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Budget-Friendly Activities for Large Families on Vacation

Planning a vacation for a large family can be both exciting and overwhelming. With so many people to accommodate, it’s important to find activities that are not only fun but also budget-friendly. Fortunately, there are plenty of options available that will keep everyone entertained without breaking the bank. In this article, we will explore some budget-friendly activities that are perfect for large families on vacation.

Explore Local Parks and Beaches

One of the best ways to enjoy a budget-friendly vacation is by exploring local parks and beaches. Most parks offer free or low-cost admission, making them an excellent choice for large families. Whether you’re looking to have a picnic, go hiking, or simply relax in nature, parks provide a wide range of activities suitable for all ages.

Similarly, visiting nearby beaches can be a great way to spend quality time with your family without spending too much money. Pack a picnic lunch and spend the day building sandcastles, swimming in the ocean, or playing beach volleyball. Not only will this allow your family to enjoy the natural beauty of the area, but it will also create lasting memories.

Plan Outdoor Adventures

If your family enjoys adventure and outdoor activities, there are many options available that won’t break the bank. Consider going on a hike in nearby mountains or exploring local nature trails. Many destinations offer bike rentals at affordable prices, allowing you to enjoy scenic bike rides as a family.

Another budget-friendly option is camping. Camping not only provides an opportunity to connect with nature but also allows you to save money on accommodation expenses. Pitching tents together and spending evenings around a campfire can create unforgettable bonding experiences for your large family.

Visit Local Museums and Cultural Sites

Visiting local museums and cultural sites is another excellent way to have an educational yet affordable vacation with your large family. Many museums offer discounted admission rates or even free days for visitors. Take advantage of these opportunities to explore art, history, and science with your family.

Additionally, many cities have cultural sites such as historical landmarks or botanical gardens that offer affordable or even free admission. These sites provide an opportunity to learn about the local culture and heritage while spending quality time together as a family.

Organize Family-Friendly Games and Activities

Sometimes, the best activities are the ones you can create right at your vacation rental or accommodation. Organize family-friendly games and activities that will keep everyone entertained without spending a fortune. Plan a movie night complete with popcorn and snacks, play board games, or have a talent show where each family member can showcase their unique skills.

If you’re staying in a vacation rental with access to outdoor space, consider organizing a friendly sports tournament or setting up a scavenger hunt. These activities not only promote bonding but also allow your large family to enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed and budget-friendly environment.

In conclusion, planning a budget-friendly vacation for a large family doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By exploring local parks and beaches, planning outdoor adventures, visiting museums and cultural sites, and organizing family-friendly games and activities, you can create lasting memories without breaking the bank. Remember that the most important aspect of any vacation is spending quality time together as a family.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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Home » Blog » Travel » Family Travel » Modern Family

Modern Family

June 20, 2013 15 Comments »

How do you define family?

I look at the little square on the electronic form and my mouse hovers over the top of it. I hesitate, think about my life as a solo, independent woman, husbandless, childless, boyfriendless – and I suddenly I feel bold. A smile forms across my face and I click the mouse on the box that reads “Family Travel Blogger”.

I’m never going to have kids. That’s my choice – my clock never woke up and that’s just fine – I’d much rather travel then be a mother. But I still stand by my mark on the form – yes – I’m a childless family travel blogger. I boldly believe there is nothing wrong with this because the definition of family is evolving and I’m one of the many (growing) people in this world who defines family in an untraditional way.

What Does ‘Family’ Mean?

According to the dictionary, family means “A group consisting of parents and children living together in a household.”

This is quite a modern definition since it doesn’t even mention the words mother and father, or define gender differences. However I’m pretty confident in stating that most people still consider a family to be a mother and father. Regardless – of mother-father, mother-mother, father-father, mother only, father only – there is one thing that’s always included…children – presumably your own children.

So – how can I be a family travel writer when I don’t have children?

I have nieces.

In fact I have 6 nieces and I take them traveling with me all over the world .

