You Don't Need to Spend A Lot of Money on Vacation to Make Great Memories

[@vondrabejot9851]

We took our family of 6 with 4 teenagers to Disney World. This was something that our children had always wanted to go. We planned for this trip for a year. We (kids included) saved money. Everyone found extra jobs to help finance this. The biggest lesson was that my kids found themselves not asking for toys or fair rides. It was a lesson in goal setting and going out to meet this goal. We had a great time!

[@nickknez8294]

You blew it! Didn’t you hear any Joshua said? You were supposed to go to a nearby park and drink soda.

[@aliciaannewoodward]

My story is a cautionary one. I had extraordinary parents who went into debt at every turn trying to provide the "best" life for my sisters and me. As a result, our experiences were often stressful and disappointing when high expectations weren't met. All we girls wanted was to be together in a relaxed atmosphere and really be seen and loved unconditionally. Great video, Joshua.

[@gr33neyes1000]

My child hood holidays were always spent at my Granny and Grandad's on the Isle of Skye, we would go to the beach and have a picnic, visit other relatives on the island, and build sand castles.

[@livn4JC]

Trips to visit my grandparents every summer. Helping my grandpa complete a puzzle. Cutting coupons out with my grandma. Eating fresh strawberries from their garden. Great memories

[@LP-tu8li]

Those are mine too! Playing cards with grandpa and reading poetry with grandma

[@denisea.9033]

I love this!

[@blujeans9462]

As a salesman, my father was not home too often. We didn't have much - but my parents always did the best they could for us. Summer vacations were never far from home - but just maybe a weekend at the shore. They were great memories, but the best memories were when Dad took us kids to the local airport to watch the planes take off for a half hour or so - then off to the ice cream parlor afterwards. To this day, hearing the sound of a Piper Cub makes my heart smile.

[@chrisk4053]

We would take rides in the car with my mom and dad and stop and get icecream. My dad always ordered black raspberry and my mom a milkshake. Wow the simple times

[@cjdouglass1339]

Same! 😊

[@cjdouglass1339]

We would go to the Portland airport and watch the planes land and takeoff, eating sandwiches we made!

[@i.m.7777]

My parents didn't have money to spare but I remember they still took us on day trips to the mountains, the lake, nearby hot springs picnic area and these were always an adventure! We went along with our aunt and cousins piled into a station wagon. Us kids would make the peace sign to other cars along the way and we just had a blast! Simple pleasures.

[@andreasteinmann8888]

Camping with my family is one of my fondest memories. The simplicity of meals cooked over the campfire and time spent in nature is truly more relaxing than any luxury vacation I’ve been on.

[@CoffeeAtTheCabin]

💯😊

[@beesnaps1]

❤soooo true❤

[@kaleydc]

Mine as well. Especially my mother reading to us while we lounged around the campsite.

[@Chrissy-e3n]

100% agree! Swamping tge canoe with my brothers, smores cooked over a campfire and playing scrabble or trivial pursuit in the camper when it was raining are some of my greatest childhood memories. 😂😂😂

[@LheaCopeland]

One of my 💜 memories was vacationing in Canada. It's a close drive for us but at the same time a completely different world. Really really really enjoyed it as a kid.

[@chrisoulalakkas7935]

The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.

[@TheDigsblues]

We live less than an hour drive from Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, Universal Studios, Sea World and Legoland. But what our kids remember with the fondest memories is camping at the La Jolla Indian reservation. It's an hour drive into the mountain foothills. The reservation is filled with trees and has a creek running through the camping area. For $15. a night we enjoyed tubing down the creek in an easy run that lasts about 45 minutes, then walking back up and doing it again and again. There is also hiking, campfires at night, and yummy food cooked over a campfire. The whole time feels like a big adventure.

[@donnawiseman9311]

When I was growing up, I, nor my siblings, knew how poor we were. We were well loved and cared for. Our “vacations” were picnics on our creek bank, swimming in the “swimming hole”, walks on our farm searching for wild flowers, or a Sunday afternoon ride. Those were the days!!!!

[@karenflom9352]

I wish my husband's side of the family would listen to this wisdom. My husband's mom would put his sister's and her portion of the annual family trip all on a credit card - lodging, meals, gas, etc. She passed away in January 2024, still owing for the vacation we took in August 2023. We save up, stay at a simple place where we cook our own meals, and do activities for free or minimal cost. Our memories come from games we played together and time spent in conversations, not in hundreds of dollars spent in dining out or a fancy place to stay.

