Spring Fever

We had no intent on taking a vacation this year, but alas spring fever has its' grip on me. So we are taking an instate vacation. Our oldest son will be a junior next year so we have decided to take vacations around visiting colleges, hoping to give him and our other children motivation to aspire to higher ed.. This year my goal was to take a frugal vacation and make it a challenge. I love a challenge....imagine teenagers rolling their eyes here and husband ignoring me.
The vacation last four days and three nights. We are traveling four to five hours away to a beautiful part of our state.
Here are some of my self imposed challenges.
1. I found a hotel a little off the beaten path that has suites, so we will have two beds, sofa, and a roll away. We'll have a fridge, microwave and sink. All six of us will be in one suite.
2. We will utilize the pool and free breakfast.
3. The hotel being off the beaten path is a very nice Hampton Suites, clean, comfy, good beds, yet the rates were quite a bit less, the total for three days was a little over $300. Compared to a guest house of fancier hotel right in town for nearly double.
4. We will eat breakfast in the hotel, eat one picnic lunch each day, and eat out once a day at someplace kid friendly and cheap. Blake and I will have one dinner out on our own, while our oldest babysits and the kids eat pizza in the hotel. My favorite health food store in Fayettville has a great lunch/dinner counter that is really reasonable. At least two meals will be eaten here, it has great stuff to look at and great people watching.
5. Our visit to the U of A cost nothing.
6. We are visiting local parks and I have found some historic driving tours. Such as the Faye Jones architectural tour.
7. The Fayettville Farmer's Market is awesome and free, they often have entertainment for free also.
8. We will drive to Eureka Springs where we were married to show the kids where Dad and I got hitched.
9. There are plenty of great walking tours in Eureka, trails, and a great old Catholic Church that is really cool.
10. Here's a bit of our itinerary for Sunday and Monday. Everything is free except for the meals.

1. Tour of the Haunted Crescent Hotel and other haunted Eureka Sights
2. Museum featuring Eureka Springs' Past
3. Pivot Rock Trail Eurkea Springs
4. In Ripley's "Believe it or Not". Only church entered through bell tower.
5. Thorn Crown Chapel
6. Dinner at a Park Packed
7. Drive Back to Hotel 6:30
8. Swim, Snack bed
9. Monday:Breakfast
10. Faye Jones Driving Tour
11. Lunch at the Co-Op

11. Our budget: $1100.00
House sitter and Dog Care $200
Gas, Three tanks $135
Groceries $100
Meals out $200
Hotel $340
Miscellaneous $125.00

Hopefully I'll post back that I saved even more! Summer vacation I'm ready!