My 6 nieces…my ‘children’

Not everyone wants kids – even if you can have them. I can’t really explain how I turned 43 and never once looked at a baby and thought…”God I want one of those.” My clock never started ticking, or maybe I was just too selfish, or maybe I was to worried about being perfect, or maybe I just didn’t want to commit to anything that stayed with me FOR LIFE. After all – I am a huge commitment-phobe and kids are the ultimate commitment. Actually choosing to have kids is more daunting than choosing a mate if you ask me.

But I’m not the only one who feels this way –

“In 2008, about 18 percent of women ages 40-44 weren’t mothers and were hitting the end of their child-bearing years, up from 10 percent in 1976, according to a Pew Research Center study of Census figures. And among child-free married couples including a woman of childbearing age, about 20 percent say they are voluntarily planning to stay that way.”

These societal trends in addition to things like the (hopeful) acceptability of same sex marriage means that there are a number of people like me – people whom like kids, but don’t want their own. But here’s the kicker – I still want a family – without kids…is that possible?

I believe it is.

Building a family around me

I choose to build my own family not with children but with my nieces. They don’t need another mother, and I really don’t want to be their mother – but I want a deep relationship with them. One of the ways I’m trying to build that is to help them get a diverse view of the world. As children we typically adopt our parent’s values and views (I voted Republican until I was 30 thanks to family values – coincidently that’s also when I got my first passport ). But I feel that it’s important for kids (specifically my nieces) to develop their own point of view as early as they can. I think there’s no better way to do that than to travel.

I hope that being exposed to other cultures will broaden their knowledge of the world and bring to life what they are learning in school, or help them make decisions on what they want to study in college. I want them to witness all of the paths that people can take to be successful – something that I always sort of feel like I missed out on as I grew up. I had to discover much of that on my own in my late 20s and 30s. I’m quite different than the rest of my family – so I feel like I provide a different viewpoint for them to consider and hopefully appreciate.

I also believe that travel is one of the best celebrations of family there can be. Other cultures have different views on family and family responsibilities. I find it utterly refreshing to see families (including aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins) supporting each other in other cultures – mainly because it is so deep rooted in their traditions and values. The idea of sending a family member to a home to live out their life is not the norm in the rest of the world. Granted – I don’t know if I could adopt their way of thinking nor do I expect my nieces to – but I do want them to see how families in other parts of the world relate and take care of each other.

A family I met in Nepal poses for a photo

But in true selfish female-without-kids form, a great part of this is what they do for me – they keep me young. They give me insight into youth, they make me think, they make me tolerant, they give me energy, they make me smile, and they make me believe in possibility again. They have their whole lives ahead of them and the mid-40-only-getting-older-me wants to live vicariously I suppose. And most importantly – they are my lifeline as I get older – something I think about often.

My nieces keep me young!

New Definition of Family Travel

Not only has the definition of family evolved, but I believe the definition of Family Travel is also changing. Gone are the days where family trips means going to Disneyland, Six Flags, all-inclusive resorts, or the Wisconsin Dells. As my generation grows older we are challenging the definition of family vacations and are starting to look for unique experiences, learning opportunities , and ‘real life experiences’ that you can’t get at Disney .

This isn’t just the crazy aunt in me talking – there are a growing number of people who are talking about and changing the definition of Family Travel. They are bold parents such as Keryn at Walking on Travels whose tag line is “When you won’t let your kids stop your wanderlust”, Mara from Mother of All Trips who is proud to call her kids ‘Global Citizens’, and Bootsnall who just launched a family round the world trip planner !

Childless family travel blogger – yes – that’s me. I have 6 kids who I travel with finding meaningful, unique experiences around the globe. And I’ll be taking off with another one of them very soon . We will be taking a family oriented tour in Vietnam – I wonder if we will be the only aunt/niece combination? You don’t need kids to have a family – but family, however you define it, is one of the most important things in the world.

What’s your definition of Family Travel? Please share in the comments below!

