Anonymous wrote:You could do Rehobeth/Lewes. Walk on the boardwalk, go biking, mini golf, outlets, movies. Rent an hotel with an indoor pool. Low key vacation but still fun.

+1 Do a couple nights in Rehoboth and go to the boardwalk and walks on the beach. Prices will be much lower in the Spring than the Summer because it's not bathing suit weather. Then do a couple nights camping in Assateague with the wild horses on the beach. Or pick one or the other if it's too pricey to do both.

You could also rent a cabin somewhere and do some hiking. For most lodging, traveling Sunday - Thursday nights is the least expensive.

You could do Rehobeth/Lewes. Walk on the boardwalk, go biking, mini golf, outlets, movies. Rent an hotel with an indoor pool. Low key vacation but still fun.

We've done home exchanges. Lots of choices in locations and settings. There are a few reputable, long standing companies out there. Basically free lodging, you just have to find a similar sized group and housing that matches each group's needs.

I grew up not rich and we used to drive down to Florida and camp for a week. So much fun!

Williamsburg

Anonymous wrote:Do Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains.

Lots of fun stuff for kids and then also the National Park is pretty amazing.

You will bleed money in this area.

We need a budget. Have no idea what cheap means to you.

Anonymous wrote:What does a person do in Roanoke for vacation?

Ooooops. I have no idea.
Meant Richmond which has plenty of fun family stuff.

Anonymous wrote:What does a person do in Roanoke for vacation?

Binge on meth and Richard's Wild Irish Rose.
Shoot cows with paintballs.

My suggestions are mostly taken - I was also going to suggest Williamsburg and/or Shenandoah.

Western PA is also fun—you could do Gettysburg and Hershey as a combined trip. Or do Pittsburgh which has a lot of fun kids museums (and maybe something to coming with Pittsburgh?).

Depending on your definition of cheap, NYC is another option. I know NyC is not cheap but there are a lot of cheap things to do there, like self guided walking tours, or the statute of liberty, free day at MoMA, bike rides in Central Park, etc. And getting Chinese food in Chinatown or bagels anywhere and a slice from a classic my pizza place are all pretty cheap, family friendly, and fun. I don’t think I’d do the whole week there but you could do a fun few days at it would be way cheaper than flying to a resort or disney.

Anonymous wrote:Let me preface this with, we do not need a vacation, it is a want, i know. However, i never grew up with vacations and always grew up poor. We would love to take a vacation as a family. We never been on one. However, we dont have a lot of money to throw away. Any ideas?

I didn’t travel growing up either OP. A few things - spring break is a really expensive time to travel. I’m frugal, so I usually book flights as soon as they are released and hotels too. The prices you will see now are going to be really high. Just know if you want to go for next year, you can book it this summer and save a lot of money.

We went to Myrtle Beach one year, super last minute, and we had a blast. Get a hotel with an indoor pool. We played in the beach, it was a bit too cool to swim for me, but the kids loved it.

We got a cheap condo. There’s a pancake house on every block. If you want to do some typical “cheese beach town” stuff, Boardwalk by the Beach is full of things that will part you with your money. Rides, games, Ripleys museums etc.

PP here. Also consider Niagara Falls & stuff on the way there & back. We did a 5 day trip that direction for 4 people for around $1,300 including everything— food, lodging, gas, admissions to places, etc.

Camping in Shenandoah. Is the 9 yo a 4th grader? If so s/he gets a free national park pass.

Another vote for Williamsburg/historic triangle. You can find pretty cheap hotels that include breakfast in that area. Do the historical stuff— you can even just walk around CW with you even buying tickets, and Jamestown & Yorktown are national park sites (not the re-creation of Jamestown— the historical site). There are some state parks nearby, and Virginia Beach & Norfolk are also in the area.

Op, what is your budget? You could do an out and back day trip to Philly. Then take a day off at home or go to a local venue. Then do an out and back to Baltimore. Then take a day off or go to the zoo/museum locally. Then do an out and back to Richmond. This way you don’t have the expense of hotels and as much food costs.