Favorite Cheap Adventure Vacation Ideas For The Family
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As a family of 6, that’s still strange to say by the way, we love adventure. The best way we’ve learned how to create adventure on a regular basis is to take a quick, cheap adventure vacation that our entire family will enjoy. While exotic locales such as the best beaches of Florida, the Galapagos Islands, or even traveling to the incredible beaches of Costa Rica are certainly bucket list places, we’ve discovered budget adventure vacations is best for this season of life.
Authentic travel experiences that include active adventures like mountain biking, camping, and hiking provide an authentic experience to get off the beaten path and enjoy the natural beauty of our world. Rather than spending thousands of dollars booking domestic flights, we simply pack up in the car and partake in road trips that allow our minds to rest and our souls to be rejuvenated.
In this post, I’m going to provide as much detailed information as possible for the best places to escape the beaten track and enjoy adventures that won’t break your budget.
Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
Cheap Adventure Vacations for the Family
1. Colorado
During our 18 month stay in Colorado, we were able to enjoy some of the best mountain towns in the entire state. From Breckenridge to Golden to Buena Vista, a quick adventure trip is within driving distance for anyone choosing to embrace the high altitude and the perfect place for adventure during the summer months.
Breckenridge
While Breckenridge is certainly a mecca for winter snow skiing, Breck, as most locals call it, provides nature lovers with immense outdoor activities. Hiking the Burro Trail, Iowa Hill Loop and Hoosier Pass Loop provide fresh air and easy trails that the kids can enjoy. Further, if you want to experience the fall colors, the Boreas Road Pass will suffice.
Maybe hiking isn’t your thing. If so, then fly fishing the Blue River or Colorado River with guided tours from Breckenridge Outfitters or Mountain Angler should do the trick. Fly fishing is one of those sports where your mind can rest by having to focus on mending the line rather than the work meeting that you missed the day before.
Horseback riding and Jeep Tours are fantastic ways to explore the area as well.
Golden
Golden is home to a vast array of outdoor activities. One of the most popular during the summer months for epic adventures is tubing in the Clearcreek Whitewater Park. With fast-moving water, tubing this stretch of river is a great way to get your heart rate up and your stress levels down. There is a small entrance fee, but once on the water you’ll forget everything you should be doing.
Further, Golden also has an extensive trail system for hikers of all levels. Some of the more notable hikes include North Table Mountain Trail, Chimney Gulch Trail and Clear Creek Trail. Any of these would be a great option for the family.
For those seeking a new adventure, rock climbing is the perfect way to try something new. North Table Mountain, Clear Creek Canyon and Look Mountain Crag are the best options for all types of skill levels.
Buena Vista
BV, or Buena Vista, is one of our favorite towns in all of Colorado. The Arkansas River runs through Buena Vista, and the town square is ideal to just sit and relax or participate in white water rafting or float trips.
The Buena Vista River Park is our absolute favorite place to hang out for the day. There are numerous blocks of shops and restaurants to enjoy along with absolutely beautiful scenery to take in while drinking a cup of coffee. Our favorite restaurant is Eddyline Brewing. From live music to parks for the kids to play, this area of Buena Vista is truly a paradise to behold.
If taking in the beauty of the Rocky Mountains is your thing, the Collegiate Peaks Scenic Overlook provides the perfect view of the snowcapped mountains in early Spring.
Aside from nature, the Buena Vista Heritage Museum is a fantastic way to discovered the storied history of Buena Vista and the surrounding area. Our kids thoroughly enjoyed the model train setup as well as many of the old trinkets that have made Buena Vista what it is today. Stop by Simple Eatery or House Rock Kitchen on your way out to satiate that hungry belly you’ll create with all of your outdoor adventures.
2. New Mexico
I call New Mexico “little Colorado”. While the mountains may not be as large and tourists may not flock to the state the way they do Colorado, New Mexico still has a plethora of outdoor experiences for self-guided adventures.