[@barbaradelira6790]

My husband & I spent many vacations in Galveston, Tx. We would camp at the state park & later, when we were older, we would stay at moderately priced hotels. We always went midweek & off season. Our entertainment was spending all day at the beach, swimming, shelling & making sand castles. We had coffee & donuts in the morning & brought a picnic lunch to the beach. We would eat out or grill hot dogs in the evening. We took nieces & a nephew & later on, our son. We didn't spend much but everyone enjoyed themselves. The kids are all grown now but they still talk about the great times we had in Galveston

[@S-K.456]

Wild swimming, foraging, forest walks, campfires, hide and seek at night, playing with cousins, camping, fishing...Lots of fond memories of every summer spent at grandparents.

[@Rachel_seethegoodandbeautiful]

We make it a priority to see family and we stay with them when we visit so it’s inexpensive except for the transportation to visit. We’ve logged many miles as a family of 7 in a minivan across the country. Sometimes we have added camping trips along the way. Several summers ago we were tent camping in Banff, which was a treat in itself, but I was feeling bad that we couldn’t get everyone ice cream while we walked through town because our budget was so lean. I remember sitting around our campfire that night talking to my husband saying that maybe just being there together, roughing it, was enough. We did still get a treat - just a box of ice cream treats for all from the grocery store for the price of one premium ice cream . :)

[@pippas5808]

I know we had icecreams on holiday - I have photos of me eating them! - and I'm sure I loved them at the time, but I can't remember them now. But I do remember our camping trips, the picnics, the campfires...So even if your kids would have enjoyed icecreams at the time, I bet they wouldn't have remembered them a few years later. But they will always remember your camping trips.

[@sushanson]

Our family would drive in the summers from Iowa to either Northern Michigan or South Dakota to connect with my mom's brother and sister and our cousins. We stayed with family on mattresses on the floor, explored the horse barns at my uncle's in SD, and had a couple day trips to the beach on Lake Michigan at my aunt's. I loved it and my mom was an amazingly good sport about the road trips. Our vacations were only to visit family and I was always excited about them.

[@lizjcasey]

A scenic drive with short walks and a picnic lunch made my kiddos holiday recently.

[@anniechiquette1317]

Finding a new park to go visit, public library renting books for free, visiting museum, inviting family and friends for a BBQ and playing games after while eating chips and drinking something special ( preparing something new everytime ), go for a ride of bicycle and having an ice cream at the end, asking my neighbors in spring if they have to much of a plant and offering them to come and see my place for sharing ( we dis start a tradition ) and It's free, make some pocpcorn and watch a good movie anytime during the day ( it make it special ), finding a new recipe and preparing all together....it is endless, budget frendly and sooo much fun!!!

[@pattiellen5339]

I grew up in the hills of northeast Tennessee. We went camping and loved it! We would also load up the station wagon with all of us kids, a cooler full of lunch, and drive to the mountains for the day to have a hike and come back to the car for a picnic. We would go wading and catch craw dads. Sometimes we spent the night on the lake’s edge night fishing for catfish. We drove to Orlando one summer to go to Disney World, but the thing I remember most about that trip to Florida was the time spent at my uncle’s home in Tampa, playing with my five cousins and having meals at their home. Other than the long lines, I don’t remember much about Disney.

[@johannachristakoestner9386]

I grew up in a family wth seven kids = not a lot of money for vacations left… Had a totally great childhood. Camping in the garden, hiking with our backpacks with homemade juice and austrian bakerolls, going on our churchvacation with all the other kids ❤, camping in the rain, and just this house full of siblings and friends. Always messy and always loud and soooo beautiful. Thank you mum and dad!!

[@nspr8cio]

I always tried to make summers fun with my kids by doing little things: drive-in movie, picnic in the park, flashlight tag, bowling, roller skating, a day at a lake / beach, a late-night trip to the Truckstop for something yummy, a pinata in the backyard, badminton, croquet, make your own sundaes, movie & pizza night at home... So many ways to enjoy some special family time.

[@marynienhouse6143]

We went to Disney with our kiddos. I kept a journal and every night I would ask their most fun thing of the day. Never was Disney mentioned. It was the hotel pool, chasing lizards in the parking lot. Funny how that stuff stuck out, not the Disney stuff

[@Rose_is_a_Rose_]

I remember the things i did and didnt like. What i loved, was: searching for sea shells, painting them, smelling the ocean as you come near, and the amazing view. Having fun with a floatable thing. Eating the best fruit from a small stand along the roadside, the one with a jar for money. Allowed to go buy ice cream alone. Picking out and sending grandma a card. Playing with sand with my favourite sandtoys. Staying up late. Eating strawberties my mom cut. The smell of aftersun. Lingering on the beach just a little bit longer on purpose, be ause you have to dry and un sand your feet.my parents creating a mini sandpit indoors so i could play with it through winter. What i didnt like, hated, is being apart from my mom.. and when we came home after a holiday, i really needed some time at home to have some ‘holiday’ finally.

