How to Save Money on Food During a Vacation

We recently took a week-long trip to San Diego with a family of seven. We spent enough money on plane tickets and amusement park admissions, that we needed to save money elsewhere! Here are a few things we did to save money on food, 'cuz hungry travelers are not happy travelers! :)

1. Bring a picnic lunch or dinner for the plane trip. We took off at 4 pm, landed at 7, and didn't have anywhere to buy food since we weren't changing planes. We brought sack dinners and put each child's food in their own backpacks. We also brought empty water bottles to fill up after we passed through security.

2. Stay somewhere with cooking facilities. We had a condo with a full kitchen, so we cooked most of our meals there. I made a menu plan before we left home, and made a shopping list, too. Usually when we drive, I bring most of our food premade, but that wasn't possible for this trip. I did bring a few spices and other dry goods to save money. Here was our dinner menu, and what I brought:

*Spaghetti, french bread, frozen veggies (I brought some dehydrated veggies to add to bottled pasta sauce, and bought the rest)
*Burritos (I brought a mexican spice blend for the beans)
*Quinoa, Roasted Yams, Broccoli (I brought the quinoa)

The other four nights were sack dinner on the plane, Sunday dinner at relatives, a dinner out, and leftovers the last night.

3. If you only have a microwave and fridge in your hotel room, there are still possibilities! Once we drove from Utah to Arizona for a week-long trip. I brought along a crockpot and made some of our favorite meals in that. Before we switched to a vegan diet, I bought tubs of shredded BBQ meat and buns for sandwiches, you can buy frozen steamable veggies, or even cans of soup!

4. We packed lunches for our daily activities. If you have a full fridge, mini-fridge, or cooler with ice that you have to refill every day (yup, done that!) then it's easy to keep lunch fixings around. Sandwiches, chips & salsa, crackers & stuff, fruit, veggies... and it saves a lot. Our last day in Legoland we were all sick of peanut butter sandwiches, so I thought we'd splurge and eat lunch at the park. Well, the prices were ridiculous! It was $10 a meal, $7-8 for a kids meal, and it wasn't anything special. It would have cost $50-60 just for a meager lunch, so we made do with our snacks.

5. If you plan ahead for restaurant dinners, you can save money eating out, too. We bought a restaurant.com gift certificate for a Chinese restaurant about halfway between Sea World and the condo where we were staying, planning to go out after a long day at the park since I knew we would be too tired to cook. We paid $2 for the $25 gift certificate, and ended up paying about $25 total for a huge, delicious, fairly healthy dinner. We've done this before and love getting REAL food for less than a fast food restaurant would cost. But you have to plan ahead a bit. You can also buy an Entertainment book for the area you're traveling to, which often includes restaurant & attraction coupons.

6. Don't buy drinks. Bring water bottles and refill them.

7. Make a plan that works for your family and your situation, and be flexible. We didn't feel deprived because we did go out to eat a couple times, and we bought Granny's Apple Fries at Legoland as a treat. I cooked simple meals and bought convenience foods--frozen veggies instead of fresh, bottled pasta sauce instead of making it from scratch, canned beans instead of dried. It wasn't hard to come "home" and cook because I had everything I needed, and I knew the kids would eat it and be happy. And so would my wallet. :)

P.S. I have to give credit to my mom for her example of this when I was growing up--we always brought food or had a menu planned out. She taught me well. :)

Crater Lake National Park

What: Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
When: August 2009
Why: The only National Park in Oregon, one of the world's most beautiful lakes

We camped here for 3 nights at the Mazama Campground. It's a very large, very crowded place. You don't pick a site when you make a reservation. We ended up at the very far end of the campground and about 1/5 mile from the bathrooms (bad with small children!) If we had been smart, we would have requested a different spot. It was nice to be at the end and have places for the kids to go play, though!

There are showers (pay with quarters) and laundry facilities here (2 washers and 2 dryers). And a store with very expensive food, and a restaurant.

