It's that time of year

It's that time of year when J and I start thinking about our family vacation. The past two years we've spent a week up at Sauble Beach. The kids love being so close to the beach, and we're driving distance to many different places. Last year we went to a pioneer village, we went to Tobermory where we took a boat tour, we took them to the drive-in, and many trips to the beach, and their favourite roasting marshmallows over a camp fire.

But this year we want to experience something different, so I've been looking around. I came across this list this morning, I found it at Aol Canada Travel, Top Budget-Friendly '09 Destinations.

Here they are:

1. Washington, D.C., U.S.A. - Major attractions: many monuments and museums, Smithsonian and National Monuments, and they are free! Which is a bonus. But I don't think the kids would be too interested in visiting museums.

2. Waiheke Island, New Zealand - I've seen pictures and it's gorgeous.

3. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California, U.S.A - The National Park is filled with hot springs, heat vents, sulfur ponds and dormant volcanoes, yeah fun! There are eight campsites and there's also one lodge from what I understand. And there's also B&B's and motel's surrounding the park.

4. Istanbul, Turkey - I would love to visit Istanbul! But not with the kids.

5. Civil Rights Trail, U.S.A. (Selma to Montgomery, Alabama) - This sounds interesting, but once again how much fun would it be for children under ten years old.

6. Cartagena, Colombia - Another fun location to visit without the kids.

7. Cape Town, South Africa - Yet another place to visit without the kids.

8. Berlin, Germany - Same comment as 6 & 7. Am I a terrible parent?

9. Belfast, Northern Ireland - Visiting Northern Ireland & Ireland has always been on my "To Visit List". But J has no desire to go there. Something to do with the rainy weather, go figure.

10. Angkor Wat, Cambodia - Looks gorgeous, but I'm starting to sound like a broken record, not with the kiddies.

11. Waterton National Park, Alberta, Canada - Now this one may be doable. Our kids are the outdoorsy type. They get it from their father, but I get to tag along and have fun too. I'm just not a huge fan or sleeping on the ground. Just imagine: icy blue lakes, an ancient gully surrounded by mountains and glaciers. But is it in the budget.

Oh well, I'll keep on looking.