Daycations:Local Vacations for Money Saving Fun

The first thing you need to do when planning your daycation is pick a destination. Optimally, local vacations for money saving fun should be less than two hours away, so you are not spending the bulk of your day in the car. Saturday is the best day for your weekend daycation, as you have Sunday to recover from your excursion.

In order to make the most of your day, you will have to prepare everything in advance. After you have decided on your destination, print out a map with directions or put the address into your GPS. If you are a AAA member, you can ask for a Triptik and a travel book with lots of useful information about attractions in the area. Their travel agency is also a great resource for purchasing discounted tickets for your destination. You can also purchase attraction tickets on your local AAA website.

The second thing you need to do is make sure that your car is ready for your local vacation. Fill up your gas tank, check the air pressure in your tires, and look under the hood to make all of the car's fluids are filled. This will save you time on the day of departure.

Getting your kids ready for you local vacation for money saving fun is paramount if you wish to leave on time. Each child should pack a bag or backpack full of things to do in the car. Books, handheld games, portable DVD players and DVDs, iPods, headphones, puzzle books and anything else to prevent "are we there yet" syndrome should be ready and by the door the night before you leave. Be sure that all electronics are fully charged.

Everyone should have their outfit laid out in their room the night before the trip. Have all shoes and jackets near the front door so no time is wasted in searching for these items when everyone is anxious to leave for the day. If you have younger children or are going to a water park, pack up the towels and extra outfits that everyone is going to need for a dry ride home.

You also need to decide if you are going to eat on the road or before you leave. Have a quick and easy breakfast planned-bagels and cream cheese, cereal bars, muffins, and juice or milk-whether you are eating in the car or at your own kitchen table. No one should expect a fancy breakfast-who wants to come home to a sink full of dirty dishes after a fun day out with the family?

For the car ride, pack up beverages and healthy snacks so no one is hungry on the car ride there. Taking beverages along means making sure that your ice packs are frozen and the cooler is cleaned out. Bring an empty plastic bags-one to put recyclable containers and one for trash. Pack hand wipes and hand sanitizer in case rest rooms are out of soap.

If you are planning on using cash for your local vacation for money saving fun, hit the bank the day before so you have one less thing to do in the morning. If you are using a charge card, make sure your partner and you carry different one in case your card is lost or stolen. That way you have a way to buy items or get cash advances if necessary.

If it is a sunny day, slather on the sunscreen before you leave. That way can soak into your skin and you will be ready for your outing as soon as you park the car. How many times have you seen antsy kids in the parking lot of an amusement venue getting sunscreen and parents yelling at them to stay still? Not a great way to start your day of fun.

Last but not least, you need to remember to set everyone's alarm clock the night before you daycation. Local vacations are money saving fun. Find a place to go and have a great time! Don't forget to bring the camera!