Sandisk Slot Radio Giveaway #2

Remember last month when you told me all about your dads? It's time for my second Sandisk Slot Radio Giveaway.

The slotRadio™ player is a small, stylish, portable music device that comes bundled with a slotRadio™ card preloaded with 1,000 handpicked songs featuring artists from Billboard®'s charts, and professionally arranged into a variety of genre-themed playlists.

The die-cast aluminum player also features a 1.5” OLED screen for viewing artist and song information, a FM radio and even an integrated, handy belt clip for hands-free listening.

Additional 1,000 song, genre-specific and themed slotRadio™ cards. Digital music has never been this easy – just feast your ears!

"Feast your ears...." nom nom nom nom.

For this giveaway I'd like you to tell me about your summer travel plans in order to enter and since Summer Travel doesn't rub any salt in the wounds of my tragic childhood, I thought I'd share my plans with you.

This summer we have some budget savvy travel plans, like most everyone. Right now I'm in Puerto Rico with Maggie Mason checking off an item on her Mighty Life List. (Thank you frequent flyer miles!) Logan is heading up north to a friend's parent's place for a guy's weekend where he will mostly eat his favorite wings at Peegeo's and play video games. 

As a family we're heading up to the cabin of a friend where we've been going, well since I was 15 and babysitting for my pseudo-family. It's up north on Grand Traverse Bay and one of my favorite places on earth.

We're going camping with a bunch of families from our elementary school in August. We did this trip last year and survived, in spite of the rain. PS: Rain ruins camping. I am hoping against hope that rain will not be a part of our trip this year.

We're also going to stay up with our friend's Tom and Leslie at their parents place up north. The place we stayed last year and were nearly mauled by a bear. Not really but if that bear figured out how to open the door and climb the stairs and find us, then we would have been mauled. It was a close call!

Tell me your summer vacation plans, even if you're staying close to home. Your comment is your entry, here are the rules.

You can enter until 12am EST Friday July 10. The winner will be selected randomly from the entries and announced later that day.

Thank you to San Disk for sponsoring this giveaway!

Comments

[Kay]

We are spending it at our houseboat on the Mississippi like we do most every weekend. The kids schedules don't allow them to be with us during the whole week so we will spend a few days just the two of us travelling up and down the river. Hopefully doing a lot of relaxing and reading! I love summer weekends on the water!

[Cat]

I'm a little afraid to comment on my travel plans because THAT? Seems to remind The Universe she hasn't dumped on me in a while, and then everything goes to hell. I'm seriously considering a new tag on my blog, "Cancelled Vacations (Why Do I Go On Living?)".

But as of right now, Gray and I are leaving next week for our 4th annual Rock the Dock couples' weekend at a friend's lake home in Wisconsin. Boating, tubing, sunning, drinking, eating. And possibly singing.

We'd also like to try and reschedule our remote camping trip for sometime in August, but that might be too much to ask.

Great giveaway!

[Pam]

We're expecting our first child in October so budget-friendly vacations are a must. This year my husband and I are taking separate vacations, ha!
This weekend he heads to LebowskiFest in Kentucky with his best friend for a man-getaway.
Then in about two weeks I head to my family's cabin in Northeast PA with my immediate family to spend some quality time relaxing and get one last vacation in without a baby. Can't wait!!

[Beth]

We love to camp, and we plan to take long weekends in Crested Butte and Estes Park to do just that, but with three little kids and a big dog it is definitely not a "vacation"! Our real vacation will be in San Diego. I desperately miss the ocean, and we can drive there (staying one night somewhere along the way) and crash with friends. We're definitely doing the budget travel thing this year.

[Cathy]

We are going to Manhattan Beach in sunny California to watch the AVP (pro beach volleyball) tournament. My boys and husband love to watch and I love to lounge on the beach.. so killing 2 birds with one stone:)

[ella]

Our best vacations have always been of the budget friendly variety.

Sadly we just returned from our final trip of the summer.
We are RVer's so where ever we go involves camping in our travel trailer. It's too hot in Texas to tent camp in the summer.
Anyways we just returned from South Texas where we camped at Boca Chica Beach. That's just south of South Padre Island. It was wonderful. There's nothing better than grilling burgers and shrimp on the beach!
My brother and SIL live near by so we got to spend time with them.