15 Responses to "Modern Family"

By Maria June 20, 2013 - 7:59 am

More than one definition for family – glad to read you checked that box!

By Laura @Travelocafe June 20, 2013 - 1:51 pm

I love the family photos. You captured the magic of the people close to us.

By Steph June 20, 2013 - 2:36 pm

I love this post! Even though I do want to have kids eventually, I think there are so many important bonds in life that travel can strengthen. Last year Mike took his (much) younger brother to Canada and it was kind of neat to see the way it affected both of them.

I think your nieces are super lucky girls!

By Keryn @ walking on travels June 20, 2013 - 2:42 pm

I LOVE that you consider yourself a family traveler and take your nieces across the globe (and your parents!) You are pretty much the aunt I always wish I had. Lucky for me, we had a very good family friend without kids who lived with us for a long time. She is closer to me than any blood relative. She is my aunt in every sense of the word. And SHE is the one who took me out of the country for the very first time when I was 16. She opened my eyes to a world of possibilities my parents couldn’t do on their own. I have since been to Portugal with her, and even brought her down to Hawaii with us this past January so we could continue the tradition of extended family travel in our own little family now that I have kids. Thank you for building these memories and experiences with the kids in your life. I hope I can do the same for my nieces and nephews one day too! For now I’m just expanding the world view of my teenage babysitter as she travels around the PacNW with me and the boys 🙂

By Andrea, Passports And Pushchairs June 20, 2013 - 2:53 pm

Great post! My parents take their grandkids on trips often, so to me ‘family’ travel isn’t just limited to nuclear family traveling. How great for your nieces to have you as their aunt!

By Alana - Paper Planes June 20, 2013 - 6:59 pm

We do still seem to have a very limited view of ‘family’ still, don’t we? Living in SE Asia and being in a relationship with a Thai has definitely changed my perspective on some family constructs and responsibilities – particularly when it comes to extended family and responsibilities/connections going beyond just the ‘parents and children’ unit.

Really enjoyed reading this, Sherry!

And your nieces are very lucky…

By LifeorDebt June 20, 2013 - 10:21 pm

I just found you via Twitter..and I have one thing: I’ve had that Gilda quote on my refrigerator for at least 10 years. I’ve never seen it anywhere but here now. We started our financial journey so that we can get to the travel part. We are a couple (with 3 kids) who have an intense desire to travel– and are hoping to make that a way of life soon!

By Shelley Miller June 21, 2013 - 12:52 pm

You have a beautiful family, Sherry! What a strong, global and loving role model you are for your nieces. #FamilyBlessings

By Karen June 22, 2013 - 4:27 am

Sherry you have such a fine way of expressing your inner journey. The most beautiful part of what you do as a world traveler and skilled writer is choose to share your various journeys with all of us. Your nieces are very lucky and so are we, your readers.

By Sherry June 22, 2013 - 10:01 am

Thanks for the kind words. What a lovely way to wake up and start my day. 🙂

By Katie June 28, 2013 - 3:30 pm

Thank you so much for this post. I don’t have any children, but I’m a very proud aunt who spends lots of time with my brother’s and sister’s families. I feel like I can get a good perspective on family travel because of it. And I definitely hope to share my experiences with them and inspire them to see the world.

By Stephanie - The Travel Chica June 28, 2013 - 5:42 pm

I agree that you do not have to have children to “complete a family.” Having a family that you are not completely responsible for 24×7 sounds like a pretty great definition of family to me 🙂

By Ham July 11, 2013 - 10:34 pm

This was a nice article. It struck a cord w/ me because I did some graduate work on voluntarily childless women. Family is important to the voluntariy childless b/c it can actually influence one’s decision to be childfree to some extent. But on the otherhand, the childfree aren’t celebrated enough in society in general. Sometimes it’s the childfree that are have the resources to devote to a cause and are the real movers & shakers of the world and make positive change. Keep traveiong and expanding your nieces’s minds!! You are doing awesome things 🙂

By Denverdan April 10, 2015 - 4:37 pm

6 nieces & a mom and dad is a large family. That is enough for anyone. You certainly have a talent of expressing who you are in print. As a reader of yours it easy(4 me) to feel like your family. Thank you Sherry!