Eagle Nest/Cimarron
Most people are familiar with Angel Fire and Taos, but have you ever heard of Eagle Nest and Cimarron? Probably not. Every year for 6 years, I was able to enjoy camping on and fly fishing the Cimarron River. This river is a hidden gem in the Northern mountain range of New Mexico.
Cimarron Canyon State Park, specifically Black Jack Campground, provide an ideal and easy to get to spot for budget travel. If you love primitive camping, but desire the proximity of vehicle, this is the place to go. It is one of the most beautiful places in all of New Mexico. Setting up base camp at Black Jack, then traversing the miles and miles of fishable river, particularly the Special Waters, provides plenty of outdoor experience for the soul.
Eagle Nest Lake is just up the road and provides a different experiences that includes fishing, boating, kayaking and other water activities for the family to enjoy. From various primitive tents sites and RV camping spots, Eagle Nest Lake is a site to behold during the warm summer months. Ice fishing in the winter months is also the easiest way to try something new!
Taos
Taos may be the most popular destination in the state and for good reason. From the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge to Enchanted Circle Drive to Wheeler Peak and Williams Lake, Taos is a luxury locale for budget-minded families.
After spending some time taking in the views from the bridge, head on down to the Rio Grande river for some epic fly fishing. One thing to keep in mind when fishing this river is that it can be treacherous. The half mile saunter down to the river is full of jagged rocks and boulders that require extra attention when traversing. For this reason, I recommend having a partner with you at all times.
Wheeler Peak is the highest point in New Mexico. Utilizing the Williams Lake Trail makes this voyage doable for kids of all ages. Once at the top, you have sweeping views of the Taos Ski Valley.
The local culture of Taos is extremely unique as the Taos Pueblo will reveal. Seeing the ancient ruins of this Unesco World Heritage Site is a site to behold for travelers of all varieties. Local guides offering guides tours will endear you to the history of the region.
Ruidoso
While not such a hidden gem for those of us from West Texas, Ruidoso is a haven for cheap adventure. Ski Apache is the closest ski mountain for Texans, but recent snow totals have not equated to ideal ski conditions in recent years. However, there is still plenty of outdoor adventure to be had.
Lincoln National Forest is a 1.1 Million acre forest region full of trails for the family to enjoy. With trails right off Mechem Drive, Lincoln National Forest serves as an easy and free way to get outside and escape social media and the television.
Grindstone Lake Trail, situated on the other side of the city, is a fun hike to observe various forms of wildlife and take in the stunning landscape of Grindstone Reservoir. Take a turn on horseback via Grindstone Stables for a unique way to experience the trail.
For a unique place for the family to enjoy, head on over to Ruidoso Downs and check out the horse races during the summer months! There is also plenty of golf to be played at the Links, Cree Meadows and Inn of the Mountain Gods.
3. Texas
To say Texas is big would be like saying the sun is warm. Texas is huge! With it comes outdoor adventures of all kinds. From the Texas Hill country to various state parks to the beaches of Galveston and South Padre Island, it would take years to experience everything that Texas has to offer.
Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country is situated between Dallas, Austin and just north of San Antonio. From Fredricksburg to New Braunfels and Gruene and Wimberly and San Marcos, the Hill Country is a great place for families and couples. When vacation time rolls around choose from place like Hamilton Pool in Dripping Springs and Blue Hole in Wimberly to cool off during the hot Texas summers. Just bring some day packs and plenty of water!
For some cheap Texas fun, head over to Austin and visits historic sites like the Texas State Capital, Texas State Cemetery and Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Museum. Or, visit Barton Springs to enjoy the natural springs situated in the center of the city.
One of our favorite places to hang out as a family is Gruene, TX. Gruene boasts the historic Gristmill restaurant as well as Gruene Hall that provides live music throughout the year featuring some of Texas’ best musicians and live acts.
Palo Duro Canyon
Loacted in the Panhandle, Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the country next to Grand Canyon National Park. Palo Duro Canyon provides hiking and camping experiences. However, one of the best things to partake in is grabbing a mountain bike and speeding through the numerous trails of the canyon. 24 Hours in the Canyon is an annual summer mountain bike competition that people from all over the country participate in.
