Try www.homeexchange.com. Lots of people want to come to DC. We've saved a ton on our family vacations by homeswapping. And the bonus is that we have lots of room and a kitchen when we travel which makes the whole family more comfortable.

Anonymous wrote:You are an asshole.

Also, Dutch Wonderland.

I am not interested in this thread, but out of context, this comment cracked me up!

We go places where we can crash with friends and go do tourist stuff (and we also love it when friends visit us).

Maybe too lame but we've actually taken those "three nights for 195 dollars provided you sit through the timeshare presentation" things. Look at Diamond Resorts in OBX, and Blue Green Resorts in Shenandoah, as well as Massanutten. I don't know if you can do it if you are either divorced or a single parent, since they seem to want a married couple to sit through the timeshare presentation -- but we've seriously had nice weekends at all the places I just listed. Just tune out the timeshare presentation -- and whatever you do, don't BUY one!

Renting a cabin from Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. Close to camping, but with a roof, a cot and rocking chairs on the porch. Some have wood stoves so you can pretend you are Laura Ingalls Wilder. One we went to had wild raspberries all over the place. They were a yummy addition.

Renting a house at the shore (Maine, Cape Cod, Outer Banks) with another family. That cuts the price in half.

drive to St Louis, see the arch, City Museum (FUN!) and a all the free stuff down by their zoo

Poor? No. Frugal? Yes. We went camping a lot, with a pop up camper. Our favorite place was a deep swimming hole in the Smokies on a great trout stream. We are now well to do. It's still our favorite place. We do stay in a cabin now, but it's very basic.

Amusement park road trip if your kids like that. Hershey to Cedar point, stop at pittsburgh zoo
Georgia circuit...wild animal safari, turtles, zoo... http://www.exploregeorgia.org/list/family-fun-at-theme-parks

Road trip! Stay in inexpensive motels along the way. Last summer we did two weeks on the road through the northeast, with stopovers in Mystic CT, Cape Cod, Boston, Maine (including Acadia), NH, VT, upstate NY, and Pennsylvania. LOVED it!

Traveling to visit and stay with relatives may save money, but can be a drag if they get on your nerves. Not really a vacation.

Train rides to nearby cities for a night or two can be cheap and fun. Gives the kids a sense of adventure!

beach camping feels really different from mountain/lake camping to me, so you might want to try that.

but if you're in dc/md and you want to take the kids to the beach... you can do it in a day trip too. or stay in a hotel the next town over. e.g. spend the day in ocean city, overnight in salisbury.

I wrote about this once before. One summer we had no plans and it was hot and we just packed up and went to Virginia Beach. I found a cheaper motel that I was able to book, and it was right on the beach. Wasn't fancy or anything, and we had a blast, kids just went jumping on the waves, getting ice cream on their own, there was no planning apart the night before I packed some towels, stayed for 2 days or so. Best time every because it was just spur of the moment and I didn't spend days planning and obsessing. I think such trips are very easy from this area. I also don't like camping. Camping is too much work, and it doesn't end up cheap ever.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last minute air and hotel packages can be cheap. So can cruises.

I think OP has 3 kids-that kills any cruise or airfare deal unfortunately. (Can you stay in one room on a cruise ship with 3 kids?)

Yes, sometimes.

Carnival cruises are cheap...even if you get two cabins. Drive to FL or stalk cheap fares.

Adirondacks -- check AirBnB or look for little '50s-style motels with cottages; swim, hike and picnic in state parks; for a splurge, spend a day in Lake Placid

And, no, I didn't find the title offensive. Lighten up, Francis!