vacation destinations for many individuals, but many can be expensive.  If you are unable to obtain a discount vacation package, but you still want to your vacation to have a focus on golf, you have a number of options.  Many golf resorts allow vacationers to play on their courses, even if they are not staying at the resort.  It is also possible to golf at well-known golf courses that are not considered resorts.  As with a beach vacation, you may be able to save a large amount of money by staying at a hotel or dinning away from a golf resort.

Theme parks and amusement parks are popular vacation destinations, especially for those with children.  If you and your family are interested in vacationing at a United States theme park, you have a number of options.  Theme park resorts are similar to, the above mentioned, golf resorts.  A large number of well-known theme park resorts, including Orlando Studios, Disneyland, and Disney World can be selected, even if you are on a budget. Many of these resorts offer vacation packages that include hotel stays, theme park use, onsite dinning, and much more. 

Now, for the ultimate in cheap, but fun, family vacations, you may also want to consider camping.  You can camp at many state parks for around $20 a night.  There are also numerous inexpensive private campgrounds around the country which offer numerous amenities for the family, including a pool, game room, movie nights, etc.  You'll find some camping ideas at our camping site, www.rv-camping.net.