Summer 'staycations' remain popular as recovery approaches

Have you heard about the new trend in family vacations? With the economy in rough shape, more and more families are opting to "vacation at home" to make the most of their budget. The savings really add up, since the cost of family vacations can be quite high.

Airfare remains expensive, and while taking the car instead will save money, gas isn't cheap. And spending a day or two traveling each way dramatically cuts into everyone's time, to say nothing of its effect on attitude. Hotels are pricey, eating out for a week costs more than a month of groceries and tourist attractions like theme parks can put a real dent in the wallet. Instead, many savvy families are choosing a "staycation" to save money, or to put the money they do spend toward something of more lasting value.

For less than the price of a typical vacation, many families are finding that they can have more fun being at or near home, turning their backyard and local area into a vacation destination of its own, full of exciting, memorable things to do. Here are just a few to get your creative juices flowing:

* Why not plan a camping trip in the backyard? Set up the tent, roll out the sleeping bags, fire up the grill and spend a few nights roughing it. Make the house off-limits except for absolute essentials - showers not included. Grab a pile of the biggest, juiciest steaks, chicken or veggie burgers you can find and create a feast. Mix up an awesome fruit salad and roast sweet corn, too. Let everyone choose their favorite menu items and enjoy it all knowing you're spending less than half of what you would on a mediocre restaurant meal for the family.

Toast marshmallows, play flashlight tag and borrow a friend's telescope for some midnight star gazing. During the day, head to the local cinema for a matinee, and hit the ice cream place on the way home. Add in volleyball, a portable fire pit, more marshmallows and lots of stories to share. You'll be making memories every moment.

* For many families, the centerpiece of the vacation in the backyard is the addition of a new above ground pool. Think a good model will blow the staycation budget? Think again. Above ground pools cost a fraction of the price of in-ground pools. Even with the cost of pool chemicals, pool cleaners and pool liners, the cost can be significantly lower than that annual family vacation - plus you can enjoy your pool every day.

In fact, it's not unrealistic to think that for the price you used to spend on fancy family vacations, you can install a high quality above ground pool. And consider what you get. Not just a week of hit-or-miss fun, but a whole season of can't-miss fun. For your backyard vacation, there will be no frustrating travel, no trying to sleep in lumpy hotel beds while a party rocks a few doors down, no sharing the hotel pool with scads of strangers and no coming home to piles of laundry. Instead, there will be refreshing swims in the privacy of your own backyard pool, basking in the warm sun while you sip tea and read a novel in your floating lounge chair and being thrilled by the kids' excitement as they enjoy their very own pool.

And when the backyard vacation is over, the pool is still there to enjoy. Its inviting waters will deliver a cool finish to an afternoon of hot yard work, an eye-opening morning splash before heading to work or a romantic late-night dip.

Rethinking the family vacation and planning a "staycation" to break in the new above ground pool is the choice that many families will make this year, maximizing both their budget and their fun.

Courtesy of ARAcontent