The New Normal in Family Vacations
Arizona Scenic Drives
March 16, 2010
Folks today seem in agreement that we are living in a time of the “new norms”. A time complete with shrinking budgets, smaller incomes and, in many cases, a newfound appreciation for the most basic of all human comforts being our families, our homes and our health. So how do we blend these new norms into a livable situation today and can we still afford the luxuries of travel in the times of the new normal?
Let's start by looking no further for our next adventure then our own backyards. This will open up a world of budget-conscious family outings on the scenic highways and back road drives found in our very own home state. These family road trips are all the rage in the new norm of frugality, thrift and personal savings. Local scenic drives can be the answer to help us achieve that livable situation while at the same time help us and our families find the Halcyon Times we need for a better and happier tomorrow.
Finding Gratification in the New Norm
The new normal being experienced for some families since the recession means revising the American Dream to include skipping a vacation or selling off some family vacation property. But what some families have discovered is that cutting back on the excesses carried over from the boom years hasn't been that bad at all.
“By staying closer to home we can travel more often”. How true this statement is. We can often save more money by taking a weekend vacation in our home state than spending that same time around the house. I am almost certain that I spend more when staying home on a weekend than I spend when we take a weekend drive from home. Factor in the costs of fuel, (not bad - we drive a Honda), food, (meals are typically in the picnic form), and the hotel room, (hotels are dramatically decreasing room rates while offering extras or promotions including restaurant credits, free third nights and more in an effort to fill up those rooms) and now compare that with what you would have spent had you stayed home, the trip can be a total wash.
High Costs & Hassles in Today's Travel
When considering how expensive travel can be, it surprises me that any of us trying to rebuild our family’s futures choose to go on expensive trips at all. Besides, when you really think about it, the places we are going seldom are as good as the places where we came from in the first place. After all, home is where we chose to live our lives, we might as well see it while we're here.
That being said, exploring our home is not unlike any new area where finding pleasure in the breathtaking beauty is always a part of the vacation fun. But making this type of vacation even better is the enjoyment of not feeling the pinch from over-spending that makes this a much more enjoyable trip too. Think of how much there is that we all want to see in and around the places we live. How quickly we can realize that our discoveries within the local area could be characterized as being, far from complete.
This series of web sites covering Scenic Drives in America lives in the hopes that you too will find the beauty in the places you live as well as a renewed desire to tell those experiences to others sharing your same wishes and desires. So we ask you, take a moment and write to us with your memories of a place you would like to share with others that's near your hometown. Any and all information you wish to share such as affordable lodging, favorite places to see or things to do and so forth would be greatly appreciated by all.
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