BALANCEDKIDS
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One-tank trips offer families fun, budget-friendly alternatives for summer vacation By Becky Raspe
F
amilies are busier than ever. With summer approaching, many look to planning vacations but find it hard to coordinate a trip that fits everyone’s schedules. That’s where one-tank trips – drives to destinations that can be reached without stopping for more gas – come in. Jill Bauer, public relations manager at Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores & Islands in Sandusky and Port Clinton; Bruce Harkey, president and CEO of Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus; and Jordan Steves, director of strategic communications and community relations at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, N.Y., all suggest there are plenty of such trips to the west, south and east of Northeast Ohio, respectively. “Years ago, people were doing staycations to save money. But, people then discovered wonderful tourist attractions within one tank of their home,” Harkey says. “It is a great opportunity to discover the area.” If parents take on more responsibility at work and children get involved with a multitude of
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activities, one-tank trips might be the only sure-fire way to spend time together. “Families are too busy and often both parents are working,” Steves says. “It is difficult to make a longterm commitment to a destination that is far away.” Bauer says many families don’t have a lot of free time to plan for trips, let alone time to spend on said trips. “Something like a one-tank trip is a great option and attractive for planning something on the fly,” she explains. “You really don’t need to have accommodations set ahead of time.” Harkey agrees. “If you hear about some opportunity in another city, it’s easier to make a plan and pile into the car,” he says. “And with this, you can take many adventures in the summer.”
balancedmag.com