Funny Money Friday: Summer Vacation Ideas

Money doesn't have to be boring! Each week, CreditBloggers.com takes a look at the lighter side of the personal finance world in a series called Funny Money Friday.

Summer is here and, with the economic downturn, many of us are facing challenges in planning our vacations. Rising airline costs make air travel unappealing. Gas prices make a road trip in the ol' SUV a nightmare. The low dollar makes Europe almost impossible. It's time to get creative!

For funny money Friday, we're brainstorming three affordable summer vacation ideas for your family:

Bike Vacation - You'll save up to $1,000 on gas by biking from coast to coast instead of driving! And there are even tandem bikes that seat up to four riders.  Think of how much your kids will love seeing the American landscape with the wind blowing through their hair and the bugs in their teeth!

Walk Vacation - Save even more by not buying a bike at all and setting out on foot. You can lose weight along the way and even land yourself a documentary movie deal!

Staycation - Everyone's least favorite new word for 2008! Stay at home and enjoy your own backyard with the kids. Who needs a fancy hotel with a swimming pool when you can buy a"Summer Escapes"  inflatable pool online for only $29!

Sim Vacation - Take a virtual vacation with your family via a video game! Sims Castaway lands you on a deserted tropical island where you can lounge on the beach and soak up the digital rays. Mix up a pina colada and grab a controller. Think of how much you'll save over a trip to Hawaii!

Emily Davidson – Credit.com's Financial Expert and former TransUnion credit insider. Emily writes about credit reports, credit cards, loans and personal finance as the CreditBloggers.com moderator.