Welcome to the first of many installments of getaways on a budget. We are all feeling the pressure of increasing costs of living, but we all still want, and NEED, to get away for a few days now and again to refresh. How can a family afford to go on vacation? Tickets, lodging, gas, food, all add up, quickly! Here are a few tips on how our family of 5 enjoys time away. 

1. Shop AirBnB in our near the area we'd like to visit. Use the filters to choose exactly what you *need*. For us that's usually certain dates, entire place, and under a certain price per night. I cannot stress enough to read the reviews, they're going to tell you what you need to know! Staying in AirBnBs is great because you can prepare meals where you're staying ($$$saver!) and you have more space than a hotel room. 
   
   
2. Use benefits from memberships you might already have! One of the best local-ish memberships is Minnetrista. It's $125 for the premier family membership and you get reciprocity at the Association of Science and Technology Centers, American Horticultural Society, and North American Reciprocal Museum partners.
   
   
3. Are you or your spouse any of the following: Active duty, retired, or veteran or first responder? Always ask if the place you're visiting offers a discount!
   
   
4. In the week or so leaving up to your trip, use Google to find out if there are any fun events happening in the area while you're visiting.
   
   
5. Ask the locals! Once you arrive, chat up the locals at the gas station or grocery store and see what their favorite local restaurant or activity is. Sometimes you'll hit paydirt!

Our first vacation destination is:

Detroit, Michigan

Just 3 hours north of Fort Wayne is the Motor City, Detroit, Michigan. Just driving through, the city doesn't seem to have a lot of appeal. However, there are several gems tucked into this area if you know where to look! 

Belle Isle- Located in the heart of the city, right on the Detroit River, sits Belle Isle. It is classified as a state park, and does have a nominal entrance fee (it was $9/vehicle when we were there last). Once on the island, you have FREE access to the small, but unique aquarium, beautiful conservatory (under construction until 2024) and outdoor gardens, Dossin Great Lakes museum– check out the amazing Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit, and the Belle Isle nature center where you can see the deer that once inhabited the island, honey bees hard at work, and so much more! 

Not only can you explore these indoor activities, there are so many things you can do outside.  On breezy days, you'll see colorful kites flying high above the wide open central area of the island, bring your own and join in the fun! You can swim at the public beach area, fish, enjoy a short hike to the oldest marble lighthouse in the country (Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse), have a picnic, play games in the vast grassy area, or simply take in the views of Canada to the south or the Detroit Skyline to the north. 

Our family of five easily spends an entire day on the island and we can never see or do everything.  Ideally you'd want two days for this adventure.

What else does Detroit have to offer? 

• The Detroit Institute of Arts-$14/adults; $6/kids; under 5-FREE (membership reciprocity for FW Museum of Art et al.)

• Detroit Historical Museum^-$10/adults; $6/kids; under 6-FREE (membership reciprocity for NARM and Time Travelers)

• Outdoor Adventure Center-$5/adults 13 and up; $3/kids 2-12; under 2-FREE

• Charles Wright Museum of African American History-$15/adults 13 and up; $12/kids 3-12; under 3-FREE (membership reciprocity for NARM and ROAM)

• Cranbrook Institute of Science*-$13/adults 13 and up; $9.50/kids 2-12; under 2-FREE (membership reciprocity for ASTC)

• Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum-FREE admission

• Greenfield Village*^-$33/adults 12 and up; $24.75/kids 5-11; under 5-FREE

• Henry Ford Museum*^-$30/adults 12 and up; $22.50/kids 5-11; under 5-FREE

*This museum offers Museums for All, deeply discounted or free admission for people that recieve WIC or SNAP http://www.museums4all.org

^This museum offers discounted or free admission for military, offers vary