A family vacation is a great opportunity to break out of your routine, explore new places and get a little rest and relaxation. While it’s nice to get away together as a family, taking a vacation can often times come with a big price tag. But it doesn’t have to. Sometimes, the best family vacations don’t require you to spend a lot. Here are four affordable family vacation ideas to consider.

Visit a national park

There are 423 national parks in the United States that span across more than 84 million acres. Colorado is home to 13 national parks. National parks are an inexpensive vacation option for families. Parks often charge $25 or less per vehicle to enter and often times offer affordable lodging options, like campsites or cabins. National parks offer scenic views and historical landmarks. It’s a great way to spend time with your family outdoors. Visit the National Park Service website to search for national parks by state.

Avoid the tourist hot spots

Rather than spending your vacation at a tourist hot spot, like New York City or Miami, choose a more low-key place. This country is filled with beautiful scenery and cultural experiences in cities that are a little more off the grid than the bigger cities with more of a tourism draw. For example, Devil’s Tower in Wyoming is a hidden gem not everyone thinks of visiting. You can see Devil’s Tower, which is a unique national monument. There are places to hike, climb and camp under the large and open Wyoming sky. Nearby there are national parks and Mount Rushmore.  Assateague Island in Virginia is another unknown place with beautiful beaches and wild horses that live right on the island. Here are some more of the best unknown places to visit in the United States. Think about a state you’d like to visit and research some of the smaller, less-known cities to visit there. Look for fun things your family might enjoy doing like going to a lake, a museum or an adventure park. These lesser-known places will be much easier on your budget with everything from lodging to entertainment.

Have a staycation

You don’t have to go somewhere to get the rest you need from a vacation. Sometimes, it’s less stressful and more relaxing to stay home and enjoy spending time with your family in your home city. You could spend a day at the local spa, camp out in the backyard, try a local restaurant you haven’t been to yet or take day trips to tourist attractions close to you. You’ll save a bundle on lodging and travel expenses like fuel or airline tickets. Plus, you’ll get to experience the fun your own home city has to offer. Lucky for us, we live in a place with lots of fun things to do, from hiking in the mountains to visiting a water park. Here are some fun things you can do in Denver.

Go to a remote beach

For some people, vacation means sitting on the beach and catching some sun. However, a lot of the bigger beach resorts don’t come cheap. Try looking for beach spots that are a little more out of the way. For example, Myrtle Beach, a 60-mile string of beaches found on the coast of South Carolina, is a great place for a family vacation that costs much less than an exclusive beach resort. There’s a beach front boardwalk with arcades, restaurants and an old-fashioned amusement park. You can also find family-friendly beaches in places like Alabama, New Jersey, Maine, Oregon and Massachusetts.

Planning an affordable family vacation just takes a little research and budgeting. The most important thing about a family vacation is taking the time to slow down and spend time together. If you need a little extra cash for your family vacation, consider a Signature Loan. It’s an easy and affordable way to fund your vacation with our new low introductory rate. Hurry, this offer is valid until September 30, 2022.