Marinmom’s Weblog

As a full-time working mom, I often wish I could travel with my kids more often.  I am limited by the American standard of two weeks vacation (who came up with that?) and by money or lack thereof.  Traveling with a family of four is expensive unless we go camping and my husband refuses to have anything to do with tents.  I dream of taking my family on safari to Africa, a historical tour of Boston or even just a long weekend a few hours drive away.  For the past few months, I have felt trapped.  I live in an affluent community and often hear of my neighbors far-flung adventures to France, Italy and Costa Rica.  One family I met recently actually owns an island off the coast of Spain.  I am not trying to compete with that, but how can I give my kids the experience of foreign shores when it is completely out of my reach.  Sometimes National Geographic just does’t cut it.   I recently took a few days off work to explore my own backyard, we went kayaking (SeaTrek.com), to  three beaches (Stinson, Muir Beach and Pt. Reyes) and had some friends over for dinner.  Not Africa, but a start.  At least I got of the house and out of my routine.  I am now looking for adventures around every corner.  Chinatown, the Mission District, volunteering at a homeless shelter they are all in the bay area and it is time to explore.  My kids won’t be able to talk about Parisian pastries but they can surely try a new cuisinejust around the corner.  So I wonder, do any of you have tips for getting out without going broke, weekend getaways on the cheap or even how to get your husband to camp.