Two weeks earlier we camped at Lake LBJ located north of Austin. It's a beautiful constant level lake and we spend our time there with family. A reunion sort of that we do every June.

Thanks for another chance to win!

[Patty]

We're heading out to Minnesota to fulfill my husband's desires and mine. He will get to canoe on the Boundary Waters while I sit on a screen porch and drink wine with my sister. Huzzah!

[clearydistracted]

So far, I've just been working too much, even though I have the summer "off". My husband and I are taking the three kids for a week of beach and fabulousness in Door County (WI). Other than that, we lounge in the backyard as much as possible and hang out with family a lot.

[Lara in South Riding, VA]

Ah, vacation. I need one! Nothing officially planned until late August, when we're heading to the Outer Banks in NC with family. Nice beach house rented, pool nearby, going to Kitty Hawk, playing putt putt...maybe can I get a nap, too? Then taking the following off and just hanging around the Northern Virginia/DC area. We'll see what we get into then. Maybe just the pool. :)

[Carrie]

Mostly staying close to home; I'm running a marathon back east in October, so that will be our big finance-eating vacation (it's by my folks' home, so the kids are thrilled!). We're doing all the local festivals, and we just discovered the joy of cheap Metra fares down to Chicago, so those can be day trips.

[Ani]

We're going to meet a delicious little baby at my sister's place. And we just got back from a couple of days of adults-only cabin in the woods.

[Kerri]

We're going to San Diego! Yay! In'N'Out, good Chinese, good Mexican, Trader Joe's... Can you tell I'm excited about the food?

[Nina]

I'm going camping at the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

[noteverstill]

In just hours we're heading to the beach - Delaware shore. Two little ones, sandcastles, boardwalk, funnel cakes and taffy and minigolf and pool time and frisbee and kites and my backlog of unread magazines. The minutes are moving too slowly.

[Susan]

We're visiting Lake Tahoe for a few days and staying with a friend who has a vacation home there. We also just got back from 3 days in Las Vegas--if you go mid-week the hotels and flights are quite reasonable.

[cricket]

my goal for the summer is to swim in every state in new england. it would help matters if it would stop raining long enough for the sun to heat the water above 50 degrees. maybe i should've planned to eat in every state in new england instead.

[Stephanie]

I too am heading north... From Chicago to my hometown of Harbor Springs Michigan, to see my family.

[Krys]

This year we're taking a cruise to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary! We're going on the Carnival Miracle, visiting Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay/Bahamas, and Nassau/Bahamas. The best part of the trip will be spending the entire time with my husband, and not having to share him with everyone else! I can't wait!!!

[Tina]

We already did our big vacation--driving 12 hours to visit family in Penn. Right now we're enjoying family visitng us so we have a big week planned. Other then that, I'm just hoping to get in some short activites like going to the the local minor leage Baseball team's game, going to the water park, visiting other parks in the area, and having lots of friends over that we don't manage to see during the school year because our kids are in different schools and schedules get to busy. And let the kids have some lazy days of summer, where I make them go outside and tell them to find something to do or I'll give them something to do. :)

[Nichole]

We're spending most of this month at my dad's house (in Michigan! Hello!) while my husband is out of town for work. Although, really. Single-parenting two kids under age 4 isn't much of a vacation for me. Hm.

[Christina]

After a long-ish summer of working and going to class, I'm traveling home to Pennsylvania to visit my family and friends. Nothing too exciting, but I can't wait!

[Jeanmarie]

I will be driving this Saturday from Staten Island to Ocean City Maryland, a 3.5 hour drive, for one day - when I make a promise, I keep it! Last year, my daughter was too short to go parasailing by about 2 inches - we promised her that we would take her when she got tall enough, assuming we would be going on our annual trip again this year. Unfortunately, we can't afford week's vacation in 2009, but she grew 2 inches in 2009 - so, ROAD TRIP!!

[Jennifer]

We are going camping to Northern Saskatchewan for about 10 days in our tent trailer. I am a little anxious about it as we did not make reservations for a site - it took us too long to decide where we were going, so we are just going to go and hope for the best. It is a 7 hour drive from Calgary, but the scenery and the lakes are worth. The only downside is the bugs - large and plentiful. Aside from that we are hoping to take a few weekend trips to the mountains.

