Plan a Staycation: Enjoy Your City on a Budget

I've joined bloggers from all across the country to compile budget-friendly ideas and activities for your summer travels. So whether you are traveling far or staying local, check out this list and have an awesome trip!

Mid Atlantic

NW (or all), Connecticut :: Parenting Miracles

Boston (or all), Massachusetts :: Maven of Savin

Central, New Jersey :: Our Good LIfe

Adirondak Mountains and Central, New York :: For This Season

Buffalo/Niagara Falls, New York :: Ann's Entitled Life

Syracuse, New York :: I am THAT lady

Erie, Pennsylvania :: Growing Kids Ministry

Greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania :: Family Balance Sheet

Hershey, Pennsylvania :: Good Deal Mama

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania :: Beyond the Cover

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania :: The Coupon "High"

Poconos, Pennsylvania :: Bucktown Bargains

Scranton, Pennsylvania :: Bucktown Bargains

Midwest

Des Moines, Iowa :: Make the best of everything

Aurora, Illinois :: A Savings WOW!

Central, Illinois :: The Homeschool Scientist

Chicago, Illinois :: Chicagoland Homeschool Network

Naperville, Illinois :: The Sensible Mom

Schaumburg, Illinois :: Ravings By Rae

Fort Wayne, Indiana :: Simplified Saving

Indianapolis, Indiana (Metro Area) :: In Good Cents

Muncie, Indiana (Central IN) :: the daisyhead

Northern Indiana :: So Dough Savvy

Kansas City Area :: Kansas City Mamas

Metro Detroit, Michigan :: Saving Dollars and Sense

Grand Rapids, Michigan :: Give Me Neither

Oakland County, Michigan :: Bargain Shopper Mom

Minneapolis, Minnesota :: Creative Couponing

Rural Minnesota (either Southern our Lake Country) :: Mommysavers.com

St. Cloud, Minnesota :: Frugal Finders

Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas :: Kosher on a Budget

Springfield, Missouri :: Getting Freedom

Cincinnati, Ohio :: Family Friendly Cincinnati

Columbus, Ohio :: Cleverly Simple

Dayton, Ohio :: Savings Lifestyle: Dayton

Mansfield, Ohio :: The Traveling Praters

NE Ohio :: Raising Lifelong Learners

Northeast Ohio (Canton, Akron, Cleveland) :: Sisters Shopping on a Shoestring

Black Hills, South Dakota :: Little House Living

South Dakota :: Moms Mustard Seeds

Oshkosh, Wisconsin :: Adventures of a Stay at Home Mom

Mountain

Phoenix, Arizona :: Mom Endeavors

Scottsdale, Arizona :: Saving For Someday

Tucson, Arizona :: Desert Chica Ramblings

Colorado Springs, Colorado :: The Greenbacks Gal

Denver, Colorado :: Bargain Blessings

Helena, Montana :: The WiC Project

Omaha, Nebraska :: Mom Endeavors

Reno, Nevada - Lake Tahoe (Northern Nevada) :: Saving in Nevada

Pacific

Fresno, California (Central Valley) :: NerdFamily Blog

Los Angeles, California :: Savings.com

San Diego, California :: Good Cheap Eats

San Diego, California :: Life as MOM

Portland, Oregon :: Frugal Living NW

Seattle, Washington :: Thrifty NW Mom

South Atlantic

Arkansas :: Discovering Arkansas

Washington, DC :: Kidventurous

Clearwater Beach, Florida :: Bargain Briana

Jacksonville, Florida :: Saving The Family Money

Southwest Florida (Ft. Myers area) :: Chaos Is Bliss

St. Augustine, Florida :: Simply St. Augustine

Tallahassee, Florida :: SwagGrabber

Atlanta, Georgia (metro area) :: Hodgepodge

Atlanta, Georgia (metro area) :: The Couponing Couple

Annapolis, Maryland :: The Happy Housewife

Hagerstown, Maryland :: Cheryl Pitt

Asheville, North Carolina :: Paradise Praises

Charlotte, North Carolina :: from our front porch lookin' in...

