The Money Corner: Spring break staycation
Traveling can be a major source of stress, both logistically and financially — and for vacations, that’s the exact opposite of what you’re trying to achieve. Add kids to the mix, and it can get exponentially harder. Luckily, we live in one of the country’s best staycation destinations. This week, I want to share how to plan and execute the perfect staycation right here in Kansas City. https://www.visitkc.com/
Adventures Inside City Limits
My favorite place to stay overnight is the Great Wolf Lodge at Legends http://www.greatwolf.com/kansascity/waterpark. My family and I typically go in January when it is too cold outside to do much else. The kids love the atmosphere, story time, and of course, the awesome indoor water park! There’s also a spa where mom or dad can unwind by making an appointment with a massage therapist. If you prefer your therapy in the form of retail, the wide variety of outlet stores should satisfy both your wardrobe and your wallet. But only if you have money budgeted to buy new clothes.
The hotels around Crown Center are also great for families. There, you can explore LEGOLAND or the Sea Life Aquarium https://www.visitsealife.com/kansas-city/. Also, you could check out Science City or one of the traveling exhibits at Union Station, only a short walk away.
A Great View
If the weather shapes up and proves too nice to be spent indoors, Kansas City has a lot to offer in the way of fresh air and fun. The Kansas City Zoo http://www.kansascityzoo.org/visit/plan is open year round and is an awesome way to stretch your legs after a long winter. While the zoo does have concession stands and restaurants, you can save money by packing your own lunch.
Kansas City also boasts some of the area’s finest outdoor parks and gardens. After you’ve finished a tour at the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum or taken a historical walk through the WWI Museum, you can explore the beautiful grounds surrounding these KC institutions. Powell Gardens http://www.powellgardens.org/kids has family-friendly exhibits and events planned all year round, and if you have some scouts in your family, they can even earn badges on their staycation.
For older kids, I recommend checking out The Steamboat Arabia Museum. If you go over the weekend, you can also stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables at the City Market http://thecitymarket.org. There’s also a pretty notable variety of restaurants in this area so you can sample everything from a Cajun po’boy, Brazilian sandwiches or Vietnamese pho. Follow your stomach and you can get your lunch on a global scale – without leaving KC.
There are many memories to be made with the family when kids are off school. Don’t let the pressure and cost of traveling or making plans stop you! As you can see there are plenty of other options on the cheap!
Kat's Money Corner is posted on Dollars & Sense every Tuesday. Tina Mapes is an assistant branch manager with CommunityAmerica Credit Union. For more financial chatter, click http://twitter.com/savinmavens.
This story was originally published March 10, 2015 at 2:00 AM with the headline "The Money Corner: Spring break staycation."