[Katie]

Well, we had travel plans, but I am officially sidelined with the morning (noon, and night) sickness from hell. So, goodbye, San Francisco... I was really going to enjoy my birthday with you. Goodbye, camping in Moab... hopefully you won't have eroded away over the next year. Hello, my couch in an un-airconditioned Denver apartment. This kid better be worth it.

[Nell]

This is a sweet giveaway! We're having a real staycation (man I hate that word) this year. Heading to the beach and eating at the lobster shack - that is if it ever stops raining and warms up!

Enjoy your summer!

[Danielle]

This summer I am staying close to home, although we might make a few small weekend trips around Ontario. I live in Canada and hate winter so I save all of my big travel plans for when it gets cold.

[parsingtime]

We just got back from Playa Del Carmen....swine flu = great deals to Mexico!

[Catherine]

Heading to Long Beach, NC for the 19th (i think) time. It's my favorite place ever, we've been going since I was 3 years old, only missing one summer for Hawaii and least year because of my wedding. :) Nothing but beach chairs, long walks, shrimp and good books.

[Adrienne]

My husband and I just got back from London (part business, part pleasure). It was our first trip alone since our honeymoon (my mom watched our four kids).

And tomorrow morning we're leaving for San Antonio, TX. We're visiting family, but it will still be a vacation (and the kids' first plane flight).

[Jesse B.]

Mine are mostly over, my sister and I, along with our 6 kids went to UT. My kids and I visited my husband where he works..we camped and went to a theme park. The only thing I see us doing for the rest of the summer is camping.

[BOSSY]

Bossy is around, around, around, around, around, around, and then she goes camping.

[Court]

I'll be going to Rehoboth Beach as much as I can, and possibly going back to Oklahoma for a wedding.

[Jen]

Our summer plans actually started in May with a trip to Pennsylvania for my husband's grandmother's 90th birthday party. We were there over the Memorial Day weekend.

Normally, we go to a small family reunion in Northern Minnesota but so far have not heard when it might be. That might be off our list this year as a result (cry).

With a nearly two-year old, summer plans can include many trips to parks and zoos, and with this economy we're making the best of the free and cheap resources in our area! Zoo memberships are worth every penny!

[Rachel Escoto]

This summer I am taking my mother to Germany with me to visit a dear friend who moved there last year (thank you frequent flier miles AND hotel points). The rest is VERY budget friendly family camping trips, hanging out in the kiddie pool in the backyard, and hiking the local State Parks!

[Jessica]

I am going to be spending my summer vacation taking care of my newborn son in two weeks! Talk about rest and relaxation!

[Jodi]

Nothing big - hubby and kids are camping as I speak, while I work away. I feel we must do something, as I don't want my kids being the only ones who stayed home all vacation ;-) Hoping for a quick Disney trip - it's only a 5 hour drive for us.

[Buffy]

My only travel plans for this summer are to visit my aunt CJ in Pensacola, Florida. My son Reed (almost four years old) has never been to the beach, and I think it's about time he gets to stick his toes in the big water. My husband, my mom, Reed and I are going to go for a weekend in August to eat good food, drink some beer in the sun, and have a nice, relaxing time. I can't wait!

[Louisa]

I'm looking forward to several small trips to Pawleys Island, a quiet still somewhat hidden gem in SC. I have gone there since I was a baby and will enjoy watching my baby play in the sand for the first time this weekend.

[Pam]

We really had to cut back on trips this year - my husband has been laid off for 8 months, but is finally starting work in two weeks!

We went camping on Memorial Day weekend, which was fun. We want to do a weekend trip to DC (drive and stay with friends). And I'd love to get at least one more quick and cheap trip in somewhere - maybe visit one of my friends, either in Boston or Colorado. We'll see how the summer plays out.

[Christine]

Does a staycation at the Jersey Shore count?

[Toni]

I am going to San Francisco, Monterey, and Los Angeles to do flowers for weddings. Even though I will be working I think of any travel as a mini vaca. It should be tons of fun.

