You can easily plan an (affordable) fall getaway where you get outdoors biking or hiking, seeing wildlife amid the fall colors or alternatively, exploring a new city or heading to the beach during shoulder season. Get some input from the kids on what they would like to do. Revel in your first trip as an empty-nester. Invite the grandparents and get away with young kids not yet in school. Lodging prices are generally down (except for leaf- peeper packages) and the weather is still fabulous in places like Cape Cod and Nantucket in Massachusetts and Corpus Christi, Texas.
Opt for sharing a vacation rental with relatives (you like) or friends with similar aged kids, as long as your parenting styles don’t clash. Not only can you share expenses and cooking, but entertaining the kids. The adults might even get some “me” time. (Your savings might mean you could afford a massage…)
You will save big bucks by avoiding restaurant breakfasts or opting for a hotel that offers a complimentary breakfast. (Isn’t it frustrating when kids leave more than half on their plates?) Picnic for lunch after you’ve visited a local farmer’s market.
After a long day at the beach, hiking or sightseeing, opt for take out or cooking, assuming you have a kitchen. Not only more cost effective but more relaxing.
Look for free days at museums and other seasonal bargains. Consider all of the free museums in Washington, DC! See if there are free tours like those offered by Tours by Foot in many cities around the country and abroad, including Washington DC. Another good option is a complimentary Greeters tour offered by locals.
October brings the return of the 13th Annual Kids Free San Diego. Take advantage of the deals, free admission and added perks offered by San Diego hotels, restaurants, attractions, tours and transportation companies to kids 12 and under. At the famous San Diego Zoo, for example, kids 11 and under get free admission, even to seasonal events like the fun light shows and dance parties at HalGLOWeen. See the panda pair, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, who just arrived from China this summer. There’s also SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California.
You will also find bargains in the U.S. Virgin Islands (no passport needed) but you will want to protect your trip with travel insurance in case of hurricanes. These days, with extreme weather, it’s a good idea to invest in travel insurance wherever you go. Some policies insure kids for free. Check out www.insuremytrip.com to compare prices. For example, Buccaneer Beach and Golf Resort on St. Croix is offering a fourth night free.
Budget carriers are making vacations in pricey London more affordable. JetBlue now flies over the pond, promising “the most legroom in coach.” Low-cost carrier Norse Atlantic also flies to London Gatwick from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Boston. Or use your miles to fly with the family. London is often the first overseas trip many families take because it is easy (no language barrier), yet there is so much to see and do.
Visit London touts 25 don’t miss free sites and attractions. Free museums include the fantastic Imperial War Museum, where you can see where Churchill slept. The amazing British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, National Gallery and the Museum of London are packed with priceless treasures. Look for American brands like the Hotel Indigo (IHG), Canopy by Hilton, Travelodge London City, Holiday Inn London-West for affordable places to stay. And don’t forget West End theater with ticket prices more affordable than on Broadway.
San Francisco, the City by the Bay, is at its sunniest and least foggy during autumn. Fleet Week (watch Air Force drills over the Golden Gate Bridge) takes place Oct. 7 to 15. Families love the interactive Exploratorium and the California Academy of Sciences. CityPASS can save you significantly if you plan to visit some top attractions. The Presidio, one of America’s most visited national park sites, is home to a public golf course and free programming from star gazing to family crafts, the chance to hug a redwood, dip your toes in the bay or look for birds. (There are more than 300 species here.) It’s also got the Outpost, the largest playground in the city on a huge structure made from nature. Explore things from the park at Field Station and then check out an Explorer Backpack for your own adventures.
Presidio, San Francisco. The Presidio, in San Francisco, preserves a former military fort protecting the Bay Area. Dreamstime/TCA
Head to a free festival. Celebrate Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in San Antonio, a free two-day event the end of October, for example, complete with parades of dancers and puppets. The seaside town of Rehoboth Beach, known as the “Nation’s Summer Capital,” will feature the 34th annual Sea Witch Festival at the end of October. Want to join the broom tossing competition? And the first weekend in November, sample all the pecan treats you can eat at the Louisiana Pecan Festival in Colfax, Louisiana.
For those with special challenges, Tennessee installed the first ever colorblind viewfinders with innovative EnChroma lenses, designed to alleviate red-green colorblindness, at 15 locations across the state, allowing everyone to experience the changing foliage. There are also many accessible options across the state, including the terrain wheelchair program at select Tennessee State Parks and services for the deaf and hard of hearing at many music and event venues.
Have fun this fall!
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