Vacation or Staycation

[ChrisinNJ]

My DH & are are trying to decide what to do. I booked a hotel in Niagara Falls NY. Cheapest decent place I could find for the 5 of us was $600.00 for 4 nights. Add to that gas & wear & tear on the car, food sightseeing costs etc. I am probably looking at a $1000.00 vacation.

I threw out an alternative to my hubby last night. We live in NJ, about an hour away from NYC. There are some things in the city we haven't done but want to. There are other things we have done (over a decade ago) but not with the kids.

I proposed a staycation. Stay at home, go one day to Ellis Island & Statue of Liberty (won't be open to go up yet). One day to Museum of Natural History, then go walk 5th ave & visit a few favorite stores like American Girl. On a third day, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to Chinatown & Little Italy. Decide where else we want to go from there. Maybe get tickets to see the Lion King. Somewhere in the mix of things, a trip to see the Intrepid.

If we have a spare day, we can spend it at the jersey shore.

Lodging $0.00 stay at home
parking $0.00 (hubby works for triboro bridge & tunne authority & can park free at any of their facilities)
This frees up a lot of money to have fun & not feel completely frugal going out to eat & enjoying the sightseeing.

Which sounds more fun to you? Hubby would prefer to go NF. I am not sure I want to sit in the car that long (Id rather double the trip & go to Disney )

 

[JoyG]

Hmm, I've done both. I did a Staycation to Niagara Falls last summer, and I've been on vacation in NYC. I preferred NYC, but maybe there's something to be said about getting away.

Have you tried looking for hotels in Buffalo or its suburbs? They might be cheaper and if you're going to have a car you'll be able to drive to the falls. It's 30 minutes, tops.

 

[itutorfortravel]

I like the staycation idea! That way, you can splurge on some things without feeling the guilt, like you mentioned. Go to great places to eat, buy your DD something at the American Girl store, heck buy yourself something too!

DH and I have done this before with our DD and we thoroughly enjoyed it. No stress of being in an unfamiliar place or having to watch every penny we spend.

Personally, I would also be opting for a staycation because it would give me a few dollars to put towards the next Disney trip, too. But that is just me, right now Disney is our #1 fav vacation spot, and I would rather forgo trips to other places in order to save money for Disney!

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Hmm, I've done both. I did a Staycation to Niagara Falls last summer, and I've been on vacation in NYC. I preferred NYC, but maybe there's something to be said about getting away.

Have you tried looking for hotels in Buffalo or its suburbs? They might be cheaper and if you're going to have a car you'll be able to drive to the falls. It's 30 minutes, tops.

We are unfamiliar with the area. My DH knows someone up there who recommended the new Motel 6 (about 20 minutes from the falls). It was cheap at $50.00 per night, but they couldn't accomodate 5 of us in 1 room & they don't have adjoining rooms. Since you know the area, any recommendations?

Also is parking near the falls readily available if we drive there? The hotel we booked is a mile walk from the bridge. I know on our last trip before kids, we parked at the hotel & didn't get back into the car until we came home.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Personally, I would also be opting for a staycation because it would give me a few dollars to put towards the next Disney trip, too. But that is just me, right now Disney is our #1 fav vacation spot, and I would rather forgo trips to other places in order to save money for Disney!

This is my sentiment exactly!

 

[Lucky4me]

Staycation, especially with the budget you posted. Unless you were bringing most of your own food and planning on doing nothing but looking at the falls, $100 a day for food, gas, wear and tear and sightseeing is very low for a family of five. It would probably be more like a $1500 vacation.

 

[TiffanyK]

I like the staycation idea, especially since you have some really great things to do close by. Getting away is fun, but if you do a staycation you don't have to pack and you get to sleep in your own bed. You'll be gone during the day, so no temptation to get tied up in regular life. You could even have your mail stopped for a few days and refuse to check email during that time.

Have a great time, whatever you decide!

 

[Darcy03231]

Here's another vote for the staycation.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

OK. SO DH really wants to go to NF. I think he just wants to get away from home, and I am sure he would like to see his friend who lives up there.

I really did not want to spend that much $$ so we changed our reservations. We are now staying 3 nights instead of 4 which will give us 2 full days in the area (2 days driving) instead of 3. I think with the ages of our kids, 2 days there will be enough. There is only so much falling water 8 year olds & a 5 year old want to look at!

We booked at a Hampton Inn with free breakfast, so we only need to buy 2 meals per day. We will bring snacks, water & juice boxes. The $150.00 we saved on hotel should more than cover the gas.

Maid of the Mist would be $42.70 for our family (youngest DD is still free)
Cave of the winds $38.00 for family
We would probably only do one of the above.