Raleigh/Southeastern, North Carolina :: Upside Down Homeschooling

Upstate South Carolina :: The Tween & Me

Charlottesville, Virginia :: How to Have it All

Richmond, Virginia :: Teachers of Good Things

Smithfield, Virginia :: Walking in High Cotton

Virginia Beach, Virginia :: The Coupon Challenge

South Central

Coastal Alabama :: Meet Penny

Huntsville, Alabama :: The Traveling Praters

Northern Kentucky :: Simply Sherryl

Chattanooga, Tennessee :: Living Chic on the Cheap

East Tennessee (Smoky Mountains, Knoxville) :: Finding Joy on the Journey

Nashville, Tennessee :: Montessori Tidbits

Arlington, Texas :: Grocery Shop For FREE

Austin, Texas (Hill Country) :: Ponder the Path

College Station, Texas :: How to Homeschool My Child

Dallas, Texas :: Surviving The Stores

East Dallas, Texas :: Funky Faith Girl

Fort Worth, Texas :: Coupons & Freebies Mom

Houston, Texas :: MomsToolbox

Houston, Texas :: MyLitter

Katy, Texas :: Moms Confession

McAllen, Texas (Rio Grande Valley) :: iLoveMy5Kids

San Antonio, Texas :: Melissa's Bargains



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Explore Harrisburg PA This Summer

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Are you making plans to visit the Pennsylvania state capital of Harrisburg this summer?

I grew up in central PA, home to the state capital city of Harrisburg. Harrisburg and its surrounding communities offer a variety of summer activities that will make your trip exciting, fun, and educational, but not expensive. There is something for everyone to enjoy.

Historical and Educational Activities

Take a tour of a National Historic Landmark, the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Built in 1906, the "Capitol's centerpiece is a spectacular 272-foot, 52 million-pound dome inspired by Michelangelo’s design for St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome".

Not far from the Capitol is the State Museum of Pennsylvania. The State Museum offers "four floors of exhibits that represent Pennsylvania's story, from Earth's beginning to the present", a Planetarium and the 'hands on' play area, Curiosity Connection, for children 5 and under. Admission is $4-$5.

Also located downtown is the Whitaker Center , that offers an IMAX theater, Science Center, and a performance theater. The science center is 3 floors of exhibits, experiments and programs. It also offers a play/imagination area just for kids under 5. Prices for the IMAX theater range from $8 - $13.75, depending on your age and the movie. Prices for the science center range from $12.50 - $16, depending on age as well. If you are local, consider buying a year long membership for unlimited access to the Science Center and other benefits. The performance theater is an intimate venue that hosts everything from national acts to local performers. Prices vary depending on the act.

The National Civil War Museum, as stated on the website, is "the only museum in The United States that portrays the entire story of the American Civil War. Equally balanced presentations are humanistic in nature without bias to Union or Confederate Causes." Admission prices range from $8-$10, depending on age. There is a $35 family pass available for 2 adults and up to 3 students(immediate family members).

For more Civil War history, the historic town of Gettysburg, PA is about 38 miles south of Harrisburg.

For more military history, visit the Army Heritage and Educational Center located west of Harrisburg, in Carlisle.

The Oakes Museum of Natural History is located at Messiah College, just outside of Harrisburg. It houses a collection of Smithsonian-quality African and North American mammals, bird eggs, fish, seashells, minerals, insects and fossils. An anchor of the museum is the 200-specimen collection of African mammals, the largest of its kind in Pennsylvania, which features 75 full mounts, including an elephant, hippopotamus, zebra, giraffe and forest nyala. It is only open on Saturdays from 1 - 5pm. The admission is $6 for adults, $3.50 for ages 4-12, and children 3 and under are free.

Visit The Pennsylvania National Fire Museum in Harrisburg to view a collection of artifacts from the hand-drawn equipment of yesterday to the modern tools of today. The museum is housed in an 1899 Victoria fire house.

