Stay Vacations To Trim the Budget and the Waist
Nobody needs to remind you that gas prices are high and airfare is sky high this summer. So aren't we lucky that we live in an area lots of families dream about visiting for their vacation? If you're watching your weight and your budget, why not try one of these active Staycation ideas?
Where to go in the Ozarks: Branson, of course! It's a perfect blend of excellent hiking paths, one of the country's most popular amusement parks, and world famous entertainment.
Dogwood Canyon: We've often highlighted the Branson area's free park trails but it's a vacation so you won't mind spending a few dollars to access beautiful Dogwood Canyon. Daily adult admission varies and annual deals are available but it will cost approximately $18-$25 per person to access the canyon's Mill, Canyon Grill Restaurant, the artifact display, the Nature & Conservation Center, the Treehouse Masters Treehouse and miles of trails.
Bring your own bikes or rent theirs to explore six miles of paved bike paths, slip on your cowboy boots to join a trail ride, or lace up your hiking boots to follow nine miles of nature trails.
Silver Dollar City: This amazing park is full of calorie-burning hills and can be a ton of healthy fun as long as you avoid the funnel cakes. Or the fried chicken. But heck, it's a vacation so climb a few more of those hills and splurge on some ice cream! Go early and stay late to maximize your vacation dollar or combine your SDC Day with more area attractions for discounts on their vacation packages.
Where to go in Springfield: To the animals! Because, to quote the old Paul Simon song, "It's all happening at the zoo." And, we might add, it's also happening at the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium.
Dickerson Park Zoo: While hiking through the zoo isn't a challenging workout, it's still a great way to entertain the family while learning tons about our animal friends, all while moving your body. Plus, those monkeys are darn cute!. Adult admission is only $16 and annual passes are available.
Wonders of Wildlife: While it's not outdoors, WOW is huge and it gets you on your feet for 1.5 miles of immersive exhibits with more than 800 species on display. WOW offers local resident discounts online here.Where to go outside Branson or Springfield: To the Arkansas and Missouri parks!
All you really need for an active, relaxing vacation is a some good hiking shoes and a sense of adventure. And maybe a fishing pole. Okay, you'll also need someplace to sleep but we have some ideas for that too.
Arkansas has more than 50 beautiful state parks and you can order your own guide to them here. Missouri has more than 90 state parks and historic sites to visit, with the full list available by regional search here.
Many parks situated on lakes will not only offer excellent hiking but also biking paths, kayak and canoe rentals, and boat rentals. One of our favorites, Stockton State Park, is perfect for paddling since it is on a sailing lake and has fewer motor boats speeding by. You can glide near the shore and watch the yachts slipping silently by with the wind filling their sails.
Here are some tips on finding accommodations for your active, outdoor state park vacation:
1) Consider camping. Keeping it simple will also keep it affordable and the tent, sleeping bag, and a battery powered lantern may be all you need to enjoy one of the great joys of the outdoors--sleeping under a sky full of stars. Many parks have restaurants or some other kind of food service on-site or nearby, so you may not need all the cooking supplies. Or you can stock up on ready-to-eat PWM snacks for a quick and easy meal.
2) Make reservations as soon as you know your dates. Many parks do allow first-come, first-serve sites with no reservation but you don't want to procrastinate and miss out on a great family vacation. In additional to nearby hotels, you'll find campsites, lodges, cabins and even yurts at many state parks. Make your reservation for Arkansas parks here and Missouri parks here.
3) Stretch summer into fall. Who says you have to take your summer vacation during the summer? If you don't have kids and a school calendar to worry about, then you might find September or October to be the perfect time for your active, outdoor adventure. The days are cooler, the nights crisp, and, if you time it right, you'll catch the peak colors as the hardwood trees turn red and gold.