High Maintenance Mom

Monday's Wall Street Journal included an article on family vacations with information on how to spend money wisely and internet sites for more detail. As it is now June and we are still trying to weigh the benefits of taking two young kids on a family trip against the loss of sleep and consequences of changed routines, I have only a few additional resources. TravelZoo is one of my favorites for finding last minute deals. They often have good hotel, resort, flight, and car information (I like to read about the minivan specials). Because we live in an interesting area and work too hard to have enjoyed it previously, there are many family trip options within driving distance. We've found Via Magazine from AAA and Sunset magazine to have good information about our area of the country...

As a child, my family vacations involved art museums, botanical gardens (something I didn't appreciate until recently), and natural or historic attractions. It wasn't until later in life that I realized my mom liked the art museums and my father enjoyed the botanical gardens. The highlight for my parents was obviously an estate with beautiful gardens and artwork. Although my brother and I complained, we now laugh about it, have fond memories, and appreciate both art and beautiful gardens -- which I'm sure was the plan. Now that I am a parent, I look forward to "bringing" my kids to museums and gardens.

B went to SFMOMA in his first year and then to the Dr. Seuss Seussentenial tour when he turned two. Little Grab has only been to a children's museum but will be visiting a railroad museum soon. Our big plans for the summer involve riding trains, seeing volcanoes, and enjoying countless hours in the car. Luckily, we have the internet to help us find parks and other places to stop along the way.

From the Wall Street Journal - A Guide to Family Vacations

Here are a few of the sites the article listed to help spend money wisely on family vacations.

• travelcoupons.com
Print coupons for lodging discounts in 18 states in the Eastern U.S.

• familytravelfun.com
Has advice, reviews, planning guides for family vacations and destinations.

• familytravelforum.com
Subscription site offering travel advice, discounts, newsletter, trip planning, destination reviews and traveler discussion forums ($3.95 a month, $38 for a year).

• GoNomad.com
Eco-friendly travel guide with a section dedicated to families. Advice, packages, travelogues, home exchanges, vacation rentals.

• familyeducation.com
Fun + education = greater value. Family Travel section has ideas and advice on what kids can learn while on vacation.

• best-family-beach-vacations.com
Offers a selection of beach vacation packages and cruises for families, travel tips, advice and an email newsletter.

• journeysforfamilies.com
Teacher and naturalist/writer design package tours for parents and kids in exotic locations around the world, from Australia to Zanzibar.

Source: WSJ research