Last week I told you I’m thinking about Spring Break 2012 destinations to take my kids. Most of the places were in Florida and within a reasonable driving distance from Atlanta.
I’ve also explored places to take a break here in Georgia and in South Carolina. Here are six places we could go that are within a reasonable driving distance from our home and has a beach. I am dying to get to one very soon.
We will choose our destination soon because time is already running out to get the best deals. I typically use Hotwire.com and check out BetterBidding.com to find hotels to stay in. I usually find good deal there. Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of group deals through Groupon, Loclly, and Half Off Depot. The travel deals are pretty nice both in destinations and in prices. I’m learning there are certain restrictions so it pays to read carefully.
I will write, take photos, and video of our travels this spring and summer so look for that in the future.
Where have you been out of these six places? Where do you vote we go?
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Spring break is about six weeks away and I still haven’t decided where the kids and I will go. We all agree we want to go to the beach since it’s been a few years. I know. Tragic, right? It is unbelievable we have waited so long, but hopefully we will remedy this problem this year!
My daughter wants to go to Florida. I think it’s a good choice. We have been several times since it is in driving distance and pretty easy to navigate.
The issue is where in Florida to go? It must have a nice beach, reasonably priced accommodations, great places to eat, and be very kid friendly.
Our Florida choices are below and includes pros and cons of the few we have actually visited.
Have you been to any of these places? What did you love about them?
Cons: Will likely be crowded with tons of college kids on spring break too. My daughter my love it but I’ll hate trying to navigate the traffic. It could get really pricey to around that time of year. ☹
Pros: I’ve been there before and know it’s a great place. It also has a state park in the area so the accommodations may be reasonable. Close to Destin
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
I’m getting the travel bug like never before. I am itching to pack my bags (and the kids) and hit the road. In fact I am planning to travel extensively this summer across the U.S. It is time for me and the kids to see what’s beyond the southern regions of this country.
The slow economy hasn’t hindered travel plans for most families. Family travelers take an average of 4.5 trips each year, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Savvy families are able to travel and build lasting memories by making trips more affordable with the help of simple money-saving solutions.
Here are five money-saving travel tips to help you plan your next family vacation:
Tip 1: Plan ahead of time
Once you decide where your family will go, it’s time to research what to do. From visiting theme parks and museums to spending relaxing days at the park or beach, it is smart to do your research. Some places will give deals for advanced purchases or allow you to combine several activities into one discounted price. Your research might also help you discover some fun free activities in the area.
Tip 2: Seek out inclusive activities
Food, rides, shows and souvenirs, a day at the theme park – vacation expenses add up pretty quickly. Consider seeking out options where one price includes everything. All-in-one activities are great for families on a budget. Does the water park include free lunch with your ticket? Does your amusement park pass include a ticket to the music show they present? How about free child care for mom and dad while they’re at the restaurant? Activities that include extras can make for a hassle-free day where you never have to take out your wallet.
Tip 3: Book a hotel with all the amenities – and perks
A nice hotel with many amenities can make all the difference after busy days of sightseeing or visiting friends and family. Home2 Suites by Hilton, for example, have comfortable suites for the family to stretch out and sleep soundly each night. Cook a meal in the suite’s kitchen for a relaxing night in and a money-saving alternative to nightly dinner outings. Make a day of hanging out at the outdoor patio where you can grill lunch or simply relax and catch up with the family in the Oasis, the hotel’s common hub for social gathering. The saline-based pool, maintained with natural chemicals, is also a fun spot for the family to enjoy. Bringing the family pet? Enjoy time with your furry family member on the outdoor green area for pets at this pet-friendly hotel.
Tip 4: Cut your food costs
By eliminating eating out for one meal a day during your trip, you can save a lot of money. A family of four can spend $40 a day on breakfast at a restaurant – that’s $280 for a week’s vacation! By choosing a hotel that provides a complimentary breakfast, you can pocket that money for a fun activity, or save it for paying down the credit card bill when you get home. Not all hotel breakfasts are equal – look for options like the ones from Home2 Suites that provide a variety of tasty options to please everyone: hot breakfast sandwiches, cereal, yogurt, oatmeal and a variety of bakery products.
Tip 5: Pack light when flying
With most airline carriers charging for luggage these days, your family can rack up fees quickly if everyone has a full bag to check. For example, at $25 per bag per flight, it costs a family of four $200 extra round trip. If you can cut down on the amount of clothes and supplies you bring, you can save a ton. Check only a couple bags or just use carry-on luggage. Then, look for accommodations that offer on-site guest laundry. If you stay with Home2 Suites, you can easily do laundry on-site and either relax in the outdoor common space, or grab a quick workout in the adjacent gym.
Family travel is quality time you spend together creating memories that will last a lifetime. With these strategies, your next trip will not only be memorable, but it will be affordable too. (ARA)
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Yesterday the kids and I travelled with the church youth group about an hour north of Atlanta to visit Amnicola Falls State Park in Georgia. It was a beautiful day with crisp clear skies and changing leaves.
The intention was to go hiking up to the falls but it was getting too late and by the time we started out it would have been dark on the way back.