[@andrewellis7656]

Our family went camping at provincial parks for decades - always fun and joyful.

[@user-rr6ps5wf3v]

I love this reminder! ♥️ thank you! I used to go on bike rides with my grandparents when I was little. It wasn’t a vacation but something we did during the warmer months of the year. Greetings from Germany!

[@MsDoglover02]

Summers in Maine with my cousins were the best! We played board games. The kids slept in a burned out trailer that my Uncle bought & cleaned up for us. Girls had one room and boys had the other. We picked blueberries and ate blueberry everything from pancakes to muffins. We were so hungry from all the fun and fresh air that we couldn't be picky about what we were fed. Occasional eating out must have been a kids eat free place where I think we had spaghetti.

[@sabahatnaheed1435]

In all my childhood, we only visited the motherland once, no other vacations whatsoever not even in and around the UK. but i do remember making memories with the family in our big garden and local parks. My parents could simply not afford holidays. When i finished uni, i made an intention to travel and thus have traveled 23 times since then for which im grateful. i self-funded the vacations and did not go into any debt.

[@joannebayers1629]

As children we grew up in a rural area and would during the summer pack a lunch and drive to visit family in other rural areas, pulling over in a grassy area to picnic and stretch our legs, we called these ditch picnics and still today as adults we will find little spots off to the side of our travels be they near or far from home to sit and enjoy a picnic, visit with each other and the memories of our childhood

[@christinaprice5764]

Not mine but what my kids just had. We just had a four-day family reunion in a small Kansas town and the big cousins would take their blankets and pillows out on the roof at night and watch the stars and other nights they would play sardines around the house late at night. Memories they will always have.

[@rondaschnaufer7165]

Traveling home to PA. from NC. for summer vacation was the best! We sang songs as we drove, played games, I read books to our kids. Good books. In PA. we stayed with our parents. Aunts, uncles and cousins came over, some stayed with us. We didn’t care where we slept. They played at the lake, in the woods, we grilled out and just enjoyed each other. One grown daughter still thinks of those times as magical! Thank you Josh for reminding us to keep it simple!😃 It was fun for me to think about those trips.

[@hugovangool]

my best holiday experiences with my parents were the holidays in Switzerland. These were not the expensive restaurants or tourist attractions. But the beautiful walks with backpack, filled with chocolate, water and delicious sandwiches.

[@jennifer1424]

We would go camping somewhere within a day’s drive of home in NJ, often in upstate NY. We’d go on hikes and just hang out. Our other vacation was driving 3 hours to our great aunt’s home (we’d stay with her) for our great grandma’s birthday celebration each August which was also like a family reunion. We’d play hide and seek in the cornfields with cousins and chase fireflies in the evening. Potluck picnic meant lots of good food we could share. Great memories. The struggle now is not being close to any family which would require $$$ just to fly to where one lives and then money for hotel since there’s no space to stay with them. Also some strained/dysfunctional family relationships make this difficult. I wish I could create the same memories I have from my youth for my own children.

[@J4pod]

Jennifer1424, maybe you could make similar memories with friends and their families closer to home - picnics, play games or board games, camp in the backyard etc. Have fun ☺

[@gilleygurl]

My son was so unimpressed with Disney. The cheap hotel pool was more enjoyable. It was a huge wakeup call. Kids don't need much to have fun vacations. A cheap pool, snacks, and sunblock

[@WeAreBullets]

i think my favorite part of disney was the Figment ride and the Monorail and the Pool indeed lol

[@margarethathaway6299]

I do remember enjoying some of the attractions at Disney from the one visit I had as a kid, but the thrill ranked equal to the time spent with a nice puddle I found in the park and poked with a stick for a solid 30 minutes. So yeah...

[@sandyseffrood4384]

Family vacations as a kid in the 80’s- involved 6 people in a car, with a trunk with a cooler filled with drinks & sandwich fixings, chips- we’d stop at lunchtime somewhere at a rest stop or a park and pull out the food and eat and stretch our legs. Normally we travelled to northern WI - stayed in a cabin or a cheap hotel with 2 beds, we brought 2 sleeping bags and us kids took turns sleeping on the floor. We toured local museums, went fishing, lumberjack shows and fun parks. We did longer trips as all of us got older-out west etc. My husband and I - the beginning years too out kids to Minneapolis, St Louis and Eastern SD to see family and things in the area. All those family trips helped our kids develop strong relationships with their distant cousins. We took trips to Chicago too. Once they got older we took them on internal trips- We always pack snacks and little for clothes. We walk/hike and eat locally. One trip to Europe we stayed with friends in Austria. Our sons love to travel and save money for trips of their own now

[@pennyheinrich5552]

Camping in the backyard or a local campground; Dad grilling bacon cheeseburgers and Mom making her special baked beans; planting and tending to a huge garden (and eating onions with Dad, straight out of the dirt), riding bikes together, going to the local ice cream place for cones, local parades at 4th of July and High School homecoming, local derby car races, local college basketball and football games...... and hey Joshua, I'm originally from SD (Aberdeen) as well!

