Tips to Save Money on Family Days Out

 Fun days out for children are easy to find, from aquariums to jungle-themed parks and Disney World, but the prices can be shocking. There are only so many times you can take the kids to free activities, but if you plan effectively you can save a lot of money.

 Florida’s main attraction for children is also one of the most visited, so Disney World can charge high prices and still get away with it. If you book early enough, you may find all-inclusive packages with meals and accommodation – if you’re staying for more than a day, these can save a lot of cash. The Disney parks also offer occasional discounts for locals, so keep an eye out in off-season for these cheap tickets.

 As with all attractions, the obvious peak periods during the summer should be avoided if possible; if you don’t want to go during the school year, you may be able to get a good deal in the early spring or fall. If you want a cheaper alternative to Disney World, Busch Gardens at Tampa Bay is less expensive.

 A lot of websites like Smartsave.com offer online vouchers, so check before you go. If you’re heading out west, vouchers for Sea World in San Diego, Universal Studios in LA and the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco are easy to find online. Some attractions even offer their own deals; for example, combining a Sea World ticket with a Universal Studios ticket can make a big difference price-wise if you’re intending to do both.

 Many of the big cities like New York and Washington D.C. have low-cost or free museums for kids. The Smithsonian Institute in the US capital houses 19 museums for no admission charge and even includes the National Zoo, so you can fill a couple of days with the varied exhibits here in addition to wandering around the monuments of the National Mall for free. If you factor in flights and accommodation, it may be cheaper to travel further but visit free attractions than to stick to the nearest few states but head to an expensive theme park.

 If you book ahead, combine linked or same-company tickets, factor in travel as well as attraction cost, and look online for deals, you can give your kids a much richer day out for much less money.

When you go on vacation, do you look for the best deals before you decide where to go?

~Trisha

This past weekend I had an opportunity to visit Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. I have been there before, but its been at least 9 years or so and I was still young and without kids. This time the experience was entirely different through not only the eyes of a mom, but also due to the fact that Pigeon Forge has grown up in ways that I could never imagine.  My first impression of the city was that someone took Kissimmee and dropped it into incredible scenery. Stores, shopping, tourist traps, dinner shows, and endless restaurants, there is an entire strip of non stop action. But upon closer look, Pigeon Forge is much much more. From southern hospitality to the home of some of the most down to earth and interesting folks you will meet, I have found that Pigeon Forge is a destination unlike any other and one that will visit me again and again throughout my life.

Here are

5 do not miss locations in Pigeon Forge

1) Cabin Fever Vacations

While its true there are bountiful hotels and motels in the Pigeon Forge location, none of them offer the spectacular morning views or privacy and luxury that staying in a log cabin will offer. Starting with just 1 bedroom cabins for the romantic giveaway to full fledged family cabins that sleep up to 34, you can pick the type of vacation you are looking for.

This view,

courtesy of the Mountain Top lodge, was one of many that the cabins from Cabin Fever Vacations host. Hot tubs, indoor pools, huge jacuzzi style tubs and a place for everyone, there is no other way to enjoy the Smokey Mountains. From the get go, the people at Cabin Fever Vacations were able to answer questions about the area, relieve our fear on wild life, and helped us get foolproof to the front door of the cabin quite easily. The cabin was clean and the staff had provided extra towels, linens and pillows to accommodate our very large group of 34.  While I don’t necessarily suggest pushing the limit of the availability of sleeping availability in the cabins, you can book pretty large ones. The rooms themselves in some of the largest are 8, but there are queen sized bunk beds, futons, pull out couches, and hideaway beds on every floor and main area.

We stayed in a 3 floor cabin. A few things to note is that since log cabins are…well…logs, they are not sound proof. You can hear through the walls and doors conversations, water from showers, and footsteps. My suggestion is to put the loudest part of your crew on the bottom floor and the quietest on the top as the noise travels down.

