Last week I visited my parents in northern Idaho. This photo was taken from the pontoon boat on the way out to their cabin on a private island. It was also a chance to hang out with my brother’s dog Gracie, my favorite dog in the world.
While the trip wasn’t exactly frugal (the flight cost me $423), the activities we enjoyed all week were most definitely non consumer, and I spent almost no money the whole trip. The week was both fun and relaxing, and included hanging out with my parents, my brother, and his friends, swimming in the lake, and lots of kayaking. I kayaked around the island twice, and my dad and I took the kayaks down a nearby river for a 3-hour excursion. We paddled, swam, and used a rope swing to jump into the river. We saw geese, ducks, a great blue heron, osprey, a deer, and a bald eagle, but no people. It was a wonderful day.
I also went hiking, stargazed at night, helped my brother cook a fabulous dinner for the group, took a bike ride through their neighborhood with my dad, and explored their little town with my parents. The vacation was a much-needed getaway, and decidedly non consumer. And it was fantastic!
You don’t need to spend lots of money to have a great vacation. What are some of your favorite non consumer getaways? What have you been doing for vacation this summer? Please share in the Comments section.
Sounds fantastic.
Nature has a way in bringing things into focus.
Sounds like a great vacation!
One thing we do for a nonconsumer treat in every place we visit is to picnic in a beautiful spot with local foods. We are going to buy groceries anyway, so why not get a nice little spread to enjoy outdoors at a park, on a beach, or while gazing up at an historic building? You can splurge a bit more to buy the deli version of the local specialty and still save tons over buying it in a restaurant.
It’s so nice you got to spend time with your family – truly priceless. Thanks for giving us a glimpse of your wonderful vacation. Your parents seem healthy and your kayaking day with your dad seemed just fabulous. Marcel (my husband) and I are flying out to Paris next Friday and it is partly thanks to you, Angela. We are participating in our first home exchange via HomeLink which I discovered on your blog. Two weeks in Paris and one week in Corsica. Yippee!
We are very excited!
Marie-Josee, I am so happy to hear about your exchange to Paris and Corsica! That is absolutely fabulous news! I can’t wait to hear how it goes.
Oh, that is just brilliant. So fabulous.
Angela