So we ate, had fun playing around and talking. The boys tossed the ball around and we finally headed back.
The MoonShine Festival
On the way we ran into what looked like a fair in the town of Dawsonville. We had to detour several miles to get to the falls. The traffic was horrible because of the event happening in that town. Turns out it was the annual Moonshine Festival. Yep, it is apparently very popular in that neck of the woods.
The question of the day was, “Do people still make moonshine?”. Could be true. I do know there are people who make beer in their homes. It’s quite a hobby for some people. Definitely a good way to save money on beer if you drink it often
It looked like one of the highlights of the festival was classic cars. We saw some really beautiful ones as we took our detour and went past the festival. There were hundreds of them, from old Packards, T-Models, and convertibles.
Daylight Savings Time Ending Soon
In my neck of the woods it feels like winter has already arrived. It’s been in the 30s these last couple of nights and frost was on the ground in the morning.
I’m not ready for this and hopefully the schizophrenic Georgia weather will kick in and we will be back to the upper 70s and low 80s.
Daylight savings time will be over in early November this year. I have mixed feelings about DST and the change to lengthen it. It just drags things out and my body’s clock gets all confused.
Daylight savings time end on November 6, 2011.
How do you prepare for the time change? Does it take you a long time to get used to it?
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream was a rockin’ Princess Party!
I have been watching the Disney classic princesses since I was a little girl and watching the modern princesses since my daughter was a toddler over 12 years ago. To see them all at this ice show was amazing on Wednesday night at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA! The show runs October 12-16, 2011.
It’s not hard to say who my favorite princess was, but I’ll wait to tell you that until almost the end of this post.
Disney on Ice Pre-Party
I took my kids (thanks to Sue Rodman at Fieldtrips with Sue) to the pre-party activities; otherwise known as the press conference and meet and greet. We got to talk to a couple of the stars and learn about their life behind the scenes and on the ice. They were very friendly and happy to talk to us about life on the road for 10 months out of the year.
Disney on Ice Cast are Community-Minded
I learned that the Disney on Ice cast are not so crazy about eating out because the food ends up tasting all the same. I’m sure they would love a home cooked meal from Karen over at In the Kitchen with KP!
Despite the small inconveniences, they are very community-minded as they explained when I asked them how they handle holidays away from home. They explained they may use the time to feed the homeless at a soup kitchen, give away their well-read books to the Salvation Army, or participate in a food drive much like me and my friends Amy over at Atlanta with Kid and Mandi at Cumming Local are planning next month.
Pictures and Activities with the Disney on Ice Cast
My daughter and I had the chance to take a picture with Rapunzel and Flynn from the movie Tangled. I really love that movie! Disney always surprises me with how well they make movies.
The kids got to color and make their own crowns while we waited for the show to begin. Even my son got in on the crown-making action. He is very proud of it as you can see below.
The Show Began with The Princess and the Frog
We got to our seats and waited to enjoy the show. It was cold so I’m glad we all wore our jackets. At one point my son pulled his hood over his head. Of course with it being Disney on Ice and all, it was bound to be cold.
The show started and the magic began with the story of Tiana from The Princess and the Frog. I really wish we could have taken a picture with her and Naveen but we didn’t. Inspite of that, we still had a really great time seeing all the familiar stories and watching the acrobatics on the ice.
Cinderella and Rapunzel take Center Ice
There were three princess stories including the Princess and the Frog, Cinderella, and Rapunzel. The show lasted for about two hours and all the kids had a blast! There seemed to be a princess takeover with all the little girls dressed as their favorite princess.
Classic Disney Characters and the Disney Princesses
Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Pluto hosted the show and was a part of the finale where all the Disney Princesses came out to party. We saw Ariel, Mulan, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and all the ones that were in the main show.
Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream was a memorable event. The next day my son thanked me for taking him and his sister to see the show. I think he’s got his eye on being a Disney Prince. He certainly has all the makings of becoming one!
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Start saving for your vacation two years ahead of time. You won’t have to spare any expense and are guaranteed to have a stress free time.
When I went to Disney World with my daughter I was able to get some good deals and have a really good time. But while I was there I looked at the luxury hotels and wished I had saved a little more money to splurge.
The trip was virtually worry and stress-free though. I didn’t have to worry about driving because we flew. I didn’t have to worry about transportation because the bus picked us up from the airport and we had shuttle service to the parks.
I got multi-day passes so we could visit the parks as often as we wanted to. Food was no problem because my daughter ate free and I didn’t eat much anyway. In short it was a very good trip because I was able to pay for all the things I wanted.
But if I had saved for a year or two the trip would have been even better. So save up your pennies, make extra money by selling stuff you don’t need, do freelance work, and look for discounts. You can have the trip of a lifetime because you planned for it in advance.
Another tip is to pay for things over time. Buy the plane ticket months in advance when you have the money. Reserve the room and send the money when you have the right amount.
Simply take each element of the trip and pay as you go so by the time the day comes you will have very little to worry about financially except spending money.
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
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Last week I told you I’m thinking about Spring Break 2012 destinations to take my kids. Most of the places were in Florida and within a reasonable driving distance from Atlanta.