This is why you go, though:
It's really, really beautiful. Nothing like it. So blue!!!

There are really 3 levels to view the lake. The first is from the Rim drive. You drive all the way around, stop at pullouts and take pictures. You can stop at the visitor center by the lodge and shop and it's lovely. It will take a couple hours to drive all the way around. You can also drive out to the Pinnacles, which we didn't get a chance to.

The second is from the lake level. Which means you have to hike down to the water. There is only one trail to the water and it's long and steep, but my kids (4, 4, 5 and 7) all did just fine. It ends at Cleetwood Cove, which is where the boat tours leave. We took a boat ride and let me say, it was perhaps the best experience of the whole trip. It's pricey! but worth it. Bring snacks and water--treats to bribe small hikers on the way back up are a good idea, too. There are restrooms by the boat dock. If you're going on the boat ride, make sure to buy your tickets AT THE TOP. They don't sell them at the bottom! You can swim in the lake, or drink from it--it's very clear and cold and beautiful!! The boat ride is long and narrated and you'll get wet. We were cold the first half because of the wind and spray, but the second half we got nice and warm. You can see snow along the shore, and waterfalls, and you drive around Wizard Island and the Phantom Ship. It's just a whole different thing to see it from the water level. Awesome. The 3rd level is from one of the surrounding peaks. There are a few different hikes, but we chose the shortest. It wasn't bad at all. The views were great, you could go in the ranger's fort/fire lookout, and get great views of the mountains around you. We could even see Mt. Shasta!


There is also a Jr Ranger program here that the kids did--booklets again. They also attended a Jr Ranger program at our campground where a ranger led them in different activities and this was a lot of fun. Many parks have these, we just hadn't done one yet. They earned badges and had a good time. There were also ranger programs each night on different topics, with slides, etc. in the amphitheater. We went to one and it was good.

Crater Lake is just amazing. It's a long way from any cities--Klamath Falls is about 45 minutes, so if you go you should plan to stay at the park for at least a night. And save your pennies so you can take a boat tour, it really is worth it!

Redwood National and State Parks

What: Redwood National and State Parks, northern California along Hwy 101
When: August 2009
Why: The Redwoods are found nowhere else--they are truly amazing. This was a great start to a weeklong family vacation.

What you should know: The Redwoods National and State Parks are very spread out. It's not just one park with one entrance. There are 3? state parks and several hikes and roads and areas that you can explore.

It's great for kids. I repeat, it's GREAT for kids. There are lots of short hikes, creeks, the ocean, the trees, big trunks you can climb up and walk around and it's just a really fun place!

I recommend you start at the Information Center in Crescent City, or maybe at Prairie Creek or Jed Smith state parks (the north and south ones). You need a map and some advice from a ranger on where to go to meet your family's goals.

We had a great little walk through the woods at Jedediah Smith park along Hwy 199. It's flat, maybe a mile long, and had lots to climb on and explore.

Another day we drove along Hwy 101 and an old highway right along the coastal cliffs. That was fun, too--we found a little-known trail and just went exploring!

Our favorite was Fern Canyon. You've got to go here! It's a short hike and lots of fun, and beautiful! It's a long dirt road out to the beach and then up to the canyon parking area--you have to drive through some creeks! Then you hike up the creek and the walls are covered with ferns. It's where they filmed some of Jurassic Park. There are bridges to cross the creek and the kids had a blast.
We also saw Big Tree (a short hike, the kids didn't really care) and we wanted to go to Lady Bird Johnson Grove but didn't have time. There really is a lot to see and do, and it's one of the best places to take kids. There are no entrance fees except for Prairie Creek State Park. There are several campsites. There's a Jr Ranger program--it's a hard booklet! Don't wait for the last minute for that one (ahem, speaking from experience).

The Redwoods were amazing. I hope you go and enjoy it as much as we did!

Del Norte State Park, California

What: Del Norte State Park, California
When: August 2009
Why: We camped here for 4 nights while visiting the Redwoods.