Outdoor Festivals

2013 Patriot-News Artsfest - This juried arts festival runs May 25-27 over the Memorial Day weekend at Harrisburg Riverfront Park, along the Susquehanna River. Walk along the river and peruse the artists' booths, choose from a wide variety of food vendors and enjoy live music throughout the three days. There is no admission charge, but you might have to pay to park at a nearby parking garage.

85th Annual Jubilee Day - the largest, longest running one day street fair on the East coast. Date: June 20, 2013 from 10 am to 9 pm. Location: downtown Mechanicsburg. Admission: FREE. The event features wares from local artists and craftsmen, as well as great food, fun games, and  amusement rides.

The Kipona Celebration runs over Labor Day weekend and is right along the Susquehanna River. Admission: FREE. Activities include Artfest featuring 150 different artists and craftspersons, live music and entertainment, Chili Cookoff, Classic Canoe race, a traditional Indian Pow Wow, and SO much more.

Amusement Parks and Zoos

Hershey Park -Located about 14 miles east of Harrisburg. From roller coasters and water rides to kiddie rides and music shows, there really is something for every one at Hershey Park. Other attractions at the Park are ZooAmerica and Chocolate World. Tickets are pricey, but discounted ones can usually be found at Giant Food Stores. Or head there later in the day and purchase a Sunset Admission ticket. You'll save money, yet still have 4 hours to enjoy the park. Picnic lunches and food are not permitted inside the park.

Dutch Wonderland is located about 40 miles east of Harrisburg, the heart of Amish Country/ Lancaster County. It is a great park geared more towards children ages 12 and under. Food is not permitted inside the park, but there is a Family Picnic Pavilion right outside the park. Old Mill Stream campground is also right outside the park, within walking distance. We had our first camping experience at Old Stream a few years ago. The Amish visit on Saturday mornings with a horse drawn carriage filled with delicious baked goods for sale.

If you're in the mood for some shopping, 2 large outlets, Tanger Outlets and Rockvale Outlets are just down the street from the Dutch Wonderland.

Twenty five miles north of Harrisburg resides Lake Tobias Wildlife Park , a home to herds of wild and exotic animals from all over the world. From a Safari tour to a petting zoo and reptile exhibit, this park is a fun destination for the whole family.

Another park north of the city is Knoebels Amusement Resort. It is the largest free-admission park in America; you pay by the ride and the rides range from .75 - $2.25. Along with over 50 rides, the resort also offers a campground, a 900,000 galloon pool with water slides and diving boards, and a golf course.  Personally, we have never been there, we have heard nothing but good things about the park, the campground and the whole experience.

The Great Outdoors

If you are looking for a place to walk, run, bike, or bird watch, visit Wildwood Park on the outskirts of downtown Harrisburg. The park features 6 miles of trails and a nature center.

Are you a sports fan? Visit Harrisburg's City Island, right in the middle of the Susquehanna River, and catch a Harrisburg Sentators game, the city's AA pro baseball team. Or check out a professional soccer game with the Harrisburg City Islanders, a member of the United Soccer League. The island also offers other activities, such as an arcade, batting cages, miniature golf, a train, and The Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat cruises.

The Hershey Gardens is spread over 23 acres and includes the Butterfly House, Children's Garden, and many other themed gardens. Tickets range from $7 to $10, depending on age, but children under 3 are free.

Gifford Pinchot State Park is located south of Harrisburg. It offers hiking trails, swimming, boating, picnicking, camping and so much more.

Have you visited Central Pennsylvania? What are your plans this summer? Will you be traveling or staying close to home? Let us know in the comments.

Are you headed somewhere else this summer? Find more ways to enjoy your destination on a budget.

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8 Tips to Help You Save Money While On Vacation

The school year is winding down and I find myself day dreaming of sand, surf and our upcoming summer vacation. I'm usually jolted back to reality by the sound of the bus brakes as they squeak to a stop. Less than five more weeks of the mad morning dash to make it to the bus stop on time and then we'll start counting down the days until our summer vacation.

Our summer destination of choice is the beach. Every year, we split the rent on a beach condo with other family members to make a week away affordable for everyone involved. The good news is that we are usually still on speaking terms at the end of the week.

We look forward all year to our summer vacation, so the last thing that we want to do is stress about the money spent while on our trip.