Texas Beaches
While Texas may not be known as a hotspot for beach adventures, you may want to consider a couple of new destinations for your next adventure.
South Padre Island
South Padre Island has no shortage of things to do for the family. If you want a “free” adventure, then just hang out on the beautiful beaches of the island. You can spend an entire week swimming or sun bathing on the shores or you can choose to venture inland to experience a few more kid-friendly activities.
Sea Turtle, Inc. is a fantastic choice to teach your kids about sea turtle conservation. While birding is not necessarily something our family partakes in, South Padre Island boasts the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center. Further, the Laguna Madre Nature Trail is perfect for those early morning walks taking in all the scenery the area has to offer.
One of the most popular aspects of South Padre Island is the fishing. From surf fishing to deep see fishing and bay fishing, South Padre Island is a good place to experience fishing in all of its form. There are a host of fishing charters to provide an epic experience for your family.
Galveston
Galveston is an underrates destination for family adventures. Similar to South Padre Island, Galveston provides plenty of spots for beach access as well as fishing adventures. Aside from the beaches, Galveston offers the historic walking district known as The Strand. From old buildings and historic sites to shops, restaurants and museums, the Strand is a great place to spend an afternoon. Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar and Fishermans’ Wharf are two of the most popular restaurants for the family to enjoy.
Moody Gardens is a great place to take the kids to learn about conservations efforts, endangered animals and plants and even take in a show at the Discovery Museum. Several museums like the Galveston Naval Museum, the Bryan Museum and the Galveston Railroad Museum provide your family with a learning experience to offset your time at the beaches.
Wrapping It Up
I have only scratched the surface of a handful of places that can provide experiences and adventures for your family. National parks such as Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and Rocky Mountain are amazing options as well. However, typically those trips require a decent amount of travel and the extra cost of flights. Discovering adventure in the towns closest to you simply takes a choice!
How To Create Adventure For Your Family
Choosing adventure for the family comes down to making adventure a priority for your family. I’ve written extensively about discovering the good life and creating adventures for ourselves and our family. It’s such an important aspect of our lives because it gets us out of our comfort zone and forces us to do things that aren’t normal. Whether you create a “camping experience” in your backyard or just build a fort in the living room, kids just desire some sort of adventure. It’s also incredibly important for their souls and hearts to experience something other than school, homework and YouTube.
Here are 5 ideas to create experiences and adventures for you family at home!
1. Create a camping experience in the backyard. Put up a tent and buy a cheap fire pit for smores! Get a small group of your kids’ friends to have a campout under the stars. Your kids’ imaginations will run rampant with dreams and thoughts that they’re in the wilderness trying to survive!
2. Create an obstacle course. Set up an obstacle course with chairs, pillows and outdoor decor! Your kids will compete with one another to see who can have the best time. They will love being able to get their juices flowing by “beating their older sibling”.
3. Develop a scavenger hunt. This can be as simple as writing down hints on pieces of paper and ending the hunt with a “buried treasure”.
4. Have a cooking competition. Buy different types of baked goods and see who can come up with the most creative cake or cookie. Let them concoct the ingredients and design and see who comes up with something revolutionary!
5. Have a dance party. Our 8 year old loves to sing and dance. She’s always wanting a dance party. Simply turn on Alexa or the TV and let Spotify run the night. Not only does this ensure your kids end the night smiling, but it also is a great way to get their energy out before bed!
Adventure is all around us. It just takes prioritizing adventure on a daily basis and ensuring you follow through as often as possible!
About the Author
John Claborn
Hi! I’m John. Author of the post you just read. I like to write about all things adventure. Mostly things to help people live more adventurous lives and care for their families in a more meaningful way. By day, I’m a COO. By night, I’m a rad dad of 4 kids that I don’t deserve and a husband to a woman I can’t understand how I got. My goal is to show freedom to people through adventure and experiences.