[@summerdavidson6234]

Driving across the country in my Mom's copper colored Ford Mustang without air conditioning in the middle of the summer with the windows rolled down and spray bottles of water to keep us cool. Then exploring my grandparent's farm in Iowa - watching the animals, swimming in a giant horse trough used for a kids' pool, riding on the tractor with my grandpa, being amazed by the fireflies, floating in a little rowboat on the pond. Such happy memories!

[@LacyDawnS]

Our annual 4th of July week camping on the Oregon Coast, our whole extended family coming together to camp, watch the fireworks on the beach and go to the 4th of July parade in town. One year we decided to go crabbing and on the way got stuck in traffic behind a Keebler truck. We dared my uncle (our driver) to jump out and ask for cookies and he actually did and they gave us some out of the back of their truck! Us teens were humiliated but also dying laughing. Best year ever.

[@MS-sr6mj]

My favorite childhood memories are playing card and boardgames with extended family and watching comedicc shows and movies.

[@juliacarey7149]

When I was a kid, I would travel to Virginia from New Jersey to see my great great aunt and uncle's friends and family. I remember sitting on my uncle's sister's back porch helping her snap green beans to be canned. It was so fun. My parents and my grandmother, who lived with us, would play cards and board games. Happy Anniversary!!!

[@shelleyt3048]

When my kids were little our family vacations were typically camping. They loved those trips and those are the family vacation memories they talk about most often. Now that they are grown up with their own families they are started their own family camping vacations. We do have some great memories from those days!

[@shelleyt3048]

That was tent camping by the way, rain or shine! I think they have equally fond memories of both.

[@loissalumibe2846]

My daughter, son-in-law and 5-year-old grandson rented a chalet this holiday in a nature reserve at a 10-minute drive from their door. Grandson couldn't keep quiet about the boat in which they sailed on the large pond in the garden. And sleeping in the top bed of a bunk bed was also a great adventure for him, as well as building a fire. And most importantly: no stress. If they had forgotten something, they could easily drive back home.

[@anacorona6234]

Thank you, going to Tampico Tamaulipas in Mexico with my brother and his family to the beach. ❤

[@edwardgh57]

We decided, we’re Going to Sea world San Diego with daughters 11 and 13 . The cost at the gate was significant,so we offered them 20 dollars each for all the brass ring merry go round rides they could do at Balboa Park . They will always remember that park ,the fun competition. Priceless❤

[@nancyyoung9972]

I grew up in a kinda wealthy family.So vacations were pretty good. I do remember a tradition we did at Christmas.Here in Philly the Macy’s has a light show on ceiling of store and to see Santa. I remembered the light show well into adulthood. I finally took my daughter to see it as an adult. I never in my wildest dreams ever thought I would be standing there with my own daughter.She loved it and so do I better than any vacation I ever took and it was free.My husband and I poor when we got married young.Camping my favorite also.we r middle class now.My best friends in life and happiness occurred when I didn’t have money. I was fortunate enough to see life from very different times. I am living in HUD housing well below the poverty line. I have not vacationed in years. I love minimalism and I am grateful for what I have. I’m happy even though separated from husband.Funny I live in same little town we did when I first started out in marriage. I don’t have a car . I don’t have credit cards. I walk to stores. I get delivery too. I am happiest I have been in years.Money is good to have but not necessarily leads to happiness.God Bless A friend in Philly 😊

[@EllenDuke-y3d]

Thanks for sharing your experience. 🙂

[@mmcneil-smith2890]

Just started our annual family traditional campng trip with 4 other families with whom we are going 20years strong. What started out as young adults, we have now older kids whom are driving and more independent creating their own memories. Wouldn't trade this weekend annual trip for anything .