[abi]

We're staying put for the rest of the summer, except for maybe a day trip to the nearest big zoo or something. We already did our traveling for the summer, down south to visit my folks and hike in the mountains.

[Becky]

Hopefully taking a trip to Disney once school starts. Finally get to take a vacation during September since my daughter graduated this year!

[Sara]

We are not going on a vacation this summer because we just bought a house. We are however, headed to New Jersey for the wedding of some good friends. I'm not sure I count it as a vacation as we'll be busy with wedding-related activities the whole time we're there. Ah well, it will be a weekend away, right?

[Shanna]

My vacation this summer will be flying home to Connecticut (from Chicago) to visit my parents in their new house and to celebrate my dad's 50th birthday! I'm really looking forward to it - since my husband isn't coming, I don't have to spend half my time driving around New England to see all the in-laws (not that I don't love them) and I can spend some girl time with my mom since she's off work for the whole week. Only six more weeks until I go!

[jamie]

Too many weddings. Boo! On the beach though! Yay!

[Kathy]

This year is a lean year for my family also. As luck would have it, my mother is renting a house down the Jersey shore in Ocean Grove. Looking forward to spending time off there (of which, unfortunately, I may have a lot of). Ocean Grove has a very interesting history: old Methodist campground, dry town, used to have to move your car out of town from Sat midnight to Sunday midnight, no swimming on Sundays. Very cool Victorian architecture. AND - Bruce Springsteen's old stomping grounds! Looking forward to this! Thanks Mom!!!!

[Jane]

We already went to Oklahoma City to see the husband's family. Now, we're home in Austin awaiting the arrival of baby #2 in mid-August, so that trip to Oklahoma was the big summer trip. Although Austin does afford some great close to town trips to rivers, bbq places, etc. that we'll take advantage of.

[Jennifer]

At the beginning of August we will be renting a house for a week in Lake Tahoe area with my family; hoping that we stay sane with 11 adults (including my divorced parents and my Dad's girlfriend) and 8 kids ranging from 1 yr to 8 yrs old. Really, it will be more fun than I am making it sound, I swear!

[ADM]

We're staying close to home but so far we've hosted 3 sets of friends and hope to host a few more. It sometimes feels like a vacation to explore the city with our visitors.

[COLiz]

Iowa. July. Family reunion. Enough said.

[getsheila]

What a fun contest! My summer travel plans involve a two week whirlwind trip up to Alberta from California, over to Seattle, then over to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. And I am dragging my 81 year mom along with me. The woman hates to travel but actually got excited when asked if she cared to join me. I felt her forehead (cool and dry) then made the reservations.

It started as a simple visit to my sister's ranch in Coeur d'Alene. From there, I decided to take a trip up to my birth city Edmonton, Alberta. I have not been back since we moved to California in 1971. Reconnecting through Facebook with my kindergarden best friend who still lives there may have influenced my decision a teensy bit.

After a day or so there, mom and I will spend a week exploring Jasper and Banff National Parks (ice fields, anyone?) then fly to Seattle for a long weekend. Mom lived in Seattle for 7 years yet never once experienced Pike Place Market. Can you imagine?

We spend the next week lying about at my sister's ranch in Coeur d'Alene eating bon bons and watching healthy young men unload hay. Nirvana.

Happy summer, everyone.

[Alexa]

There won't be much going on here. I live in CT, and we've been up to visit family in NH twice. We'll probably go once more before the summer is over. Locally we'll definitely hit up a couple of agricultural fairs.

[Becky]

We are planning on one camping weekend vacation and hopefully one long weekend in Kansas City going to amusement parks and other sightseeing.

[Sherry]

When we lived in Oklahoma, we vacationed at the in-laws in Iowa. Now that we live in Iowa, we are getting to go on a REAL vacation. We are headed to the Black Hills next month. Mount Rushmore, The Badlands, Wall Drug and a day of Sturgis. Woo and then Hoo!

[Sheila H.]

Our summer plans involve more weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and rehearsal dinners than we can handle!

My husband and I have reached the age where everyone we know seems to be getting married or having a baby (We beat all of them to it! We were the first couple to get married and the first to have a baby - seriously, who finds out exactly 2 weeks after their wedding that they are having a baby?!).

