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Family Travels on a Budget

Family Travels on a Budget shares the best family vacations on a budget, large or small. Discover affordable family vacations: Theme park vacations, cruising, historic travel, adventure travel and more.

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Home » Uncategorized

The 7 Day Cruise Packing List: An essential cruise wardrobe guide

March 6, 2023 by Karen Dawkins 88 Comments

Updated March 2023 Knowing what to pack for a 7 day cruise can be overwhelming, especially for first time cruisers, so a cruise packing checklist like we have here really helps. With this cruise packing checklist, you will know how to pack for a 7 day Caribbean cruise so so you don’t forget the important […]

Filed Under: cruising, Packing, travel tips, Uncategorized

Non-beachy stuff to do in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

February 21, 2023 by Karen Dawkins 2 Comments

dunes at gulf state park in Alabama

Updated February 2023 When you plan a beach vacation, you might picture long, lazy days on the beach, soaking up the sun and playing in the surf. But, as much fun as the beachy stuff is, you might need to make other plans. Whether you need things to do in Gulf Shores on a rainy […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Tips to visit Carolina Harbor Waterpark in Charlotte

June 13, 2022 by Karen Dawkins 4 Comments

Carolina Harbor Waterpark at Carowinds

Carolina Harbor Waterpark in Charlotte is part of the Carowinds Theme Park. The water park celebrates the culture of the Carolina coast with more than 28 attractions for families and thrill seekers. The 26 acre water park also offers resort-style amenities like luxury cabanas and restaurants offering Carolina cuisine. The cabanas at Carowinds are located […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Colonial America: Explore Fort Ligonier

November 24, 2021 by Karen Dawkins 9 Comments

Fort Ligonier with British Flag and mountains behind

Long before Ligonier, PA was the adorable town it is today…. Long before the town square with its gazebo and shops… Long before we were the United States of America… Fort Ligonier staked a British claim for Colonial America on this beautiful, mountainous region in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. Fort Ligonier: A Laurel Highlands Must See […]

Filed Under: History, Interests, Pennsylvania, Uncategorized, USA

Fun things to do with kids in Tampa

April 20, 2021 by Karen Dawkins 23 Comments

Tampa Riverwalk at sunset

There are so many fun things to do with kids in Tampa, Florida. Whether planning a weekend escape or a whole week, Tampa has something for everyone in the family to enjoy. From Busch Gardens Tampa for thrills to leisurely strolls on the Tampa Riverwalk, there’s loads of family fun in Tampa. Family things to […]

Filed Under: Destinations, Florida, Interests, Kid Fun, Teens and Tweens, Travel guides, Uncategorized, USA

New traditions: Holiday lights in Raleigh, NC

December 11, 2020 by Karen Dawkins 6 Comments

While 2020 has not shaped up to be a great one for traveling, it’s given us a chance to discover the fun and excitement of local travel. Maybe the Christkindl Markets in Germany are out of reach this year, but there’s great joy to discover closer to home. Here in the Triangle — an area […]

Filed Under: Kid Fun, North Carolina, Uncategorized

Road trip tips: Surviving “Are we there yet?”

May 4, 2020 by 20 Comments

road trip tips

Thinking of going on a roadtrip with kids? It can be overwhelming! A reader asked, “My family wants to visit Vancouver, BC. Any suggestions on where to start finding things to do. It will be me and my little ones, yikes! We will be driving for about 16 hours to get there, and staying for […]

Filed Under: Roadtrips, travel tips, Uncategorized

Girls’ Getaway to Charlottesville!

April 5, 2020 by Karen Dawkins Leave a Comment

Girls’ weekend getaways are a great way for friends to unplug from everyday life and recharge. Girlfriend getaways have certainly grown in popularity in recent years with lots of great girls trip ideas across the world! On a girls’ weekend getaway to Charlottesville, I got together with three other bloggers. Our girlfriend getaway was part […]

Filed Under: Girlfriend Getaways, Uncategorized

6 top tips for a family road trip

February 5, 2019 by Karen Dawkins 2 Comments

A road trip is the perfect way to bond as a family, as there’s nothing but you guys and the open road for miles at a time. But, it can also feel quite daunting when you consider that you’re all going to be cooped up in one vehicle for hours at a time. To ensure […]

Filed Under: Roadtrips, Uncategorized

5 reasons to visit Niagara Falls, NY

October 29, 2018 by Karen Dawkins 7 Comments

  Ellie and I were hosted by the Niagara Falls CVB to learn about the area for purposes of writing these articles. All opinions are our own.  Read my full disclosure policy here.  To prepare Ellie for our trip to Niagara Falls, I showed her pictures of the falls. She thought they looked neat, but […]

Filed Under: Kid Fun, New York, Uncategorized

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Meet Karen Dawkins

An avid traveler, I enjoy discovering new places: history, culture, and adventure. I love it all! Well, not bugs. I don’t like bugs very much, so I probably won’t visit a bug museum.

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