Cheap Day/weekend/week Trip Ideas?

We use www.vrbo.com. Vacation Rentals By Owners. We go over to the Pittsburgh area in the Laurel Highlands. It's used for skiing in the winter so the prices are higher then. So we use the places during the summer when the rates are considered off season. It's up in the mountains, there's state parks in the area for swimming and such, historical stuff and Pittsburgh is only an hour from Somerset area where we took the kids to the museums. The prices online right now are going to be ski season but you can check if they're listing off season rates or email them for their off season rates and dates. We rented a big cabin/house for our family of 6 for a week for $475. It had a big fire pit in back with wood included, grill, hammock. It's a place to start.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

Baltimore Aquarium trip? Followed by a crab dinner? It could be a day trip from where you are...

New York? Maybe not so cheap...

At least you've made it to the Shore, Poconos *and* DC. We've lived here for almost 4 years and have not made it to DC yet, although we go to NY a lot.

Can you tell us how far you are willing to drive? Are you willing to go by train or plane?

Have you checked out for rent by owner? We've found some terrific, cheap rentals that way, and food is then not an expense because our be making it at home anyway.