If you’re like me, your kids get lots of days off in the summer while you only get a few – and most of them are national holidays. You have to plan your time off carefully and strategically and make the most of those days while also chasing that elusive thing normal schedules refuse to allow – relaxing. 

If you’re short on vacation days and also don’t have a lot of extra money for a trip, and if you’re paying for multiple daycare tuitions and large grocery bills, we have a lot in common. But this isn’t the time to talk about the money we don’t have or the time we can’t spare. This is about making life simple and fun again, the way it is supposed to be. 

Most people think of a lavish and expensive trip when they hear the word vacation, but I think back to one of my favorite movies, “What About Bob?” and the need we all have to take a vacation from our problems. Whether you relate more to Bob, Dr. Marvin, or maybe even one of the estranged kids, you probably see the lure of being on vacation from the day-to-day trapeze act you perform seven times a week. 

A vacation needs to be time away from whatever your daily routines look like, and to accomplish this, you may not need to pay to stay somewhere else. Chances are you don’t see your house a lot, so paying to stay in someone else’s home or resort may not be ideal. A change of scenery can mean many things, but the most common is an actual change of scenery. 

A week or two on an island sounds great during a random week in July, but so do multiple day trips, ending each with a memorable evening at your house. A vacation from your problems can be a vacation on the cheap, and if you don’t have a lot of cash to spare right now, adding strain to your finances isn’t going to mean less stress when you return to your normal life.

If you live near the Portland area, you are less than two hours in every direction from the ocean, a mountain, a river, and many fun stops along the way. 

From the east side of Portland to the coast, there is 90 minutes of good traffic and about two hours of heavy traffic. Once there, the world is your oyster. From unique shops and coffee and walking paths in Astoria to a one-of-a-kind arcade and a fun boardwalk in Seaside to more shops and restaurants in Canon Beach, the north coast is a wonderland for all ages. There are plenty of budget-friendly places to visit, the beach itself being the best and cheapest. You can pack a cooler of your favorite snacks and beverages and avoid spending a lot of money on takeout, saving your hard-earned cash for treats or gifts you can’t find away from the beach. 

If you prefer a quiet side of the coast, you can head south to Lincoln City to browse the outlets, take your kids to a fantastic park overlooking the lake, or play on the quiet beaches on the north side of town. You can stop in the teeny town of Depoe Bay, do some whale watching, get some award-winning chowder, and enjoy sand so devoid of people you will swear you have your own private beach. 

If you like being at the coast but are “beached out,” you can drive to Newport to experience the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Ripley’s Believe Or Not, and grab lunch or dinner at the Rogue Brewery. Historic Newport has some great little shops and restaurants, but aside from the big attractions, it doesn’t offer much in the way of what many people think of as a “beach town.” 

If driving to the coast isn’t your idea of a day trip, have you considered Hood River? Less than 90 min east of Portland along the Columbia River, the town of Hood River offers many things most beach towns have without having to drive all the way to the coast. Littered with breweries and shops and one of the most stunning walking paths in all of the NW, this quaint town has it all and plenty of room for everyone, even on the busiest days of the year. If the waterfront area is too populated, you can find a spot downtown, wander plenty of unique shops, and maybe even catch a movie in the skylight theater above Andrew’s Pizza. 

Another day, you can take a journey to Mount Hood and go hiking, camping, or stopping at one of several lakes for swimming and views you can’t believe, and you’ll likely be in temperatures that will make you think spring is back again. Trillium Lake has some of the most famous views, but it gets very crowded, and parking can be difficult. Timothy Lake and Lost Lake are still popular but offer day-use areas that don’t tend to get overloaded, like Trillium. If you get up there and don’t have the energy to drive home, there are many low-cost lodging options, but bringing a tent and renting a campsite will always be the lowest cost option of all, and if the weather cooperates, a few sleeping bags and a canvas of stars is all you need. 

If you don’t have any overnights on the list, consider ending each evening with something fun at home. If you don’t own a fire pit, they are easy to find online or in stores and provide the fun of the campfire without leaving for a campground. You can make smores, tell fun or scary stories, and just enjoy the moment without wondering who gets to drive home while the rest of you snooze. If the kids aren’t up for it or don’t like the idea, you can still put your fight up by the fire. If you have the means, white sheet, and a mini projector, a Bluetooth speaker can make for a fun drive-in movie in your backyard, and a little wine or cider can make that experience even better. 

Whatever you do or wherever you go, make sure it’s a vacation from your problems, even if it’s not the vacation of your dreams. We all work so hard and so much that we think we need these big things to outdo the negative things in our lives, but the simple and small things often make life easier. A deep breath can be the best cure for a tough moment, and a staycation patched with day trips can be just as relaxing as a place you have to fly to and pay a lot of money for. 

Just remember to breathe; as for the rest, just do fun things with your favorite people, and don’t spend more than you have while giving yourself fun things to do on your days off. Smiling is free, and everyone feels better when they are.