South Shore Mom

Like many working Moms and Dads…..sometimes summer can pass you right by! Not enough vacation time, not enough family time -  not enough money for a big vacation – period.

You sit at your desk – and dream about getting out there….so GO!

Here are a few ideas:

If you can’t afford an all out summer vacation this year…..try day trips. Check out your local library online for museum and zoo passes. These passes are usually first come, first served and are either free or provide a big discount which makes day trips much more affordable.

There are also several great places to visit through the Trustees of the Reservations. All of their sites are  at the peak of beauty right now. You dont have to be a member to enjoy the sites. Some sites, you will have to pay for  – while others are free. Check out the website: http://www.thetrustees.org/

This year, we have turned our backyard into a pool party zone. We found one of those blue pop up pools for $70 on sale this year…..and have really gotten our money’s worth this summer. Now that the 4th of July weekend has passed us – look for clearance sales. They are easy to set up and easy to maintain. We put on some music – let the kids splash around like crazy – and more often than not – we jump right in with them. Our house has been pool party palooza this summer. Staying home, not using the car and having a blast in the pool has actually saved us a lot of money and has created a lot of fun memories (which I will tap into – come January)!

If you feel that you just HAVE to get out of Dodge…..but the idea of high hotel prices has you down…..think about hotels WITH pools…..that are NOT located in super popular tourist destinations. These hotels are usually used for business travelers. You can save 50% or more on these hotel rooms on the weekends…..when business travelers are gone.  Enjoy the pool and a change of scenery without breaking the bank.

So go on…get out!