| Why is it that the idea of planning and taking a family | | | | Bathrooms on board. Way cheaper than flying, and |
| vacation makes you want to find your bed and put | | | | with a better view. |
| your head under a pillow until school starts back up | | | | 2. Trade Houses. and are two examples of websites |
| again in September? The kids want to go somewhere | | | | that open up possibilities of trading your home with |
| exciting. All their friends are going to Disney World, as | | | | another family. Homes beat hotel rooms for comfort |
| usual. They just saw the latest Pixar blockbuster, and | | | | and space, and you get to experience actually living in |
| they've got adventure on the brain. "Mommy has a | | | | a community rather than being an outsider. There are |
| headache" will only keep them at bay for so long. | | | | participants all over the world. Who knows, some |
| Listen, you're not a bad person! We understand. We | | | | Slovenian family might be dying to experience life in |
| know that you want to build memories with and for | | | | suburban Kansas (ever since the kids saw The |
| your kids. We also know that it can be really freaking | | | | Wizard of Oz). Have you ever seen the Slovenian |
| stressful to figure out how and where and can we do | | | | coastline? Talk about beauty and adventure. |
| this without taking out a loan? Back in the day, we kids | | | | 3. Camping. Maybe this isn't novel, but it is a relatively |
| crowded in the backseat of a Chevette and toured | | | | inexpensive way to break from the routine and truly |
| the country while our parents drank gin and tonics in | | | | rejuvenate in nature. The trick is not to be those |
| the front (okay, the second half of that isn't true). | | | | campers who have every possible gadget and |
| Nowadays, a minivan seems barely spacious enough | | | | comfort of home with them. Do not bring a DVD |
| to keep the peace. Also, the gas guzzling. Also, driving? | | | | player. Do not bring video games. Do not bring the |
| In traffic? Nice vacation. But seven plane tickets? | | | | giant grill from the deck. Keep it simple, breathe fresh |
| (Now you want that gin and tonic, yourself.) What are | | | | piney air, see real stars. And for the family on a very |
| you supposed to do--hire a charter bus service? | | | | serious spending freeze--try camping in the back yard! |
| Actually, that's not a bad idea. It's so not bad, it even | | | | Fresh air? Check. Real stars? Well, depends. But |
| made it into our top 3. Check out these brilliant ideas | | | | better than ceilings, and lots of fun. |
| for having a truly fun, hardly stressful family vacation | | | | Fact is, you don't need a million different ideas, you just |
| this summer. | | | | need one good one. We've given you three. The rest |
| 1. Charter Bus Service. Like we said, this is actually a | | | | of the recipe is in those smiling faces around the dinner |
| good idea for road tripping with the family, or a group | | | | table when you announce your plans. |
| of families. When parents don't have to be in charge | | | | Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got charter bus service |
| of their own van-o-gon, they can sit around and enjoy | | | | waiting outside... |
| each other's company. Other perks? Air conditioning. | | | | |