[@xpsxps1339]

Thank you, Joshua! One of my most memorable memories is from the vacation we spent under the tent on the river bank a couple of hours from the city we lived in, where our father took us one summer. He made a deal with one of his friends who also brought his son. Best vacation ever! It was a solitary place in the middle of nowhere where two men took care of three children since our moms stayed home - this was men's (and kids!) issue, lol! We ran, swam, fished, and played all day long. After such a day, nobody needed to push us to go to "bed." In the evening, we were so tired that after dinner and maybe an hour spent next to a firepit, we said goodnight and went to the sleeping bags without a word of arguing. And we slept better than at home! We ate fish our father and his friend caught. We befriended his son, though we never met them before. I was a kid, and it was long ago, but I am sure what two men and three kids spent on that vacation then, was a neglectable amount. My beloved father is not here with us anymore, but I still remember that summer we spent there together. I treasure these memories somewhere deeply in myself. It was the best time we spent with our father...

[@jennyv1423]

My siblings, cousins, and I cherish the memories of our family’s annual day trip to a local state park. We would bring a big picnic and play frisbee!

[@kimhuitt5341]

Wow! We live in the Orlando area and don’t go to Disney. There are so many more interesting and beautiful things to do.

[@valeriet.1974]

Camping every summer - sometimes just my parents and siblings, sometimes with extended family. So much fun, so many great memories! Visiting grandparents and staying with them without our parents was also so fun! Summer church fiestas and vacation bible school...not much money involved yet the experiences were priceless!!

[@cathygaultier5120]

My Grandma lived with us from the time I was 8 until 16, and then lived in a seniors lodge a few blocks away. Every summer relatives would arrive to visit, Grandma's sisters, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren. We played and visited and cooked. The kids went swimming at our outdoor pool, a half block from my house. All I can remember is the laughter of my Grandma and her people. I am the youngest grandchild and Grandma was the last of her family to go home to God on Christmas Eve when she was 98 1/2 years old. Her name was Catherine, and I am named after her.

[@WeAreBullets]

some of my best vacation memories are even just from keeping ourselves entertained in the car during the long roadtrips to visit relatives. and we did nOt have ipads or very portable video games back then. we played fun music or played puppet show or played with stuffed animals or even made a tent in the back seat 😂 while trying to not be too much of a driving distraction or visual obstacle for dad

[@slr611966]

My three grown kids were visiting during the holidays. During the visit, they asked each other about their favorite family activities. I was surprised at the results. One shared the weekly visits to the zoo to watch the otters play. We had the annual pass purchased with a coupon. The next shared our Friday night slumber party. Each child checked out a movie at the library on the way home and we slept on the living room floor watching movies. The youngest shared decorating Christmas cookies.

[@kathydecker636]

Vacation was visiting Wisconsin for the summer or Christmas. Picnicking in State Parks and having potato chips and buns for hamburgers or hotdogs. Special memories now that our parents and grandparents are gone.

[@ToolsfortheJobofLear]

My father was self-employed and we really didn’t go anywhere on vacations. However, my grandparents live next-door and they were retired farmers. Not a lot of money anywhere. My best memory of summertime was going to my grandma‘s kitchen every day and making a toy out of paper and string for the new kittens that were born each spring. Playing with them and hanging out with my grandma while she watched her soaps was the most fun I could ever have. Oh, and the smell of the apple slices she used to make.

[@YoBigRicky]

I watched this video while on a vacation like the one that Joshua describes. We did a bunch of things that we don’t normally do and had a wonderful and quite memorable time. We brought sleeping bags, stayed with friends in a couple of places and spent the night on a farm (we’re city slickers). It was fantastic. We will do it again! Thanks for the encouragement.

[@christyprendergast4751]

Definitely camping - also, visiting a resort town in the off season - fewer crowds, more space, and we still always found things to do!

[@shirleyburnham2782]

I never had a holiday as a child but have lovely memories of staying up late playing monopoly and long days down the beach with my friends and with grandparents. I don't feel like i missed out on anything xx

[@tanyapinnock2347]

Glad to hear you still had fun times.

[@susannegiesen2114]

Hey Joshua, what you mentioned about your experiences with your parents is lovely😊 But not everybody can say this. When I was a child, I had only my parents and we never went anywhere, because of no money. All my friends went away on holidays eith their parents and they wrote postcards to me or letters and I was always a bit sad. But I got used to it. When I had children of my own my ex- husband and I went on vacations with them, that we were able to pay. Mostly on the North Sea or in Austria. Or to little farms hete in Germany . It has always been lovely 😊. It was not spectacular, but we were together and had fun with swimming or playing in the sand or watching cows, cats and other animals. Lovely memories 😊😊😊 Great topic, thanks for the video👍

[@loissalumibe2846]

We also went with our family to the Austrian Alps or to the wild coast of Brittany. We always rented a house. We took many walks.