Our various celebrations have taken/are taking us to Vegas, Missouri, Chicago, Iowa, and Denver. All with a 15 month tagging along.

[Laura B]

I'm getting married in less than two weeks!!! Then we're off to Aruba for our honeymoon. Definitely the most exciting summer travel plans I've ever had!

[Melissa]

We've already finished our travel plans. The last couple years we've done a Florida beach vacation with my parents in their RV. This year we actually took a full week-long vacation, just the three of us. We went to the Outer Banks, rented a house on the beach and ate seafood till we nearly sprouted gills. Alas, I'm now back in landlocked central Indiana very disappointed that walking off my back deck doesn't land me on the beach.

[Wendi]

We've already had our summer vacation, just my husband and I. We drove to Nashville, TN (from the Chicago area) and stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. We attended the HLAA Convention, which is a convention for people with all types of hearing loss (I'm deaf, my hubby is hearing impaired). It was awesome, and we got to meet a lot of fantastic people.

We also visited with relatives in Tennessee, and then drove from there to Arkansas to visit more family.

It was our first vacation since 2002 and we really needed it! :)

[Veronica]

We are going to try to make it to the beautiful white sand beach of Panama City Beach, FL. If we make it my man BETTER propose, that's all I'm saying. Not that I'm in a rush or anything, but my DREAM proposal is on a beach at night.

[Anne B.]

Sadly, most of my summer travel is over already! Went to Mexico for a week and just go back from Ohio for a family reunion. Hopefully, I will get to go to Canada sometime in July!

[amy]

We just got back from Grandma & Papa's house in St. Clair, Michigan. I sent my husband and kids for the whole week (it's his parents) and I only went for four days, so MY vacation was the blissful 5 days of peace and quiet in my own damn house. Ahhhh.

Next month we're going to Black Butte Ranch in Eastern Oregon with my whole family -- 5 kids under 6, my crazy dad and his awful new wife, my sister, and two brothers in law. It will be fun and crazy and loud, and it will make me think back wistfully on those 5 quiet days.

[Katg]

We're mostly just hanging out around the house -- playing in the sprinkler, walking the dog, reading under the tree, lovely things like that.
The Bean is in summer camp through our cities parks -- swimming lessons, field trips, trips to the library, and running around on the playground.
At the end of the summer, my parents are coming into town to go to the State Fair. My sister is flying into town from New York as well -- but we're not telling our parents, so when they come over... Surprise!
That's really the most exciting things we're doing.

[Kim Smith]

This is the year of the "staycation" for us. We moved outside Atlanta last July 4th, and all last summer was filled with moving, transferring schools, selling one house and buying another and before I knew it, we were knee deep in winter (or a reasonable facsimile for Ga).
This summer, we've had friends and family come to us and we've got busy visiting places around here. We've been to the Aquarium, the Coke Museum, ball games, parks, all over.

Maybe next year we can travel.

[Rochelle]

I'm hoping to cash in a free ticket to fly from the West Coast to spend a week with a friend and her family on the Outer Banks. I've never been up close to the Atlantic, and I hear it's quite nice!

[Kimberly]

Like the first Pam above, we're having a baby this fall, so no crazy vacation plans (last year I was in Mexico teaching and the summer before that we spent in Italy with my in-laws!). But, we are taking two trips, to each coast, to visit our families before the baby arrives. And, of course, the requisite weddings. I'm really hoping that everyone can just get hitched so we can stop going to 2-3 every summer!

[MarthaB]

We don't have much planned but we will be going to the Crossfit Games this weekend. This is a fitness competition in Aromas, CA...a middle of nowhere spot north of Salinas, CA.

In August we will be going to Bishop,Ca for a camping trip. There will be about 30 of us hanging out for about 4 days enjoying the earth.

That's it for our tight budget, but it will be fun!

[Emily Claire]

We already took our summer vacation! A week in NYC, staying with friends, hoping around museums, shopping in Brooklyn and Chinatown, and getting engaged in Central Park! Woot!

