In todays depressed financial times, it seems reasonable to expect families to forego planned vacations to fabled lands. It makes sense to plan trips and activities closer to home, and explore the area in your own backyards. This could be trips to picnic spots, photography excursions, camping trips, hikes, or just good old drives into the country. Some of these roads go on for hundreds of miles, and some pretty unique locations can be found. Does anyone else have any experiences of this type?

I think this is a wonderful idea. I've never been camping and I had a fun time setting up a tent in my backyard and sleeping there. It's just nice to do something different. It doesn't have to cost money

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-Brittany Brydahl

We have beautiful public parks in our area and sometimes I take the girls in one of them on the weekends with a picnic basket to spend the whole day there. We bring some games we can play, our music and books if we feel like just laying on the grass and relaxing. We also love going for long drives to small towns outside the city limits and just exploring them. Neither of these activities really cost anything and we always have a great time

There are ways to make it happen. I had a friend that created an island holiday in her back yard for the kids when they couldn't go on holiday. She even made grass skirts. They had typical island food and drinks. Pineapple and coconuts. With a bit of creativity you can do a lot.

wow your friend must be really creative to have even thought of such a scheme let alone to have carried it out ...
guess her kids wuld have had a lovely time

That sounds like sooo much fun! I woulda loved that growing up. I think it's amazing when kids have parents that are that creative. Only thing I've ever done for my younger siblings is made them tunnels made out of cardboard boxes and they would play in them for hours. It was so much fun. I could barely fit, but I would go in there with em.

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-Brittany Brydahl