[@joannbirdsong583]

My dad owned his own business and worked six days a week, so it was hard for him to get away. When he was able to take an afternoon, or sometimes a whole day off, my mom would pack a picnic lunch and we would go somewhere maybe two or three hours away. There might be something he wanted us to see like the scenery or a lake. In the fall we would drive around looking at all the fall colors. He even took us to see the city where he grew up, driving all over showing us the places he lived when he was growing up. Wonderful memories.

[@CarmeSalzado28]

We would drive down to Lake of the Ozarks where my great aunt had a cabin and hang out with my extended family for a long weekend. The time with them was a joy, and the UNO games were epic!

[@valeried2941]

You are truly blessed. Family is everything..we had some nice vacations and those were good memories..but my best memories are backyard picnics, planting the garden, and mostly eating dinners every single night together.

[@tanyapinnock2347]

Camping in the summer holidays near the beach. Walking around the camp ground with friends, staying up late, looking at the stars, playing in the sand, water. Games of rounders or cricket, sitting eating together, taking turns to wash up. Board games at night and rainy days in the tent or someone’s caravan.

[@samuimuscle]

Here is what we did in this summer vacation for our kid. Had him with his cousin for 3 nights. Visited Porsche museum. Played urban golf. Trampoline park near by. Went to water park nearby. Flies RC plane with him at the club I am the member. Visited his grandmother altogether with his cousin. Watched movies. Walked along the lakes and had a drink together at the lake. Joined Swiss National holiday (Made Fire and fireworks)

[@texasbluebonnets8793]

The best family vacation was family reunion for a one week every summer at uncles‘s house, eating all home, baked goods and home cooked meals and 50 cousins sleeping in a huge basement playing lots of games and running around on huge farm

[@Sandy-zo2ur]

This sounds amazing

[@bettyweyerer7]

Warms my heart! My siblings and I did this summers with our children and our folks until our parents passed. Our children are carrying on the tradition with all of us: the original six siblings and "Outlaws", themselves + "Outlaws", and the next generation of grandchildren - a growing, closely woven nest of family: life's most precious gift.

[@sarahwoodall1091]

Growing up in Maryland, my family would drive to Bethany Beach, Delaware in the summer. It was only 3 hours away but it was the best time of my life! We went with another family and loved the beach, waves and boardwalk!

[@jwuertz7101]

We took simple vacations most years. Once dad's coworker gave us a great deal on renting his condo at the beach early in the week. Other times we camped. Cold cereal for breakfast, a cooler with coldcuts for sandwiches at a park for lunch and then a restaurant for dinner (nothing fancy but the AC felt amazing). Eventually inexpensive hotels found in the AAA guide was how we slept as we outgrew the tent and did an Western US trip. We have great memories of my brother running just a bit ahead on the path at devils tower and pretending to be surprised when he jumped out.

[@marlyking1972]

My most rememberable vacations are spending most summers as a child with my aunts and cousins up North. I can remember the drive from Kentucky to Illinois and waking from naps in the car and looking up at lights from the tall buildings. I knew then we were getting close to their house. I remember camping under the stars in the back yard with my cousins. It was the best ❤

[@colossus1674]

Going to the beach with home made sandwiches and potatoes chips my kids use to have a blast. We couldn't afford to eat out with family of four.

[@oxfordcreekfarm]

Camping! Definitely. Best memories every year as a kid.

[@sonjarothmund3152]

Bikerides and picknicks, daytrips to a city with a museum visit, BUT better than any "parent guided" trip was the joy of hanging out with friends all day long and not having to go to school! That was true freedom.

[@Opm0316]

You’re on point. When we went overseas last Christmas. We visited a lot of beautiful places, beaches, river cruise, etc. I asked my 6 year old daughter what she enjoyed the most, she said it’s the sleepover with her cousins.

[@kakylong2]

Joshua, Great video. My Hubby & I are celebrating our 25th anniversary on Wed. My Parents just celebrated 63 yrs last month. Growing up in East TN, our family of 7 would get in the station wagon or van & go camping every summer. We loved it. Our Dad would give us $20 two times a yr to spend. Once in the summer & once at Christmas. At Christmas we had to buy each other a little something. Other trips included going to our grandparents' house to see them our Uncles, Aunts & Cousins. Our parents would sometimes buy season passes to Silver Dollar City (Dollywood). I've never been to Disney & I've never felt that I missed out on anything. My Hubby & I still make a trip to East TN twice a year to visit my family. We still enjoy hanging out with all the family. One semi free thing our parents did with us is my Daddy would say you have 5 min to get in the car & we would go for a ride. That is still one of my favorite things my Hubby & I do together. Great memories! 😊

[@PenniestoDollars]

So true. Traveled in a station wagon with 4 kids and a tent when my kids were small. Then our family expanded to 6 kids with a conversion van and a tent and then upgraded to a pop up camper. :)

[@ruthprescott1136]

We go to WDW every other year from the uk 🇬🇧 ( 2 adults ) we take one year to save for the holiday and the other year the spending money and have the most amazing 2 weeks - can’t wait to go this year for the Christmas party xx it can be done debt free if you save up

[@lindagysin8571]

Thank you so much! Best post ever! So helpful to not define one’s families value by expensive vacations. Could you please make a video, perhaps together with your wife how to limit household tasks to a minimum ?