By Sherry April 12, 2015 - 1:59 am

Sweet – thanks Dan! Yes – you are family!!

Who is Sherry Ott?

I'm Sherry, a corporate cube dweller turned nomadic traveler. I travel to off-the-beaten-path destinations to bring you unique travel experiences and photography. But it's not just about travel, it's also about life experiences of a middle age wanderer.

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Midlife at the Oasis

Where living an amazing life never gets old

the meaning of family travel

Lois Alter Mark · September 20, 2013 · 20 Comments

By the time you read this, I will have shuffled off to Buffalo for the TMS Family Travel conference in Niagara Falls.

I’m so excited about this because, at this stage of my life, travel is the only extravagance I really indulge in. I don’t really care about “things” any more, but give me a chance to visit a different place, experience a different culture or activity, or try a different mode of transportation, and I’m packed.

This conference is all about family travel, and you may wonder what that means to me since my husband and I are now empty nesters. Well, it literally means the world to me!

When we were first married, Michael and I took vacations in the Caribbean every year. Those were relaxing escapes from work and city life in New York and Boston, and we basically just hung out on beautiful beaches, reading and holding hands.

Once the kids were born, we substituted Disney World for the Caribbean. Our annual visits were so much fun, with Alex greeting the characters as if they were long-lost members of our family. Sara, a little more practical, examined the characters carefully and, at the age of three, turned to us and asked, “Where’s Mickey’s zipper?” Some of my favorite family photos include Mickey, Goofy and — most beloved to my kids — the gang from the Hundred Acre Wood.

As the kids got older, we headed into the wild (ish), rafting on the Truckee River at Lake Tahoe, snowboarding in Salt Lake City, hiking around Big Bear, Idyllwild and Lake Louise. We searched for frogs on Cape Cod, turtles in Hawaii and moose in Banff.

We also decided to try cruising, starting with Alaska, moving on to the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and Russia, and, most recently, the United Arab Emirates. My husband and I discovered how much we enjoyed cruising, and our empty nest bucket list trips now include a cruise around the world and a river cruise anywhere.

Over the years, we’ve traveled together and in a variety of combinations – father/daughter, mother/son, father/son, mother/daughter – and I’ll definitely be writing about some of those trips because they inspired such great memories. I’m also grateful for the annual birthday spa weekend I get to go on with my mom and sister – a tradition we started six years ago and which we look forward to all year. I’d love for my daughter to join us now that she’s turned 21!

I’m excited about continuing to travel with my kids now that they’re grown, and look forward to traveling with grandchildren one day too. I’m grateful that we’ve raised travelers, and am convinced there’s no better way to learn about the world than by actually seeing it. Travel gives you a chance to experience the way other people live. It opens your mind and shows you we are really more alike than we are different.

Meanwhile, as empty nesters, we spent a week in Ireland last summer, fulfilled my lifelong dream to visit Africa this summer and unwind at spas as often as possible. My husband really wants to take a Lost in America road trip in an RV and, as long as he’s driving, I’m ready to load the iPod , stock the cup holders and ride shotgun.

I totally believe the world is my oyster – and every trip is a pearl.

Reader Interactions

September 20, 2013 at 4:46 am

Travel is on our agenda too, now that we are empty nesters. Looks like you’ve had a lot of great times both with and without your kids!

September 20, 2013 at 4:55 am

We travel a lot! We just got back from a 2 week trip to Asia sans kids.

September 20, 2013 at 5:22 am

What a wonderful view into years of your family life you have here … can only imagine the albums and framed photos that you own. Memories – so very special. As homeschoolers, we say The World is our Classroom .. and I love that my kids have seen quite a bit of it. xxxx

September 20, 2013 at 5:46 am

We love travel, and have gone to many of the places you mentioned (except Africa and the Arab Emirates). One of our faves was for Gary’s 50th when we went to Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise, and on up to Jasper. Breathtaking.