A little up front planning will help you save money while on your trip, so that you can have the relaxed vacation that you've been waiting for.

8 Tips to Help You Save Money While On Vacation

1. Use Cash

Using only cash while on vacation will force you to question each purchase, especially when it comes to spending money on unnecessary souvenirs--you won't want to waste your cash. Do you really need another coffee mug or t-shirt? We also don’t want to come home to a credit card bill. I want to remember my vacation through our photos, not our receipts.

It's not too late to raise some spending money if you haven't been setting it aside. We plan on participating in our neighborhood's yard sale next month to raise our vacation funds. Also, have your kids save their own money for their souvenirs. We told our daughters that they could set up a lemonade stand at the yard sale to earn their spending money.

2. Make a list of expenditures.

Your planning starts with your destination. How long will your travel time be? Does your rental have a kitchen? Will you have laundry facilities? How much can you pack in your vehicle? Are there reliable grocery stores at your destination? Are their excursions and activities that you want to do, but will cost additional money?

Brainstorm all of the expenditures that you will have and make a list.

3. Create A Budget.

Everyone’s vacation destination and expectations will be different. Maybe you don’t want to cook at all during your vacation or maybe eating out for every meal is beyond what your budget can handle. What activities will be available where you are going?

Sit down with your family and brainstorm what everyone's expectations will be while on vacation.

4. Create a Meal Plan.

Food is usually our the biggest expenditure during our vacation and thankfully our beach condo will have a kitchen. We travel with my extended family, so my mom and I will sit down before the trip and talk about a meal plan.

Before your trip, calculate the number of meals during your trip and decide how many will be eaten in and how often you will dine out. Include breakfasts, lunches, dinners and even snacks in your planning. We will be gone for 7 days. We'll eat breakfast in our rental on 5 of those days and take turns the other two days picking up some freshly baked cinnamon rolls at a nearby bakery. Oh my, I can smell and taste them now!

For lunch, we usually pack a cooler with food each day that we are at the beach and eat out somewhere for lunch on the one day when we need a sun-break.

For dinner, we'll plan to eat in on 5 nights and eat out 2 nights. Everyone will have at least one night to cook for the entire crowd and the other nights, we'll collaborate on a meal. Usually there is enough leftovers for the last night to be a ‘clean out the fridge’ night.

We'll plan the menu weeks before we leave, so I can do most of my grocery shopping at home instead of our vacation spot where prices are more expensive. Also, by planning ahead I can take advantage of sales. Our beach condo has a grill so I usually grill chicken or burgers for my dinner night. In the past, I've made tacos, lasagna, or enchiladas. I just pack everything in coolers and the food holds up during our drive. For my side dishes, I have stopped at road side farms stands en route to the beach for corn on the cob, salad fixings and watermelon.

If you are traveling with other families, splitting the menu planning will help alleviate some of the meal planning on your part and save you money, but be sure to discuss each family’s food challenges.

5. What Are Your Non-Food Needs?

Being prepared ahead of time will save you money and time. Some things to consider:

• Will you need to supply your own: toilet paper, bath towels, bed linens.
• Will there be laundry facilities? Detergent is much cheaper when bought at home on sale.
• Drinking water – where we stay, it is recommended to not drink the water out of the faucet, so we take a lot of water. We'll take our own reusable bottles and buy gallon jugs of spring water. Thank goodness our rental has recycling containers.
• What will you need in the kitchen? dishwasher detergent, dish soap, paper towels, napkins
• Will you need sunscreen, bug spray? – It is so much cheaper to buy at home than on vacation.
• Extra batteries for the cameras and video equipment.

6. Plan your travel.

• Plan Your Food: We have driven as far as 7 hours for a beach vacation (fortunately, it will only be 4 hours this year) and I make sure to pack a lot of snack foods and drinks to save money and avoid fast food binges.
• Plan for Traffic, Gas, & Tolls: Use an app to help you navigate through traffic, such as Google Maps, Beat the Traffic, Trip Talk or Waze. Map out your trip before you leave so you can budget for any highway tolls.
• Plan Your Fuel Costs: Find an online fuel cost calculator or app to help you plan your gas costs. http://fuelcostcalculator.aaa.com/
• Plan for Parking: Will there be a fee for parking at your destination? Make sure you include it in your budget.