Niagara falls Aquarium $37.00 for family
Niagara Aviary $40.00 for family
We would do only 1 of these. So approximately $100.00 for tours. The rest of the time we will probably spend walking around or visiting the park area.

DH & DS want to stop at the Orange County Chopper store on the way home.

I think we can pull this trip off for $1000.00 or less.

 

[merrily]

I've been looking into a trip to Niagara Falls this summer also. You might consider purchasing a USA Discovery pass. For $33 adults and $26 children 6-12 it gives you admission to:
The Maid of the mist
The Cave of the Winds
Niagara Adventure Theatre
Niagara Gorge Discovery Centre
Aquarium of Niagara
and 1 day of unlimited trolley rides

You can buy it online or at the visitors center when you get there. That would get you 5 attractions for less than $100 for all of you.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I would vote Staycation, only because we just did that!! Sort of. We are in Texas and wanted to plan a trip to NYC (this week actually) and see things we have never seen before. And, my older son has always wanted to go. so, after checking airfare and hotel rooms for 5 WOW Expensive!!!! I of course wanted to do Mary Poppins on Broadway. The expense plus the fact that dh can't take an entire week off right now, made us see there is no way we are going right now. He said just skip it and put the $$ toward our Dec Disney trip. Of course the kids were great with that too!! So, we will do a couple of 3 day weekends in Houston, or Austin instead. I would rather just stay here than have to skimp on my disney family trips!!!

 

[ChrisinNJ]

I've been looking into a trip to Niagara Falls this summer also. You might consider purchasing a USA Discovery pass. For $33 adults and $26 children 6-12 it gives you admission to:
The Maid of the mist
The Cave of the Winds
Niagara Adventure Theatre
Niagara Gorge Discovery Centre
Aquarium of Niagara
and 1 day of unlimited trolley rides

You can buy it online or at the visitors center when you get there. That would get you 5 attractions for less than $100 for all of you.

I looked at this, and it makes sense if we decide to do both Maid of the mist & Cave of the winds. Not sure my kids will want to do either, nevermind both. DH & I did cave of the winds w/o kids. Those decks are slippery & that mist/wind is pretty strong. Not sure it is a great idea with little ones!

When we get there I will point out both things to the kids & see what they want to do. I dont want to drag them to anything that might scare them or make them nervous. Then we can decide from there.

 

[vicb]

I think Niagra is a pretty cool thing to see. We have never stayed at the falls, we have stopped for day trips on drives thru. We have been winter and summer. My kids liked the caves behind the falls (can't remember what it was called) and eating in the restaurant that overlooked the falls. We did one of the observation towers too. Maybe you could stay one day less and save one night off the hotel fees?

 

[andrews_dad]

I vote for VACATION. I think there is no such thing as a Staycation. You still feel compelled to clean the house, cut the grass, balance the checkbook and pay bills, cook some meals, water the plants and lawn, make the bed, vaccuum, etc. When I holiday I want a break from the daily grind.

That being said, I am not a fan of Niagara as a vacation. It is a nice stop, but not a place (IMO) to spend a bunch of time. From NJ I might consider Central PA (Hershey, Amish Country, Lancaster Outlets, Gettysburg, etc) or Baltimore Inner Harbor/Wash DC/ Northern Va instead.

 

[java]

Staycation.

We went to Niagra falls and had a great time- but it was pricey foodwise and fun wise. We got the 4 things included passes- and they were great but for the 6 of us that added up. It kept us busy. But one day of rain sent us into the touristy street and we blew more $$ at the Ripley's museum and the restaurants.

We stayed right on the falls in a Upper Falls view room at the Embassy suites. We went in the off season(hence the rain) but it was cheaper and just as beautiful! The falls were really pumping with all the rain.


But staycation with where you live would be fun.
There are tons of tips online on how to make it feel more like a vacation- like NO COOKING AT ALL! Even breakfast!

Make a list of places you want to check out. Have fun and stay home.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

From NJ I might consider Central PA (Hershey, Amish Country, Lancaster Outlets, Gettysburg, etc) or Baltimore Inner Harbor/Wash DC/ Northern Va instead.

Thanks for the suggestions.

We've done the PA Amish thing 4 or 5 times already with the kids. We've been to the amish farms, dutch wonderland, hershey park and strsburg railroad twice for Thomas the train.

Washington DC was another choice, but as I started looking, a lot of hotels are booked up for the days we are looking at. Not sure if there is some kind of convention or what. The ones that are available are well over $200.00 per night, plus parking. I looked both in DC and in alexandria VA. I am not sure where else is outside the city but on the metro line. We'll try for DC another time, but its just not working this time.

 

[java]

Thanks for the suggestions.

We've done the PA Amish thing 4 or 5 times already with the kids. We've been to the amish farms, dutch wonderland, hershey park and strsburg railroad twice for Thomas the train.