[@dovile.n.g]

My best holiday was going camping with my parents in Europe, sleeping in tents as a growing teenager and getting up early for dad’s breakfast porridge, then going on exploring castles, mountains, caves, lakes. One night we arrived late with the dark to a campsite, to my amazement, the next morning we woke up in the middle of the valley of High Tatras mountains, which was the first for me seeing mountains in real life. An impression i remember to this day and how for the first time in my life we hiked a tourist trail. Having this memory in mind, i took for the first time my still small kids camping this year and hope we continue on exploring the world in this way for the time-being! 😊 for reference, it was 25 years ago and i still see those mountains in my memory…and my kids are now 3 & 5 😊

[@vikieierdam5516]

Thank you so much for sharing your childhood vacation memories. They are BEAUTIFUL. Yes, they absolutely solidified the relationships you continue to enjoy today. "Experiences" have become the catch -all excuse for travel debt. The people -based memories you shared far surpass Disney, Hawaii and family cruise ship reunions.

[@peace-a]

I live 3 hours away from Orlando and used to go twice a year to the parks. No more. The prices are outrageous now even for FL residences. Plus the parking cost, food, hotels, Genie plus nonsense. Plus it's overcrowded. Plus, they close some rides when it rains and it usually rains every day in the summer and when it's not raining it's too hot. Nope. We started visiting national parks instead.

[@rimdabboussy2998]

Today, I went with my family to a trip , it cost us few dollars, but my kids were having so much fun, searching for fish at the river, swimming in the pool, with their cousins, watching us doing barbecue. Anyway, they were 10 kids, so just playing and swimming together was for them better than my trip with my kids to turkey! Can you imagine! I spend about 5000 dollars for a week in Istanbul, now each family paid just 10 dollars to swim and get a table and chairs in the nature! The trip was so cheap, but because they were with their cousins, they enjoyed everything!

[@Sixty5South]

Congratulations on 25 years!! 🥂 Such a blessing!

[@gardeninggardening9502]

For the past 7 years, my husband, 17 yo son and I drive 7 hours to Voyageurs National Park which is a park of converging lakes in MN. We stay in a cabin, cook all our own meals, rent a fishing boat and fish and talk. We even bring our dog so it’s the whole family together. We love it!

[@wendyrobinson8354]

growing up we had very little money so to go anywhere was a big deal. just going to get a swirl ice cream cone, summers riding horses with my best friend and hiking in the woods were some of my favorites. I never felt short changed though. My parents were always available and we spent time reading aloud together, making food, I helped my dad alot with outside chores. We lived on a ranch and I had no brothers, but i would not trade those special memories of closeness and being together for all the fancy hotels or trips to Disney in the world. Family lived farther away in another state but grandparents and cousins would come to visit at least once a year and i have great memories from those times too. Everyone's journey is different but I feel that kids have the best memories when their parents spend time with them and try to do some little special trips or activities that create memories. And don't discount feeling loved is most important.

[@Myworldmymind908]

Excellent video. Many times right in our own city , county or state even there's so many beautiful things / fun things to do. Alot of times what happens is , people either do not know how to be present in the moment or want to load up social media with photos to impress others . Being in the moment is the real magic

[@shirleygermain5707]

The best summer vacation was enjoying living on a lake. That was our vacation all summer. Family, cousins, and friends were always there. We never had a need to go anywhere else. We played baseball, swimming, and water skiing. Kick the can was one of our favorite games. The grown-ups played cards. We had nightly bomb fires. We were never bored. We always had barbecues and my grandma's best potato salad. I forgot about fishing with my grandparents. My grama used kernel corn to catch fish, and it always worked. Mn here.

[@bhaunana6828]

Helping uncle with activities in d pomegranate farm, fun time with extended family and lunch/dinner together in farms, spending time with dogs/cattles...r some sweet memories!👍

[@mariannehewitt6605]

I'm from London. My best childhood memories are of the family holidays to the Sussex coast, South of England which is about 1.5 hours drive away. No frills. Just a simple holiday cottage. I think about it a lot. I have since been to more "exciting" places, but they are not the same. I wouldn't have it any other way. It has taught me to appreciate simplicity.