If you have a long drive ahead of you, it might a good idea to get your vehicle serviced. Is your vehicle due for an oil change? Are you tires in good condition? Do you have enough windshield wiper fluid?

7. Tourism Centers

Once you reach your destination and you're settled in, find the local tourism center to scout out any coupon books. Many local businesses have these books as well. The books usually include coupons for local restaurants, stores and activities.

8. Choose Your Indulgences Wisely.

It is our yearly vacation, so I believe a little indulgence is needed and deserved. Since we are heading to the beach, our preferred indulgence is seafood. I spend a lot of my time at home in the kitchen, so when I am on vacation, I want to eat some really good food, but have someone else prepare it for me. I don’t mind cooking easy meals and eating in a few nights so that we have some extra cash for a really good, quality meal.

We love crab legs and shrimp. In the past, we've found the best prices for seafood from a little road side seafood shack. There's always a long line, so we figured it had to be good.It was cheaper to buy in bulk at this shop than for all of us to order the food individually at a restaurant.

Only 4.5 weeks until summer--I am drooling now just thinking about those crab legs!

Are you headed on vacation this summer? Where are you going to? How do you save money while on vacation? Indulge us with your summer plans in the comments.


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Our Weekend in Pittsburgh {2013}

My family took a mini vacation last weekend to Pittsburgh for the half marathon. One reason why I ran the Pittsburgh half marathon again this year was because my family had such a wonderful weekend in 2012.

And we also had a hankering for a Primanti Bros. sandwich again. That beastly sandwich is packed with meat, fries, and cole slaw; it is a Pittsburgh landmark.

But the weekend wasn't all about the race and that sandwich. Saturday was a free day and we wanted to explore some different attractions that we didn't get to see last year.

Our first stop was the Senator John Heinz History Center, which conveniently was right across the street from our hotel. The center is the Smithsonian's home in Pittsburgh and there are six floors of exhibits that span over 250 years of Western PA's history.

Did you know that Lewis & Clark's expedition started in Pittsburgh? That is one fact from high school American History that I did not remember.

The exhibits at the center included:

• Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation
• Western PA Sports Museum
• Discovery Place - hands-on exhibits for kids
• Clash of Empires: The British, French & Indian War, 1754-1763
• Rediscovering Lewis & Clark
• From Slavery to Freedom
• Glass: exploring Pittsburgh's reign as America's Glass City
• Art of the Steelers
• and many others

My favorite exhibit was 1968: The Year that Rocked America. The center's website describes it as an exhibition that "chronicles the pivotal year in U.S. history that saw assertions of Black Power at the Olympic Games, the national launch of Pittsburgh-produced "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," stardom for Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, the debut of locally made cult classic "Night of the Living Dead," and the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The year began with the Tet Offensive, the deadliest period of an increasingly divisive Vietnam War, and ended with hope for the future, as the Apollo 8 capsule beamed back images of "Earthrise" from the far side of the moon for the first time."

I didn't grow up in the 60's, so it never occurred to me that 1968 was such a pivotal year in our country's history. The exhibit was very enlightening, entertaining, and interactive. Our kids really enjoyed it too.

My favorite part of the 1968 exhibit was having a photo op with Mr. Rogers, who debuted in 1968. I grew up in the 70's and he was very much a part of my childhood and he happens to be a Western PA native.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the museum, my kids were a bit over it by the end. They are 7 & 5 and are not quite as interested in Western PA history as their parents.

So we took them for a little adventure: a trip up The Duquesne Incline.

The cable cars have been in operation since 1877. It's open everyday until 12:45 AM. Parking is free and the fare is $2.50 each way.

The view from the top is breathtaking.

The beautiful weather helped us see for miles.

On Sunday, I spent the morning running the half while my kids cheered me on.

As we were heading out of town later in the day, we stopped at a cute little donut shop in the strip district, Peace Love & Little Donuts.