[Jana]

We're headed to the great metropolises (metropolii?) of Gaedon, LA and Donaldsonville, LA for baseball tournaments. Both of my boys (7 and 12) are on their all-star teams. Gaedon is reported to be the duck-hunting capitol of the universe, and I think Donaldsonville is the redneck-hunting capitol of the universe. All that saving money all year for these far-flung locations! Maybe I'll bag a redneck with a mullet to mount over the fireplace to make it worthwhile.

[Michelle]

We're just planning one or two short camping trips down to Montana - trying to save money for our Fall trip to Switzerland! I'm bringing my boyfriend to meet my mum's family and wander around "the continent" for a while.. So excited!

[brooke]

we'll head up north to a campground where my parent's have a camper, and I think we'll spend a night in a hotel and swim...my kids are 2 & 5, easy to please.

[Tami in NY]

We spend (almost) every weekend at our "cottage" on Sandy Pond which is fed by Lake Ontario.

[kate]

My sweet husband recently turned 50; all he wanted for his birthday was to get to see Gillian Welch live this summer. So just the two of us are going to Santa Cruz for a long weekend to see her in concert. We'll eat good food, drink good beer and just enjoy the beach.

Other than that, it's a total labor-camp around our house this summer, re-landscaping our yard by ourselves. Uugghh.

[Elaine]

Welcome to Puerto Rico! I'm sorry the weather's been kind of crappy the last few days. Hopefully the sun will come out, and STAY out for you. As for me, my boyfriend is deployed and we are meeting in Europe for his mid-deployment leave. Woohoo! I'm so lucky to be able to take this trip, and lucky my tax return covered my plane tickets. I think the most anticipated stop on our itinerary is Santorini.

[Lisa]

We go up to northern Wisconsin every August. We fish, boat, swim and relax with family. The kids look forward to it so much. Other than this annual trip, we are staying close to home and trying to find budget friendly options for the kids to do yet still have fun.

[Rachel K]

My vacation time hasn't kicked in yet so I'm staying close to home. Which means that I'll be traveling through the traffic to the beach on the weekends. Not bad.

[Elizabeth]

My summer is being spent in classes - I finish my masters degree in early august. But the fun part is that I'll be done in august and either get to explore Pittsburgh for a couple of weeks while avoiding packing OR get ready to move somewhere as yet undetermined. I'm kind of hoping to get to go somewhere ridiculous and very different from where I live now.

[ana-maria]

camping, with maybe a road trip or two thrown in to san francisco and maybe alberta..?

[Amy]

I am heading to Montana for the first time. A little solo hiking mission. Should be interesting... maybe there will be a cute boy out there that wants to show me around.

Other than that, lots of enjoying "up north" in Minnesota.

[Linda]

I'm in Tallahassee, Florida for a year going back to school, and before I leave in August, I plan to drive around and take in more of Florida -- St. Augustine, the Gulf, etc.

[Julie]

I'm visiting my family in Northern Ontario. Hope the weather cooperates!

[Marianne]

Since I moved to the Yukon in northern Canada travel in summer is unnecessary. It's beautiful local camping, the weather is fine (so far) and if you don't save your pennies and get out in the dark winter you may go nuts! I'm planning a sun holiday in January or February to get a little vitamin D and reduce possible SAD symptoms; probably a week camping in Hawaii. Other than that, it'll be visiting the hot springs and trying to catch the northern lights.

[sarah]

ooh! Fun!
Mostly we do quick weekend trips to the beach, but this year we're also thinking of doing a more splurgy REI adventure trip since the discussion of babies has come up again & we know that Life as We Know It would end.

[Kait]

I'm dragging my two small children all the way from St Louis to Traverse City to spend the summer at the family house on the Bay.

I grew up in Michigan and missing the cherry festival is never a real option.

[Yolanda]

We do not have any summer vacation plans. Our budget for travel is zero, but we have been automatically putting aside a few dollars a day in our savings account in hopes of having a a small chunk of cash to work with next year.

[AnEmily]

I feel so lucky to have my mom living in Maui, because that's where we are heading in August for two glorious weeks of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the beach!

[Dana]

My fiance and I are trying to figure out an inexpensive trip to take in two weeks for my birthday. We are thinking maybe Lake Arrowhead.
Then to finish off the summer in a major way - we are getting married in Manhattan Beach. Our honeymoon, the week after, will consist of Paso Robles, Big Sur, San Francisco, and a few day stay in Sonoma County.
We can't wait! Eff you recession - we can still have fun!

