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Here is a list of a few things that the remaining 41 percent might do to keep from having no vacation at all. This information comes from www.tia.org

38 percent would drive a shorter distance 36 percent would take fewer trips and/or cancel a trip 30 percent would spend less on souvenirs and shopping; 27 percent would spend less money on meals/restaurants and/or less on entertainment; 23 percent would spend less on hotels; 21 percent would spend fewer nights away from home; 20 percent would select another vacation destination. So what can you do to break the monotony of summer without breaking the bank?

Some friends of ours go away for a few days to a local hotel with a swimming pool. The hotel isn't the romantic getaway it used to be before children, but it's a great way to take the kids on a mini vacation without having them whine about being in the car. Camp out in the back yard. You probably can't start a fire in your back yard, but you can pitch a tent and cook on the grill if you have to. Pretend you're in the wilderness. Stretch out in the grass and look at the stars. Listen to the sounds outside that you'll never hear inside. At least the bathroom is only a few steps away!

Vacation at home. Take the time off work and schedule local activities that you've never done. Think about why tourists come to your city. Is it the museums? Your sports team? Restaurants? The beach? The culture? We live within two hours of the state capitol in one direction and the beach in the other. Generally, when family comes to visit from the Midwest, they want to go to the beach, but we have something for everyone.

I recently had a great overnight vacation by sleeping in my daughter's camper with her and the kids. Our business allows us to keep the camper in the parking lot, so all we had to do was show up and sleep there. We all ate dinner together before going into the camper, but once inside, we played a board game, then snuggled and watched a movie. It's the best way to get away from the things in the house that keep you from actually spending time together.

Last year on our Disney vacation with our daughter and grandkids, we spent two full days walking around Walt Disney World until we were ready to drop from heat exhaustion. The next day, we took the day off and went to the campground swimming pool. When I asked my grandson what his favorite thing about the vacation had been, he said, "Going swimming." I told my son-in-law he could have saved a lot of money by just taking the kids to the neighborhood pool at home!

I love to travel and see new places, but I'm always ready to come back home. Most kids get their information from what they see on tv, but all they're seeing is the best part of what that attraction has to offer. Some parents seem to judge their parenting success on whether or not they can take their kids to a Disney theme park. They either sacrifice all year to make the trip, or more likely, go into major debt to make it happen. In the end, the adults are uptight because they know they can't afford to be there. The kids are cranky because of the travel involved to get there.

Maybe it's time to sit down as a family and discuss, realistically, what your family wants to do this year. If your kids are old enough, tell them to come to the meeting with ideas for what to do or where to go. Be sure to ask questions and understand why they want to go to Florida. Do they want to go to Walt Disney World, or want to be at the beach. If they just want water, would they be just as happy with a day at a water park? If they want to ride roller coasters, how about an entire day at the local amusement park? With the internet, it's easy enough to look up activities and prices and make a budget. Decide what your budget can afford and go from there. Working together and being honest about your vacation budget can end up being a good experience for all of you.

After all, it's about how you spend your time together as a family. Not necessarily where you do it.