To celebrate another awesome weekend in Pittsburgh, I picked up a dozen for the road and I promise you that I didn't eat ALL of these mini donuts.

I did share a few with my family, but I ate about 4 or 5...okay...maybe I ate 6 or 7, but it was worth every mini bite!

Some related links:

• Senator John Heinz History Center
• Duquesne Incline
• Primanti Bros. Restaurant
• Peace Love & Little Donuts
• Hampton Inn - downtown Pittsburgh

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Central Park Zoo, Life Changes...and Zucchini

You will have to excuse my absence the past few weeks, this summer has gotten the best of me.

Unfortunately my blog has been the victim of an over-planned summer. My husband and I just commented this week about how active we have been--VBS, Y-camp, play-dates, boating with the grandparents, weekend trips to visit extended family and friends, trips to the playground, picnics, swimming at the community pool, CSA farm days, a day trip to Central Park zoo, and a summer vacation to the beach.

I also help my husband manage our business, but I didn't do such a good job planning for child care this summer. I'm cramming my work in between our activities and I'm not succeeding. Our home has also become the 'IT' place for the neighborhood kids recently. I love that they all want to play here, but someone has to keep an eye on five 4-6 year old girls.

Life changes...as of last week, a large project that my my husband and I have been working for 6 months has finally come to fruition. After renting an office space for 12 years, we bought a building last week. It needs a lot of cosmetic work on the inside and we are anticipating the grand opening to be the beginning of October.

On top of all of this, the Olympics have started and we are die-hard fans. 17 days of round-the-clock TV coverage. I don't know what I love more, the games or the stories of the athletes about their journey to the greatest competition on Earth.

So bear with me as I try to come up for air soon with more consistent posting.

In other news, check out my latest recipe over at The Happy Housewife--Zucchini Muffins. If you are swimming in zucchini right now, give these a try.

How's your summer going? I would love to hear all about it!

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Our Day at the Washington, D.C. Zoo

We took a day trip a few week's ago to the Smithsonian National Zoo.

We are fortunate to live about 2 hours from Washington, D.C., but this is the first time we have taken our kids to our nation's capital. 

The day was gorgeous and we had a great time meandering the walking paths to see all of the animals.

I loved the flamingos. Aren't they gorgeous yet funny looking at the same time?

While zoos are an awesome opportunity to see exotic and beautiful animals, I struggle with the fact that they truly are out of their natural habitat.

If you are planning a trip to the Smithsonian National Zoo:

• The price for admission is FREE
• Parking at the zoo is $16 for the first 3 hours and $22 for over 3 hours. We arrived to the zoo at noon and the parking lots were full. We were directed to a residential area where the parking was free, but the limit is 2 hours. We forgot about the parking limit and stayed at the park for about 3 1/2 hours. Fortunatly for us, we were not ticketed, but a car across the street was not so lucky; it had a boot on the tire.
• You are allowed to take your own food and drinks into the park. The park offers typical park food: burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, etc. There aren't any restaurants surrounding the park that we could see to walk to, so be prepared to either buy at the park or pack your own.
• For more information, check out the park website, National Zoo.

Have you been the to National Zoo in Washington, D.C.? Tell us about it in the comments.

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Plan a Staycation | Summer Fun Guide

I am joining over forty bloggers from all over the country in The Year of the Staycation, hosted by Toni, The Happy Housewife and Andrea, of Savings Lifestyle. We are all writing about fun and low cost summer ideas in our respective areas of the country.

