Budget Anniversary Vacation Ideas

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Whether it's your first anniversary or your 50th, it's important to do something special to commemorate the day of your wedding. Anniversaries are a day to celebrate and nurture your marriage, and one of the best ways to do that is by getting away from the pressures of ordinary life. Even if you don't have a lot of time or money, a short mini-vacation with your spouse is a meaningful way to celebrate an anniversary.

Travel Close

You want to get away, but you don't necessarily have to go far to do it. There may be a beach, mountains or a fun tourist city that's close enough to your home to make travel inexpensive. Look for a place where you can drive in a few hours so you don't have to take time off work or spend all your vacation traveling. Think outside the box; it doesn't have to be a tourist destination to be a fun, unique vacation. Maybe there's a small town nearby with a few interesting tourist attractions or a state or national park that you could visit.

Stay Inexpensively

It's your anniversary, so you want to stay somewhere nice. But there are plenty of celebratory places that aren't expensive. Try networking first; maybe you have a friend or family member who has a cabin or a beach house where you could stay for cheap. Consider going somewhere off-season; for example, if your anniversary is in the summer, go to Arizona or California. Hotels and resorts will be much cheaper there at that time. Also, think about trying to negotiate your price. Even major hotels will sometimes negotiate, especially if they have a lot of empty rooms. If you rent a cabin or house for your trip, look for something with a kitchen if you can--you'll be able to save money on restaurants that way.

Keep Your Activities Simple

You don't need to see all the expensive museums and tourist attractions on your anniversary trip. Remember that this vacation is about the two of you, not the place where you're going, and plan simple activities. Many romantic things to do are cheap or free. Plan a picnic in a park with sandwiches, cheese and wine. Find the artistic district of the city you're visiting and wander the streets holding hands and listening to street musicians. Buy flowers from a roadside vendor. Visit a library or a bookstore and read each other poems from the poetry books section. Create scavenger hunts for each other and have fun figuring out the clues that lead to a special anniversary gift.