There is finally light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel. As such, many families are itching to hit the road and travel after a year of being stuck at home. However, the pandemic has also brought with it a high amount of economic uncertainty. The good news is that you can still scratch your itch for travel adventures without breaking the bank. Here are five great low-cost family vacation ideas for you to consider in 2021.

Last-Minute Tour

There are deals to be had if you are willing to be spontaneous. It used to be that you could find amazing value by booking a cruise at the last minute. However, with cruises off the table, for the time being, you are going to need to think outside of the box.

Instead, you may want to consider a land tour. Tours need to fill seats to pad their bottom line. This means that they will often throw the leftover seats on sale at rock bottom prices in order to sweeten the deal for travelers on the fence. If you are willing to be flexible with the destination, you can even block out a time for your trip and start scouring the deals a few weeks prior.

Be a Local Tourist

Who says that you have to travel far to have a good time? Sometimes all that you need to do to satisfy your travel urge is to explore your own city. If you are like most people, you tend to ignore the greatest attractions in your own backyard. It is easy to put it off knowing that there will always be another day.

The ongoing pandemic presents an ideal opportunity to dig into the best of what your city has to offer. Try to see your surroundings through the eyes of a tourist and you will watch everything come alive. You will also feel great about supporting your local economy after such a tough financial year.

Camping

A camping adventure is a rite of passage for many American families. There is nothing better than connecting with Mother Nature in the great outdoors. Camping in Utah state parks will never disappoint. Here you will find flowering meadows, towering mountains, beckoning lakes, and more.

Camping does not have to involve roughing it. Today's modern campsites boast a host of amenities, making it a comfortable experience. As a bonus, a camping trip will ensure that your kids have to disconnect from all of their electronics. There is no greater family bonding activity than a trip off the grid.

National Parks Tour

America's vast national parks system is a true wonder to behold. No matter where you live, you will be able to find a national park within driving distance. You can purchase a weekly national park pass, making this a great value when you are looking to cut costs on the entertainment portion of your budget.

You can choose to focus on one specific park or pick a few parks within proximity and tour them as a group. For example, many people choose to visit Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park on one trip. Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Glacier National Park are another good trio of parks that you can knock out during one single trip.

Beach Vacation

One of the biggest expenses when traveling is the entertainment costs. Naturally, it is going to cost a significant amount of money if you choose to go to a theme park or on a big city adventure. By choosing a destination that has built-in fun at little to no cost, you will automatically save on your overall trip.

For example, a beach vacation provides a variety of activities that will not cost you any additional money. Kids will delight in simply playing in the sun and the surf all day. All you will need is some sunscreen and sand toys to make this happen.

With a little research and willingness to be flexible, you can plan an amazing family vacation while still feeling confident about your financial situation. All five of these trip ideas will deliver the platform needed to create meaningful family memories as you make the most out of 2021.