This was our campsite:

The park is kind of in the middle of nowhere. It's 20 minutes or so south of Crescent City, and at least that far north of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. It's got redwoods, but not old growth.

There are bear lockers for your food:
There are tons of campsites. It's a long drive off the freeway to get to the campsites--at least 10 minutes. There are different size tent pads, and varying degrees of privacy. Ours was up about 20 stairs and very private. Even over a summer weekend, it wasn't crowded at all. The bathrooms are decent. There are some showers (bring quarters). They sell firewood. There are ranger programs here on some nights. There isn't much here besides a campground--you have to drive to see the major Redwoods parks/sites/hikes.

Verdict: Nice campground. Far away from everything. If we went back, I'd stay at Prairie Creek State Park. It's got a visitor center and is closer to the southern hikes and sights. Then you could take one day to drive north and see Crescent City area stuff, Jed Smith Park, etc.

Wildlife Safari, Winston, Oregon

What: Wildlife Safari, Winston, Oregon (near Roseburg)
When: August 2009
Why: We were driving from Portland to the Redwoods in No. California and needed a nice lunch stop.
How Much: $$ a lot? There is a base price for admission, and you get a 50% discount if you're a Hogle Zoo member. Then there are a bunch of other special experiences they want you to pay more for--like a train ride, a camel ride, feeding sitka deer or other animals, and special encounters with bears, cheetahs, tigers, etc. It was a little annoying, actually!

Basically, there is a kiosk to pay along the road, a little booth. It can get pretty backed up. Then you can stop at the village to see some animals in cages, flamingos, buy food, ride the train, and use the restrooms. There was a "farm" area and you could buy food to feed donkeys, etc. The best part here was the cheetahs you could see up close, because later this is all you see:

Yep, that's Lover's Lane. Where the cheetahs live and breed. They have a great breeding program here, and do great things. You just don't really get to see them!

The Village also has a playground, but if you're in a rush don't let your kids see it!

Then you get in your car and drive through the park. You go slow and see a lot of animals. If you're nice, you might let your kids out of their carseats or buckles to stand up and look out your rooftop window. Or if you're me, you don't.

You'll drive past lions, bears, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, antelope, monkeys, elephants (you can pay extra for an elephant to wash your car!) and more. All the dangerous animals are in cages:


It really is neat. Make sure you look at your map to know what you're seeing. You can drive through the park twice if you want. It really does take a LONG time. It took us about 1.5 hours. We still had a long drive to our campsite, so we didn't go back through.

We did ride the camels at the beginning. I didn't know what I was getting into because while driving there, we started talking about animals and zoos and how once I took 2 of the kids on a camel ride but the others were too scared...and I promised that the next time we had the chance, they could all have a camel ride. 15 minutes later I had to make good on that promise! Prices are per person, and the ride only lasts a few minutes. I took pictures and my husband took my youngest 2 kids with him. It really is neat...just make sure you are planning on it if you walk by! We didn't go on the train ride, so I can't tell you how it was, but overall it was a nice place and a neat experience.
I would just not recommend this as a stopping place to break up a long driving day, because you have to spend so much time in your car driving through the park! It's near Roseburg, along I-5, maybe 15 minutes off the freeway. Fun for kids and animal lovers!

Oregon Caves National Monument

What: Oregon Caves National Monument
When: March 2010
Where: This National Monument is along highway 199, between Crescent City, California and Grants Pass, Oregon. It's about 45 minutes off the highway, up a windy and narrow mountain.

We went in late March just after the monument opened for the season (it's closed Dec-March because of snow and hibernating bats in the cave!)

Kids must be at least 42 inches tall to go on a cave tour. Prices were $8.50 for adults, $6 for kids. It's free for 4 people with an America the Beautiful Annual Pass, which is $80 and definitely worth it! Just off Hwy 199 (there's a sign to tell you where to turn) is an information center. We stopped here and picked up park brochures. You can also measure children here to make sure they're tall enough before you drive all the way up the mountain!