That photo on your in the two piece – VA VOOM, BABY!

Love this post. Makes me want to travel. Have fun at the conference.

September 20, 2013 at 5:57 am

Family travel can be such fun and a wonderful way to learn about the world around us rather than just watching about it on TV.

September 20, 2013 at 6:04 am

Travel certainly is a little easier with older kids. I hope to do a lot more travel in the coming years. I didn’t know about this conference. It’s definitely something I will keep an eye out for next year. Have fun!

September 20, 2013 at 6:16 am

We travel a lot, too, and almost always with our kids. My two oldest sons were especially proud that the number of stamps in their passports was higher than their age! When they were 7 and 4, we took a Mediterranean cruise, and were followed all week by a travel writer, who was soaking in my boys’ enthusiasm about seeing the world. There’s actually a section in her book on cruising with kids about us! (But, alas, she misspelled my name, so some chick named Lisa got the credit for those cute kids.) Anyhoo, next big destination for us is Greece. Planning for 2015!

September 20, 2013 at 6:27 am

As you know traveling is in my blood as well. Loved this travelogue.

September 20, 2013 at 6:45 am

Family travel is the best way to create lasting memories – I think!! Some of my best memories are from trips. And… OMG your son is just chilling on a cheetah? That’s priceless for sure!!!

September 20, 2013 at 6:49 am

Wow, you have had some amazing adventures. I would have loved it!

PS I still believe in the magic at Disney. My brother Brian was always “where’s the zipper? Where did they hide xyz” and he’s the one who did the behind the scenes classes instead of rides when we’d go as we got older…

September 20, 2013 at 7:21 am

We just recently found the means to start traveling with our family of six… the size of our group has kept us from doing so in the past. I know that the trips we’ve taken one on one with the kids have special meaning to them and I’m excited to share 6 nights in the Caribbean with them this winter. <3 traveling…excited to share it with the FAM!

September 20, 2013 at 7:22 am

My family always took a 2-week trip every year when I was growing up. Mom hated to fly so it was always by car, but we hit over 40 of the 50 states. The one exception was going to Europe when I was in Jr. High. I have great memories of all those trips and just recently we have taken some trips together as adults too. GOOD TIMES!!

September 20, 2013 at 7:40 am

What wonderful travel stories and memories you have. I’d love to travel more. The nest is empty, but so is the pocketbook right now. Eventually, though. Enjoy Niagara Falls! I look forward to photos and stories.

September 20, 2013 at 7:43 am

Where do you get the money to do all of that? Always thought my retirement would include doing travel but in this economy? So your travel log is vicarious for me. Thanks ! Never figured that my retirement would also include taking care of my 94 year old mom! That’s rathar limiting also…. but, then whatever is the plan of our lives we never know when intentions are crossed with duties? Blelssings and gentle hugs to you and yours and all the readers…..

September 20, 2013 at 9:29 am

Oh Lois! What a fabulous post, memories nestled in with the future, such joy!

September 20, 2013 at 9:34 am

I love to travel! It’s so great, especially to unique places surrounded by family (:

September 20, 2013 at 9:40 am

Oh wow it looks amazing – I wish I could travel more but my body doesn’t seem to like it much among other things. x

September 20, 2013 at 10:21 am

We travel a lot but we tend to stay in the states! We are considering venturing out somewhere new!

September 20, 2013 at 1:19 pm

As empty nesters we started doing things that take us (to quote a wonderful Spanish traveler) “knee deep in the sea” of a culture. Cooking classes are now at the top of my list — amazing how much you can learn about people by cooking with them or for them :)! Next up for us: “voluntourism”! Can’t wait to hear about what you find!

July 22, 2017 at 1:43 pm

Great post! How wonderful that you have had such great experiences traveling in your life. I love the pictures! We have been fortunate to travel some with our children but recently I got everyone applications for passports with hopes to travel out side of the United States someday ?