Additionally with fully stocked kitchens that included dining tables and cooking pans and utensils, staying in a cabin provided a practical and healthier way of enjoying vacation. Being able to get up in the morning and eat breakfast or cook up a snack at night without running out into the traffic was a blessing. Stock up on supplies at one of the local stores prior to coming in and you can keep sandwiches, cereal, fruit and more right in your cabin. Mountain Top Lodge had two fridges which even allowed stocking one with water and drinks and the other full of food; more than we even used.

Vacations should be full of relaxation and down time. On a cabin vacation it’s easy to bring grandma, grandpa, all the grandchildren and even a few aunts and uncles and start your morning sitting on the porch sipping coffee in the perfect place to energize for the day.

Notables:

• Cabin Fever Vacations offer Wedding, Honeymoon, Spa, and Attraction packages. You can not only book your stay but get valuable discounts at local area attractions.
• The Cabin Fever Vacations website carries a list of ongoing discounts that include present and future stays. You can check all the discount codes out here prior to booking.
• They offer a military discount

Prices: You can check in with prices with are available by cabin during the dates on which you want to stay just by heading to their website and finding the cabin, scrolling to the bottom of the amenities and checking your dates. Or you can call 1-866-212-2246 .

Find out More:

1. Cabin Fever Vacations Website
2. Facebook Page

2) Dollywood

Could it be any more obvious?

Dollywood is not just another theme park. True that it doesn’t have the same awe dropping  and overwhelming affect that you get when it takes you 55 minutes to get from the parking lot to the main gate at Disney World, but instead from the tram to the front door, the ride is peaceful and the entry to the park is not only reasonably priced but practical in nature. If you are local enough to purchase season passes, you will be able to spend time at their crafting fair, gospel fest, and enjoy the park in all its Christmas decor at the end of the year. Walking through the park I got a sense that Dolly has her touches on everything and not just the gift shops with its many souvenirs. The first thing we did was sit on a table in the quiet and crisp air minutes after the park opened and enjoyed ‘hot out of the oven’ cinnamon bread. It was so good that we left the frosting off and the taste had us reminiscing of mornings back home with our families. The food was down home cooking and farm fresh from the beginning and with apple pie slices, cobbler and even stew and mashed potatoes, you had a choice to forgo the traditional french fry route that you get at most mass locations.  I also found that this park has an older demographic of visitors than I have noticed at other parks of this caliber. Perhaps the time of the year or the draw of the location, but the crowds were lower, the people overall calmer, and the atmosphere one of a large park with its many trees and hidden coves and walkways. The staff and crafters that were around in my visit were a mixture of old and young alike and I have found none more friendly anywhere else in the United States.

Notables:

• Dollywood is extremely aware of food allergies and when made aware prior to a visit can accommodate almost any need a family or child may have to fully experience the park. I had an opportunity to even test some of the gluten free food!
• Dollywood also has a kennel to house your furry friends while you enjoy the park at your leisure
• Dollywood is home to the first “winged coaster” called Wild Eagle that has served over 1 million rides since its opening in March

To visit Dollywood will cost $56 per adult, $44 per child 4-11, and Seniors $51. The season runs from March 24th to December 30th and to get an unlimited visit season pass is less than the cost of 2 full days at the park. To learn more about those prices and all the options you can visit here.

Find out more:

1. Dollywood Website
2. Facebook Page

3) Dixie Stampede

Another home to the Dolly family, Dixie Stampede is a rootin’ tootin’ good time. Serving two nightly dinner shows at 1000 visitors a piece, Dixie Stampede is an elective mix of the Southern Charm that was so becoming inside the Dolly theme parks and a history lesson of America. Starting with Native Americans, the dinner show took you through some of the establishing of this great country and focused on positivity and visually stunning tricks like flying performers and large lit up Southern Belle costumes. The arena, aptly split up between the North and the South also kept a friendly competition going while its cowboy and cowgirl riders hosted tricks throughout the meal.

And while dinner shows are super easy to entertain for the kids, what was even more surprising was the amount of on scene interaction with families.  Kids were brought down to compete in adorable and funny chicken race, boyfriend and girlfriends raced against other couples on fake horses, and it was all around a memorable dinner show.

