Orlando
Let's start in Orlando, the theme park capital of the world. Expensive park admission and high-priced park food doesn't really equal "cheap," however, you can still take in the Mouse and visit Harry Potter while keeping some change in your pocket. Located near SeaWorld, Disney World and Universal Studios, the Kissimmee/Orlando KOA Kampground is a great alternative to hotels or park accommodations. Bring a tent or rent one of their rustic, but comfortable, Kamping Kabins and Lodges, and you can end your busy day in the hot tub, sauna or swimming pool--or roasting marshmallows by the campfire. It also has its own discount code for local attraction tickets.
Kissimmee / Orlando KOA
2644 Happy Camper Place
Kissimmee, FL 34746
koa.com/where/fl/09329
Orlando, Part Two
Skip the theme parks and head out into nature. Bring lunch and your swimsuit and head to Wekiwa Springs State Park, where an adventure can take up the better part of a day. Rent a canoe and paddle the Wekiwa River to the Springs, where the water temperature is always a cool 72 degrees and the preserve's tropical forest always provides plenty of shade. If your family loves animals, another inexpensive jaunt is Green Meadows Petting Farm, a kid-paradise of a 40-acre farm located in Kissimmee. Meet and greet nearly 300 animals and take a turn at milking a cow.
Wekiwa Springs State Park
1800 Wekiwa Circle
Apopka, FL 32712
407-884-2008
floridastateparks.org/wekiwasprings/default.cfm
Green Meadows Petting Farm
1368 South Poinciana Boulevard
Kissimmee, FL 34746-4100
407-846-0770
greenmeadowsfarm.com
Plantation Panhandle Tour
Start your trip in Tallahassee, Fla., at the Tallahassee Visitors Center. There, pick up a guide titled "Southern Manors & More Tour." This is your treasure map of plantation homes and history. Antiques, furniture, theaters, fine gardens and beautifully kept mansions on seven plantations dot the Panhandle and give a unique perspective of the state--much different from wild rides and bikinis.
Tallahassee Visitors Center
106 E. Jefferson St.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-606-2305
800-628-2866
visittallahassee.com
Beach on a Budget
You can have a beach vacation on a budget in Florida. Stick to state parks and you'll find family-friendly getaways such as John U. Lloyd Beach State Park. This park, located on a 251-acre barrier island, is near Fort Lauderdale and is an affordable and active vacation spot. Take a tour of the trails on the island, canoe and check out the wildlife, rent a sailboat and hit the seas or grab the toddlers and take a paddleboat for a peaceful ride. When you're finished, head over to the very clean, two-and-a-half-mile beach that is kid-friendly (Dads, don't miss the fishing spot at the north end of the park).
John U. Lloyd Beach State Park
6503 N. Ocean Drive
Dania Beach, FL 33004
954-923-2833
floridastateparks.org/LloydBeach/default.cfm
