Put off by the high cost of vacationing with your family? Us, too. So we had our travel experts give up all their secret bargain vacation spots.
Our picks, like the Starved Rock State Park Lodge in Illinois 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.
STARVED ROCK STATE PARK LODGE
ILLINOIS
Abe Lincoln slept in a log cabin in Illinois and so can you. At Starved Rock State Park Lodge near Utica, Illinois, families can rent a rustic one-room pioneer cabin with two double beds and a bath for $95 a night (rooms in the main lodge cost $105 and up for a family of four).
Cooking isn't allowed in the cabin but you can get hearty, reasonably priced meals in the lodge. The park is a state treasure, featuring 18 sandstone canyons and scenic waterfalls. Guests can enjoy the sights by hiking, boating on the Illinois River, renting a bike, riding horses, canoeing and fishing. Call 800-868-7625 or visit their Web site.
For other bargain vacation spots, check out the following links:
UNDER $30 A NIGHT
UNDER $75 A NIGHT
UNDER $100 A NIGHT
UNDER $125 A NIGHT
UNDER $170 A NIGHT
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated June 2005.