Notables:

• Arrive early! Enjoy popcorn and tasty drinks while watching a 3 man fiddling and string playing and dancing band. From gospel to modern music, you will be cracking up at these gentleman that are meant to keep your spirits up and your laughs going before the real show begins. I had someone turn to me and exclaim what a great time the show was and I had to remark that it was just the PRESHOW if that tells you something about the Dixie Stampede standards.
• You can request a vegetarian meal before hand
• There are no utensils in this as you are “roughing” it. The kids will love!
• Don’t rush out of the arena at the end. Once everyone is clear you can mosey to the bottom and pet the horses and shake hands with the cowboys and girls. They are kind, knowledgeable, and really care about their horses.

Find out more:

1. Dixie Stampede Website
2. Facebook Page

4) Titanic Museum

When you think about Pigeon Forge, a museum probably isn’t the first thing to come to mind. You need to scrap everything you know about vacationing and use a morning to visit the impressive multi- million dollar state of the art Titanic location that houses some of the worlds most haunting memories and establishes a memorial unlike any other.  Touted as the most visited attraction in Pigeon Forge, its not difficult to see why once you make it though the front door and on to the artifacts. From the moment you arrive and are handed a boarding pass of a passenger you have yet to know the fate of, you are fascinated with the uncracked dishes and countless letters that bring Titanic to life.

Set in small rooms that allow you to get up close and personal with not replicas, but the real thing, this museum is not only a history buffs winning lotto ticket, but also sure to inspire children and adults alike while truly understanding the fate of this “unsinkable” ship. Never before seen photos, newspapers that announced the demise of Col Astor and even a room dedicated to the movie Titanic, the museum had a way of making you overwhelmed emotionally but appreciative at the same time.

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The Gulf Coast boasts some of the best beaches in America and indeed in the entire world.  Finding things to do here is never a problem and indeed it often becomes more of a case of actually finding enough time to do it all in!

Therefore it is often worth planning your trip carefully before going in order to make sure that you squeeze in the sights and excursions that you want without turning it into a stressful affair.  After all, the Gulf Coast is also all about relaxation, soaking up the sun and enjoying the stunning sea views!

The Gulf Coast is a great destination for family beach vacations and provides plenty of opportunities to enjoy white sands, cool sea breezes and lots of relaxation.  However, there are also a host of quality restaurants, cafes and bars and lots of amenities for kids, from kids clubs through to children-themed restaurants, small funfairs, bowling, laser quest and more.

(Lynsey, Blondie, Kim, and I at Pensacola Beach, Florida in May!)

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This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Atlantic Luggage for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

We are a family that loves vacations. Mini vacations, big vacations, weekends alone and weekends at Grams. We tend to spend a lot of time out and about traveling. And when we pack we generally do not have just one bag. I mean, who ever has one bag? Everyone in my house needs a bag and the baby needs two- one for his clothes and one for his food and toys. If you are a mom, you totally get me. Even so, that doesn't mean the bags you have shouldn't have features that utilize all the space you can and have pockets and holders that make it convenient to pack every last pacifier, bottle, pretend car keys, makeup, and Charlotte's 9 pair of sparkly flip flops.

Recently I was offered an opportunity to test out one of Atlantic Luggage's pieces of luggage and I jumped at the chance. Why? Because out of all the luggage we already own, our current Atlantic luggage is my spouse and I's favorite.

Features? Oh, it has them:

• Large zippered front pocket provides storage for laptops, newspapers, magazines, paperwork, coats, sweaters and any last minute items
• Second front pocket provides quick access to a wallet, passport, iPod^® keys and airline tickets
• Detachable Add-A-Bag strap provides multiple carrying and balancing options for additional totes and cases
• Carry handles on three sides make it easy to lift into and out of cars and airplane overheads
• Roomy main compartment expands 2½" maximizing space and packing flexibility
• Lightweight garment sleeve reduces wrinkling of clothes
• Multiple interior pockets easily store electronic cables, power cords, iPod^® chargers or socks, ties and belts for handy retrieval

And look how insanely CUTE and classy this luggage is! Now when I go somewhere, lets say like my trip to New Orleans a few weeks ago, I like to pack dresses…so I wanted to see how much of my closet I could reasonably get into this luggage.

