Summer is here and for many of us, that means vacation time. If you have not yet made your plans, it is not too late to do so and some of the best summer vacations can still be planned and booked at the last minute.

If your idea of the perfect vacation is relaxing on the beach, there are plenty of affordable options. In the northeast, Ocean City, Maryland, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and the Jersey Shore are all popular choices, offering inexpensive accommodation and plenty to do for families. For something a little more relaxing, North Carolina’s Outer Banks offer miles of mostly uncrowded and unspoiled beaches. Many visitors to the area choose to rent a house to save money. A little further south, Myrtle Beach, SC offers not only beaches, but outlet shopping, live shows and some of the best golf in the US. There is no shortage of beach resorts on the west coast, although one of the most popular is Newport Beach, California, consistently regarded as one of the best places to get a great tan.

Europe is great to visit at any time of the year, although cities such as London, Paris and Rome can be hot and overcrowded during summer. Some quieter parts of Europe include the north of England, the ‘new’ countries of Europe such as Croatia and the beaches on Germany’s Baltic coast.

Many National Parks can be overcrowded during the summer, although there are some that allow you to visit and escape the crowds. Arches in Utah, Big Bend in Texas and Cape Breton in Canada all offer spectacular scenery, but without the throngs that can be found at Yellowstone or the Great Smoky Mountains. If your goal this summer is to visit the Grand Canyon, consider visiting the less crowded and less touristy North Rim, which is admittedly not as accessible as the touristy South Rim, but is well worth the extra driving time.

Camping is a wonderful way to enjoy a summer vacation on a budget. Many campgrounds come equipped with toilets, showers, a restaurant and store, swimming pool and a full program of activities and events. It is easy to find lists of family friendly campgrounds all across the United States, by searching on-line. Some state parks offer camping as well and it can also be a great way to beat the heat if you camp at a higher altitude. Renting an RV is another option and the summer is a great time to go on the classic American road trip, even if you do not have time to take in the whole country. Recreational vehicles come in a range of sizes, are easier to drive than you might think and of course, allow you to live, eat and sleep in them, saving on accommodation costs.

The best summer vacations are those that involve the whole family and will be remembered for years afterwards. Regardless of where you choose to go, it is an excellent opportunity to relax, enjoy and create some family memories.

More and more of the upper class are choosing to forgo the routine Sit-On-the-Beach vacations for a relaxing time with horseback riding vacations.  There are many places to visit throughout the country that provide luxury dude ranches with scenic trails or wide-open ranges for horseback riding.  Although it may appear that this type of vacation is not for everyone, luxury accommodations, gourmet cuisine and many different activities are available for even the most finicky vacationer.  A lot of luxury dude ranches are open for the entire year, allowing the vacationer to enjoy the different seasonal weather or celebrate holidays.

Accommodations can vary.  Some provide private cabins with several bedrooms and a full kitchen if the occupants prefer to cook their own meals or prepare a snack.  Luxuries are provided such as plush towels and bathrobes, slippers and high-quality bedding.  In addition, some cabins are equipped with a hot tub or whirlpool bath, perhaps a sauna, and a fireplace for ultimate relaxation.  Other ranches offer lodge rooms, with public areas for vacationers to mingle with each other.  Swimming pools, saunas and hot tubs are shared amenities.  Meals are served in a common area or in the vacationer’s room to allow for privacy.

Horseback riding vacations do not offer only horseback riding.  The upper class is treated to such activities as exercise classes, yoga, massages and spa treatments.  Some ranches provide holiday celebrations, such as caroling for Christmas or fireworks displays on the Fourth of July.  Other activities could include nature hikes, cookouts, dances and live music.  Most provide activities for children as well.  They could include such activities as pool parties, scavenger hunts, making S’mores at the campfire, or arts and crafts.  Some ranches allow the vacationers to assist with the daily chores if they desire, like feeding the animals or maintaining equipment.  With so many activities and luxury accommodations, a horseback riding vacation has something for everyone.

Canada is a huge country, with plenty of things to do and see plus activities that all the family will enjoy but here are just a few suggestions for family fun vacations this summer.

First of all, in Langley, from July 16-18 there is the annual BC Renaissance Festival, also known as the Renfest. Here local people and visitors dressed up in costumes from the 16th century (this year’s Stellar’s Grove goes back in time to 1511) enjoy the entertainments and events, but watch out for pirates! On Friday the 16th there will be Knights and jousting. On Saturday the 17th more scenes will be acted out involving King James of Scotland and his Queen Margaret Tudor, when they are attacked by pirates aboard their ship the Jade Dragon. On Sunday the 18th, the last day of the festival, there will be more Knights, more jousting, more singing, and almost certainly more pirates. This festival will provide a fun family vacation weekend for young and old alike.

Kingston family fun world park in Ontario is another family friendly location in Canada. The theme park has a drive-in movie theatre, miniature golf, amusement rides, and including a Ferris wheel rollercoaster also has a host of rides for small children and go-karts for teens.

The largest and most popular theme park in Canada is Canada’s Wonderland. This park features numerous thrilling rollercoaster rides of every variety imaginable. For the younger children there are Nickelodeon characters such as Dora the Explorer and sponge Bob Square pants to play with in the park plus there are shows for all the family to enjoy, including spectacular stunt performances and musical shows. Included with admission to Canada’s Wonderland is commissioned to the 20 acre splash works waterpark with water slides, a wave pool and other water rides.

Marineland, near Niagara Falls is as you would expect a place that features attractions and shows with marine animals such as dolphins and whales, but also has a variety of amusement park rides to keep all ages of children amused. Marineland is set in a large amount of open space, and there’s plenty of room to have a picnic and relax while enjoying your family fun day out.

photo credit: Make Lemons

Just one hour west of Ottawa is Canada’s most popular rafting and kayaking river, where Wilderness Tours offer vacation packages that are packed with family fun. These could include exciting white water rafting for teens and adults or gentler, family friendly raft trips. This adventure resort also features a climbing wall, mountain bike riding trails, kayaking, together with a pool and hot tubs when you want to relax after an exciting day on these fun family vacations.