Washington DC was another choice, but as I started looking, a lot of hotels are booked up for the days we are looking at. Not sure if there is some kind of convention or what. The ones that are available are well over $200.00 per night, plus parking. I looked both in DC and in alexandria VA. I am not sure where else is outside the city but on the metro line. We'll try for DC another time, but its just not working this time.

I don't know exactly where in NJ you are. But we LOVE Knoebels
http://www.knoebels.com/

It's a day trip for us as we live about 2 hours away.

Another Great place is Camelbeach! You will feel like you are vacation if you spend a day here
http://www.skicamelback.com/Camelbeach/Home.aspx/

They have a fun for 4 pack for $99. Meaning get in 4 people for $99 if you buy online soon. It's normally $35 person. Also you can find discounts at the local Dunkin Donuts here in NJ(although ours still doesn't have them out yet.)
It's clean and FUN! My kids love it there and I actually enjoy it too as it's set in the mountains and is clean. It's right off I-80 in Tannersville PA.

You could find an inexpensive hotel between Knoebels and Camelbeach and spend a night there hit one one day and the other another.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

If you are an hour from NYC, I'd still do Niagra falls. Yes, you won't have hotel and parking charges if you do NYC, but do you really want to drive 2 hours each day? To me, that is not a vacation. I'd rather do the longer drive, get it over with and be there.

 

[JoyG]

OK. SO DH really wants to go to NF. I think he just wants to get away from home, and I am sure he would like to see his friend who lives up there.

I really did not want to spend that much $$ so we changed our reservations. We are now staying 3 nights instead of 4 which will give us 2 full days in the area (2 days driving) instead of 3. I think with the ages of our kids, 2 days there will be enough. There is only so much falling water 8 year olds & a 5 year old want to look at!

We booked at a Hampton Inn with free breakfast, so we only need to buy 2 meals per day. We will bring snacks, water & juice boxes. The $150.00 we saved on hotel should more than cover the gas.

Maid of the Mist would be $42.70 for our family (youngest DD is still free)
Cave of the winds $38.00 for family
We would probably only do one of the above.

Niagara falls Aquarium $37.00 for family
Niagara Aviary $40.00 for family
We would do only 1 of these. So approximately $100.00 for tours. The rest of the time we will probably spend walking around or visiting the park area.

DH & DS want to stop at the Orange County Chopper store on the way home.

I think we can pull this trip off for $1000.00 or less.

Maid of the Mist and The Cave of the Winds are not to be missed...you really should do both of them.

I'm not familiar with the aviary.

Please don't waste your money on the Aquarium. It is soooo bad. I have to go there every year with my class on a field trip and truly, it is nothing to write home about. There are so many great aquariums in this country, that you shouldn't waste time on that one.

I would recommend stopping at the Niagara Falls Factory Outlets although that might blow your budget. There's some great shopping there.

I would also go into Buffalo for some original chicken wings at the Anchor Bar.

In Lewiston you could do the Niagara Power Vista which is free. It's like a small science museum.

You might want to do the Buffalo Zoo as well. I'd do that before the Aquarium. If you are members at your local zoo, you could get in free with reciprical (sp?) admission.

The Buffalo Science Museum (reciprical admission?) is good in Buffalo too and they have the awesome Body Worlds (I think that's the name) exhibit coming in July.

All of this is on the American side. You can do the American Falls in one day: The Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, pack a picnic lunch and eat at the park, tour Goat Island and Three Sisters Island. In the evening go to the factory outlet mall for shopping and dinner.

The second day you could spend in Buffalo at the Zoo and/or Science Museum. Have dinner at the Anchor Bar.

That's my suggestion. Have fun whatever you do. I don't have any recommendations for area hotels, b/c I've never stayed in one. I could give advice about neighborhoods or locations though.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

I'm not familiar with the aviary.

Please don't waste your money on the Aquarium. It is soooo bad. I have to go there every year with my class on a field trip and truly, it is nothing to write home about. There are so many great aquariums in this country, that you shouldn't waste time on that one.

Thanks for the information about the aquarium. I had a feeling it may not be worth it since the website had so few pictures. We have a small aquarium in Pt Pleasant NJ. If you spend 2 hours there you could see it all twice! It was great when the kids were toddlers & had a 10 minute attention span, but now that they are older, its really not worth it, thought they do love the penguins.

The aviary is on the Canadian side. Not sure how it is, but admission is half price if you show ticket stubs from Maid of the Mist. We all have our passports so we plan to walk across to Canada and spend a day there. http://www.niagarafallsaviary.com/

Are you familiar with Upstate Farms in Buffalo? My dad was a distributor for their products. I considered putting in a call to see if we could get a dairy tour....