[Amy]

Most of my summer plans have already happened (the big beach trip, anyway). But I do have a fun mountain adventure planned in August. Other than that, I'm staying close to home with the family. Lots of gardening. Reading. Breathing. That kind of good stuff.

[elaine]

not doing too much travel this summer, a weekend in maine, visit some friends in connecticut, camping in the white mountains of NH and perhaps a whirlwind weekend in san francisco to help my mom celebrate her 80th and my sister celebrate her 50th.

[Michele]

The theme in our house this year is cheap, cheap, cheap! Taking our 2 kids to St. Louis for a couple of nights and doing the Magic House, Botanical Gardens, etc. We are also going to try to go camping for a weekend at Kentucky Lake with my brother and his family. Spend some time around a camp fire and on a boat. Wanted to head up North to Copper Harbor, MI and some other place in the U.P. but not going to happen this year - our youngest does NOT travel well in the car! Hours in the car with a screaming 2 year old not my idea of a fun vacation.

[The Bug]

We were going to go to Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky (beautiful area!), but my husband got a job & we decided to spend the whole summer moving instead. We're just moving an hour north, so we're taking our time about it - paying rent on two places for two months. I don't really recommend it though - getting it all done in one crazy week is saner.

We are going to visit our family in NC later this week though - long weekend - so that will be nice.

[JO]

Great Giveaway!

We are going to Dallas to visit the inlaws this month and then to the Outer Banks in August. The rest of the summer is going to be spent at our NC beach. Since we live here.

[Martina]

My husband and I will be taking our first vacation together as newlyweds soon. We never got to go on our honeymoon because shortly after our wedding, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Six months of chemo later and I'm ready to live it up! We're heading to the East Coast of Canada: New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

I'm especially excited to visit Digby NS, the scallop capital of the world! We're taking a ferry across the Bay of Fundy (yay boats!) into New Brunswick for a friends wedding, then driving back to Halifax. This isn't exactly a honeymoon,(tropical beaches still to happen) It is our summer holidays and I'm really looking forward to it!

Keep posting about Michigan and your favourite places. I live only 2 hours from the Windsor/Detroit border (in Canada) and would love to spend time exploring Michigan!

[ailo]

I'm saying goodbye to a failed relationship with my first trip to Europe! Sleeping on a friend's floor and exploring the hague. Sounds excellent, right?

[Misty]

My husband and I are foregoing our honeymoon (yet again) because my jerk boss (aka the Deranged Weasel) is spending a month in Europe and my other coworker spent 2 weeks in Australia, so I am the only one available to maintain our office. Booooooooo!

[RebeccaLand]

I don't know if anyone will read this, but I was wondering if anyone has some budget friendly ideas for a single mom of a 5 y/o. I know camping is always suggested but we own zero pieces of camping equipment because I find nothing relaxing about sleeping on the ground, making food outside and communal bathrooms. Thanks for any suggestions.

[Calee]

Our summer travel was more spring travel--we went to the island of Cyprus for Eastern Easter then to a lovely beach resort in Mexico with my family in June. The verdict-- next year spread out the travel and make sure it doesn't include red-eye flights with a toddler.

[JessicaD]

Like you, Melissa, I tend to freak out over unscheduled time in my poor daughter's summer. So I have scheduled a camp/vacation/camp/vacation pattern that has us traveling every other week and her doing camp locally the other weeks. We're only a month into it, and I realize again that I really need to give us a little time to chill. Maybe next year?

[Valerie]

I'm...working. Though, I did take all of last week off (thanks, comp time!) but aside from going to the beach for a day I mostly hung around the house. Oh, the exciting life I lead.

[Alana]

Our vacation this summer consisted of a weekend at my parents' house in Louisiana, four hours away. Since I quit my job to go to nursing school, there is no money in the budget for a vacation. However, my son does get to go to Tennessee with my parents for a week while I enjoy my summer school class.

On the bright side, we have been saving for three years to take the kids to Disney World in Florida, and we are finally making that happen for Christmas this year.