We arrived about 12:30. You have to park and walk 900 yards to the buildings. You then buy tickets for a tour time. They depart at least 15 minutes apart. We had to wait about 90 minutes. There was plenty of waiting room in the Visitor Center. We got Junior Ranger booklets for the kids and that took some time. They also have videos playing in another room, which entertained my children for a long time.

Beware that you can't take any bag larger than a fanny pack through the cave. There are lockers available by the visitor center (take a quarter for a deposit!) Plan to be gone about 2 hours, 2.5 if you take the Cliff Nature Trail back (the longer way). Be sure to drink and snack before you leave!

The cave is cold, about 44 degrees, so wear a hoodie or jacket. (They did have jackets to borrow at the visitor center.) I had a t-shirt, sweatshirt and light jacket and was plenty warm. Gloves or mittens would be a great idea. And good shoes--it's wet and slippery. It's about .6 miles, but you have to stay with your ranger guide. Groups of up to 15 people go together. There are 504 stairs. If you get scared, claustrophic, sick, cold, etc. there is an exit about 1/3 of the way through, but you can't go back in.

You can bring your camera and use a flash inside. You can't touch the rocks.


How your tour goes depends on your ranger. Our tour had 8 kids and 8 adults, and the ranger still geared it to the adults. I felt like we were rushed from room to room and then had to stand around and listen to somewhat boring scientific facts. If I did it again, I'd hope to go more slowly and to have the ranger point out neat stuff you can see, like all the types of formations that the kids learn about in their Junior Ranger books! Moonmilk, cave popcorn, drapery rocks...
This is the Chalet. It was closed until May.
There is a nice Jr Ranger program here. There are 3 different books for different ages, 6 & under, 7-10, and 11-??. They had to do 3 activities plus a tour, or a couple other options I can't remember. When finished they get a badge and a 15% off coupon for the visitor center store! Sweet!

Also, they have special badges if you hike a trail. There are 3 trails. The Cliff Nature Trail is the shortest. It really is a lovely area--next time maybe we'll camp and do more hiking. There is lodging at the chalet and there are 2 campgrounds in the forest/monument, although both were still closed at the end of March. The nearest town, Cave Junction, had lots of restaurants, gas stations, stores, etc.

I think the Caves are a perfect stop between the Redwoods and Crater Lake. Spend 3 days at the Redwoods in California, 1-2 days at the Oregon Caves, and 2-3 days at Crater Lake. Perfect vacation!!!

Valley of the Rogue State Park

We stayed in a yurt at the Valley of the Rogue State Park, near Grants Pass in Southern Oregon.

Pros: The yurt is really cool. In the off-season it was $27 a night. It has a single/double bunkbed and a double futon. It's heated (you adjust the temp), has 3 windows, a covered porch, lights inside and a light outside, and it feels big and comfortable. Our family of 6 was very comfortable here. (We did bring an airbed for the grownups because the green mattresses aren't very comfy.)



You do need to sweep and clean the yurt a little when you leave. You get a key from the camp hosts.

Other Pros: The bathroom was close to the yurts and had free showers. There's a water faucet right in your campsite, so you don't have to walk far to get water either. There are trees for shade and lots of grass. The campsites aren't too close to each other--we felt like there was enough privacy. We were in F-49.

Cons: It's RIGHT by I-5 and you can definitely hear the freeway. The bathrooms weren't heated much, and the mens showers had little or no hot water (they were trying to fix a pilot light problem). There were lots of very loud birds that could be annoying when they wake you up at the crack of dawn...

Sorry, I didn't take a picture of the area (bad!) but it was nice. It's less than 2 hours to drive to Crater Lake or Oregon Cave National Monument, both of which are very cool. It's also close to Grants Pass, Medford and Ashland. We chose this park because it had a yurt available when we wanted to go, and we were happy with our experience in late March.