Here are the links to the other bloggers' sites for you to plan out your summer staycation or vacation:

Mid-Atlantic

Buffalo/Niagara Falls, New York :: Coupons, Deals and More

Central New Jersey :: Philzendia (formerly Oh diane)

Erie, Pennsylvania :: Growing Kids Ministry

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania :: Family Balance Sheet

Midwest

Black Hills, South Dakota :: Little House Living

Central Indiana :: In Good Cents

Chicago, Illinois :: Chicagoland Homeschool Network

Cincinnati, Ohio :: Savings Lifestyle Cincinnati

Dayton, Ohio :: Savings Lifestyle Dayton

Kansas City Area :: Kansas City Mamas

Mansfield, Ohio :: The Traveling Praters

Metro Detroit, Michigan :: Saving Dollars and Sense

Mount Vernon, Ohio :: Living Better One Day at a Time

North Central Indiana :: Parenting Miracles

Oakland County, Michigan :: Bargain Shopper Mom

Omaha, Nebraska :: Mom Endeavors

Oshkosh, Wisconsin :: A Little Bit of This and That

SE Minnesota :: Everyday Notions

Springfield, Missouri :: Getting Freedom

springfield, Missouri :: I Think I can, I think I can

St. Louis, Missouri :: Our Four Letter Words

South Central

Arlington, Texas :: Grocery Shop For FREE

Dallas, Texas :: Surviving The Stores

Grapevine, Texas :: My Crazy Savings

Houston, Texas :: MomsTravelTales

South Atlantic

Baltimore, Maryland :: The Happy Housewife

Charlottesville, Virginia :: How to Have it All

Jacksonville, Florida :: Saving The Family Money

Orlando, Florida :: Orlandos Best Deals

Shenandoah Valley, Virginia :: Life Your Way

St. Augustine, Florida :: Jypsie Visions

Washington, DC :: Holy Spirit-led Homeschooling

Mountain

Arizona (all) :: Mom Endeavors

Colorado Springs, Colorado :: Springs Bargains

Denver, Colorado :: Denver Bargains

Phoenix, Arizona :: Saving For Someday

Tucson, Arizona :: Desert Chica Ramblings

Pacific

Portland, Oregon :: Frugal Living NW

San Diego, California :: Life as MOM

San Diego, California (The Eating Tour) :: Good Cheap Eats

Seattle, Washington :: Queen Bee Coupons

Join us next week for more Summer Funn ideas:

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Things To Do in Harrisburg PA This Summer

I grew up smack dab in the middle of Pennsylvania. Central PA, home to the state capitol, Harrisburg, and its surrounding communities offer a variety of activities during the summer that will make your 2012 Staycation exciting, fun, adventurous, but yet inexpensive. There are activities for the whole family.

Historical and Educational Activities

Take a tour of a National Historic Landmark, the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Built in 1906, the "Capitol's centerpiece is a spectacular 272-foot, 52 million-pound dome inspired by Michelangelo’s design for St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome".

Not far from the Capitol is the State Museum of Pennsylvania. The State Museum offers "four floors of exhibits that represent Pennsylvania's story, from Earth's beginning to the present", a Planetarium and a 'hands on' play area, Curiosity Connection, for children 5 and under. Admission is $4-$5.

Also located downtown is the Whitaker Center , that offers an IMAX theater, Science Center, and a performance theater. The science center is 3 floors of exhibits, experiments and programs. It also offers a play/imagination area just for kids under 5. The performance theater is an intimate venue that hosts everything from national acts to local performers. Prices for the IMAX theater range from $8 - $9.50, depending on your age. Prices for the science center range from $12.50 - $15, depending on age as well.

The National Civil War Museum, as stated on the website, is "the only museum in The United States that portrays the entire story of the American Civil War. Equally balanced presentations are humanistic in nature without bias to Union or Confederate Causes." Admission prices range from $8-$10, depending on age. There is a $35 family pass available for 2 adults and up to 3 students(immediate family members).

If you are interested in military history, visit the Army Heritage and Educational Center located west of Harrisburg, in Carlisle.

Outdoor Festivals

The Kipona Celebration runs over Labor Day weekend and is right along the Susquehanna River. Admission: FREE. Activities include Artfest featuring 150 different artists and craftspersons, live music and entertainment, Chili Cookoff, Classic Canoe race, a traditional Indian Pow Wow, and SO much more.

84th Annual Jubilee Day - the largest one day street fair on the East coast. Date: June 21, 2012 from 10 am to 9 pm. Location: downtown Mechanicsburg. Admission: FREE. The event features wares from local artists and craftsmen, as well as great food, fun games, and exciting amusement rides.