 Turn out it's about:

• 30 pairs of panties
• 5 bras
• 5 dresses
• 5 shirts
• 2 jeans
• sexy pair of stilettos

And then in all those pockets you can comfortably add your phone, charger, makeup, hairbrushes, and bath gear. So while you may be like my family and still need a whole suite of luggage to get everyone to a destination, make sure you still find some long lasting and pocket filling amenities to take charge of your packing!

Atlantic Luggage and Legoland Sweepstakes

Now its your chance to pack up everything you own and head on out for some family fun time. Legoland and Atlantic Luggage have a fab contest going on. I have been to Legoland and its REALLY cool.

• - A chance to win a 2 day vacation for two adults and two children to Legoland in Florida.
• - The prize includes hotel for 2 nights (one 4 occupancy room)
• - Car voucher
• - Meet and Greet with a LEGOLAND Master Model Builder
• - A free set of Atlantic luggage.

How many suitcases do you usually travel with?

~trisha

CHARLESTON CVB KICKS OFF GIRLS OF SUMMER CAMPAIGN

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Girls just wanna have fun! That’s what the city of Charleston, West Virginia, is saying as they kick off their summer season of weekend getaways of music, festivals and water activities! With a packed line-up scheduled, the city’s convention and visitors bureau is featuring the Girls of Summer this year to highlight the city’s upcoming events.

“Charleston, West Virginia, is very unique in that we offer a variety of free activities all summer, making it a perfect weekend getaway to show tourists what Charleston residents already enjoy,” said Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Alisa Bailey. “We know that women are the decision makers when planning summer travel for the family, so we are featuring the‘Girls of Summer’to attract more visitors to our great destination.”

The Girls of Summer will be featured throughout the capitol city and on the CVB websitewith images of girls of all ages enjoying Charleston activities. The CVB is also encouraging visits to its Facebook page so the campaign can go viral and chronicle this season’s fun.

The Charleston CVB just launched its new tag line last month: Hip, Historic…Almost Heaven. According to Bailey, the Girls of Summer campaign will reinforce that brand.

“Whether you’re grooving to Live on the Levee at Haddad Riverfront Park every Friday, or enjoying Family Fun movie night at Magic Island on Wednesday, Charleston is the place to be this summer,” Bailey said. “Few cities can boast a festival as rich as FestivALL. There’s nothing more hip than that!”

Along with returning events, Charleston is welcoming new offerings such as Cirque De Soleil in September and the first ever Capitol City Biker Bash in June. As the 5th Annual Charlie West Blues Fest came to an end with record high attendance, the CVB believes that this summer is shaping up to be one of the best yet for tourism.

“These event planners work hard all year long,” said Samantha Carney, sports convention sales and special events manager. “And that attracts expenditures to our hotels, restaurants and retailers.”

Carney indicated that river activities and sporting events are on the rise in Charleston including the perennially popular Charleston Distance Run, West Virginia Games and SportsFest.

CVB officials also are promoting the city’s eclectic dining options. Recently, Charleston passed an ordinance to allow outside dining at its various restaurants, which CVB officials hope will be more attractive to visitors and generate more restaurant sales.

Along with great food and entertainment, the greater Charleston area accommodates more than3,500 sleeping rooms with the downtown area containing over 1,400 rooms in 26 different hotels. These hotels vary from full-service to economical “family-friendly” services stays but all provide great hospitality and customer service.

For more information on summer events, dining and accommodations in Charleston, visit charlestonwv.com or call 800-733-5469.

About the Charleston CVB
The Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau promotes economic development through a strong visitor and meeting industry resulting in increased visitor spending for sustainable economic growth and enhanced quality of life in Charleston, W.Va. Last year, the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau booked 59 meetings, convention and sporting events, which resulted in an economic impact of $21,589,657 million for the city.