Our picks, like the bargain camping spot in North Carolina below, are not only easy on the wallet, they pass the FAMILYFUN test, too, by offering memorable settings, lots of activities and a welcoming spirit to parents and children. If nothing else, these picks will put to rest the idea that you have to spend a fortune on a family vacation--or that you can trust a travel writer with a secret.
CAPE LOOKOUT NATIONAL SEASHORE
NORTH CAROLINAIsland vacations don't have to be pricey. At Cape Lookout National Seashore on North Carolina's South Core Banks, you can rent one of two four-person cabins right on the beach for just around $65 nightly (larger cabins are available for between $79 and $100). Since the spot is accessible only by boat, a family of four will also have to shell out about $65 round-trip for ferry fare.
Cooled by the pleasant ocean breezes, the cabins have mattresses, water heaters and commodes (bring your own linens and lanterns). This is the spot to dig for clams and fly kites. Call 252-729-2791 or visit their Web site.
For other bargain vacation spots, check out the following links:
UNDER $30 A NIGHT
• Arkansas' "Diamond" in the Rough• Explore Colorado's Sand Dunes
• Strike Gold in California
• New York's Adirondack Adventure
UNDER $75 A NIGHT
• Sleep Over at Montana's Roosevelt Cabins• Camp in Style the Ohio Way
• A California Lighthouse Getaway
UNDER $100 A NIGHT
• All Rivers Lead to Nebraska• A Bargain Visit to Williamsburg, Virginia
• Illinois' Log Cabin Lodge
• Camp Pueblo-Style in Texas
UNDER $125 A NIGHT
• A "Hot" Time in Montana• Lake Powell Luxury in Arizona
• An Old-Fashioned Florida Family Vacation
• A Grand Inn at the Grand Coulee Dam
UNDER $170 A NIGHT
• Cozy Up in a Maine Inn• Oregon's Mountain Retreat
• Dive for Pearls at this Tennessee Resort
• Wisconsin's Budget B & B
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated August 2005.