Amusement Parks and Zoos

Hershey Park -Located about 14 miles east of Harrisburg. From roller coasters and water rides to kiddie rides and music shows, there really is something for every one at Hershey Park. Other attractions at the Park are ZooAmerica and Chocolate World. Discount tickets can usually be found at Giant Food Stores. Picnic lunches and food are not permitted inside the park.

Dutch Wonderland is located about 40 miles east of Harrisburg, the heart of Amish Country/ Lancaster County. It is a great park geared more towards children ages 12 and under. Food is not permitted inside the park, but there is a Family Picnic Pavilion right outside the park. Old Mill Stream campground is also right outside the park, within walking distance. My family camped there two years ago and we had so much fun.

Lake Tobias Wildlife Park is located about 25 miles north of Harrisburg. From a Safari tour to a petting zoo and reptile exhibit, this park is an exciting destination.

Knoebels is the largest free-admission park in America. It is also north of the city. Personally, we have never been there, but that is our loss as I have heard nothing but good things about the park, the campground and the whole experience.

The Great Outdoors

The Hershey Gardens is spread over 23 acres and includes the Butterfly House, Children's Garden, and many other themed gardens. Tickets range from $7 to $10, depending on age, but children under 3 are free.

Harrisburg's City Island, right in the middle of the Susquehanna River, offers activities for just about everyone. Choose from an arcade and batting cages, miniature golf, a beach, a Carousel, a train, horse-drawn carriage tours of the island and the city, Riverboat cruises and so much more. It is also home to the Harrisburg Senators, the city's AA pro baseball team.

Gifford Pinchot State Park is located south of Harrisburg. It offers hiking trails, swimming, boating, picnicking, camping and so much more.

Have you visited Central Pennsylvania? What are your plans this summer? Will you be traveling or staying close to home? Let us know in the comments.

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Photo Credits: Harrisburg Skyline is from Allie's Dad

My (Half Crazy) Weekend in Pittsburgh

In case you weren't aware, I'm only half crazy, not full blown crazy, just half.

We spent this past weekend exploring Pittsburgh. We took the incline to Mt. Washington...

...where we took in some incredible views...

...and ate a little ice cream.

We had a wonderful time visiting a great city.

But then at 5:30 on Sunday morning, I woke up, ate a big breakfast, and headed downtown ...

...to become a Runner of Steel.

I ran the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, because like I said, I'm only half crazy.

It was a hot morning and I finished the race 2 minutes faster than my last half marathon.  Two minutes feels like an eternity at the end of 13.1 miles!

To celebrate the race and my time, we had lunch at Primanti Bros.

If you have never heard of Primanti Bros, it is a Pittsburgh attraction, because their sandwiches are stuffed ridiculously high with your choice of meat (I chose ragin' cajun chicken), cole slaw, and french fries...IN the sandwich, not on the side.

I ate the WHOLE sandwich.

So maybe I am full blown crazy, but it was worth every single bite!

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We're Saving for Disney and We Need Your Advice

I have never been to Walt Disney World and neither has my husband. To be honest, the two of us were never interested in a Walt Disney World vacation. But life has changed. We are raising two stinkerbelles who adore princesses and Mickey and Minnie.

So, we're Saving for Disney! And we're really, really excited about it!

It is one of our 2012 Financial Goals and I am starting to research it. From what we hear, a Disney vacation is not a vacation that you can just book and hope for the best when you get there. You have to plan it out, right down to the last detail. And since neither my husband or I have been there we have no idea what to plan, how much to save, where to stay, or when to take the trip.

We're utterly clueless. Our goal is to get there by Fall 2012 or Spring 2013. We're not telling the kids about it until we actually get on the plane, so I won't have to worry about hearing, "how many more days."

I just received our free Disney vacation planning DVD that I ordered off the Disney World website and I can't wait to watch it.

I'll be writing periodically about our planning and keeping you informed of all that I learn.

But now I need your help. Have you been to Walt Disney World? Where did you stay? Did you fly or drive? How long was your trip? What time of year did you go? What would you do differently? We would love to hear your advice in the comments.


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