[@Karen-pe6oc]

We camped all over New England every summer throughout my childhood. We would visit natural attractions as well as the occasional themed destination. Santa's Village - I will never forget you. 🎅🏻

[@Mimulus2717]

Ahhhh, im from Omaha and every summer we drove to Indianapolis to spend a week with my cousins staying in their home. Exactly as you describe... during the day we would visit local attractions, do crafts, play volleyball or badminton in the backyard, bake cookies. My dad would help my uncle, his brother, fo odd handyman jobs around the house. My mom snd Aunt talked up a storm. I imagine it was alot of work for my Aunt, as we were a family of 8, but we all pitched in. I remember sleeping on the floor with sleeping bags and loving it! It helped that my cousins were same gender and similar age as me, and I idolized my cousin Suzie who was 3 years older. Good times.

[@pippas5808]

Until I was around 11, every summer we used a borrowed tent to camp in a field on a friend's farm. I have so many happy memories from that time, none of which would have cost a penny - helping my friends' parents feed the animals every night, watching ducklings hatching out and the sheep being sheared and learning to milk the goat. The sandcastle competition - whose sandcastle lasted longest when the tide came in? Hunting for crabs and fish in rock pools. Meals cooked over a tiny camp stove and walking across the dew-wet field early in the morning to collect fresh milk and eggs. Curled up in our sleeping bags playing board games or reading in the evening. Picnics in the car on wet days. I know we also visited a couple of low-cost tourist attractions, but I only know that because we have photos of those outings - my actual memories are all about the free stuff with friends and family.

[@pooj306]

My most memorable childhood memories revolve around card and board games, make believe games, playing from morning to night until a parent screamed for us to get in the house, and plucking mangoes from neighbors’ trees ;)

[@paularuotsalainen8954]

When I was a child, we travelled to my grandparents and spend time in the countryside. It was fun to meet my cousins and swim together and feed the cows. Now I have my grandmas old cottage where we spend our holidays. This summer we have played cards and cut trees from our forest. My 87 year old father was with my 21 year old son and his friend. We really like to be in nature and live like old days. We carry our water from well and warm house with wood. I collect herbs from our yard and forest and berries and mushrooms. I sleep better at my cottage than at my house in the city. 😂

[@deenas7011]

We would take 2 week road trips in the car -- water only in restaurants, Goober peanut butter / jelly sandwiches in the car or Stuckey's, roadside motels. Lots of walking around cities, mountains or going to the beach. My honeymoon was only the 2nd time on an airplane and my husband's first.

[@gracemoore384]

What a lovely thing you asked people to do! When I read the comments I can feel their happiness with the memories they were telling

[@havana2banana]

Congratulations on your wedding anniversary. Something money can't buy. Much better than any Disney trip being happy in your family.

[@carrieallio5503]

Last summer our family stayed in our home state of PA and visited state parks. He hiked around and saw some truly beautiful scenery. The kids still talked about staying in a cabin (an inexpensive air b&b) and walking out the door to pick huckleberries.

[@chrischabre9382]

We used to only have 2 weeks out of the year to go on vacation when I was young. But as adults, my siblings and I still talk about those trips. We would rent a camper and travel to Northern New England and once to Nova Scotia! I’m glad to have had those experiences….

[@estherkamocherobinson7062]

Road trips with my mom and sisters traveling the US. Doing the same with my kids. 😊

[@theresaandrade5708]

I have discovered that the greatest thing I can do on vacation is to see a natural area. I don't use credit any more and I save up for my vacations. I don't see any point spending a fortune on vacations when nature is what brings the most joy. I also noticed while camping that it's cheap and close to home as well as being a lot of fun and very refreshing!

[@heatherclay8225]

I went to Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest, and it was fantastic. It is $15 for an adult $5 for kids to students tots are free. Its a great day trip for the kids. It has a sky canopy walk in the trees, a childrens garden and playground with a splash pad and a lagoon for kids to sit in on hot days. A nice serene nature walk that could last 5 hours. It was really memorable and simple. I would go there every day if it was closer to home. ❤

[@janiewerner]

The disney pools swims late at night eating a micky mouse head chocolate ice cream bar was the highlight of our stay. Nothing in the parks could compare.

[@MrsBullfinch]

We never spent what we didn't have. Our holidays were a few days in a caravan with evening walks, visiting a museum, or a forest park where the children could enjoy nature, have barbeques or a picnic and just spend time with each other. We would play board games before bed time and always had great fun. These are the things my children remember. It was the time spent together that meant the most, not what we did it where we went or how much we spent. Our children are in their twenties and we still enjoy the same things now as when they were little.