Every year, we make a winter visit to some Florida beach. And every year we make sure the kids have bikes to ride while we’re there.
Do we pack them in our suitcase?
Nope.
Do we ship them UPS from Wisconsin?
Nope.
Do we rent them?
Sometimes, but that’s really expensive.
Usually, we buy them. It may seem like a splurge, especially for penny-pinchers like us, but it is worth every dollar. This way, we’re able to explore for miles, with Mom and Dad on foot, and the kids pedaling far ahead. Some years, we’re lucky and find something at a thrift shop. But this year, we didn’t have any luck. So for $35 each at Walmart, we outfitted each kid in a brand new bike. Then we donated them to GoodWill at the end of our stay. (The bikes, not the kids;))
Bottom line? After tax deduction, we spent a total of about $50 for two weeks worth of entertainment. Not a bad deal. And the rental place on the island was $55 per week for ONE bike. Works for me!
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Tags: *Travel with kids, beach, bikes, Florida, Kids
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12:49 am
That is one of the best tips I’ve ever read. Excellent.
1:26 am
What a clever idea! I especially loved how you donated them at the end!
1:34 am
I love it! Thanks for the tip.
1:49 am
Makes me wonder how much other stuff I tote that could just as easily be bought and donated…hmmmm.
2:16 am
That is a great idea. Plus, some lucky kid will get those donated bikes! A win for everyone!
7:25 am
I’m sure the kids are devastated, having to ride brand new bikes on their vacation every year.
Brilliant idea!
8:29 am
What a terrific idea! I’ll bet there are a ton of other items like this pepople could buy and donate on vacation, too. Going to a snowy place? Buy a sled or snowsuit when you get there. Why did I never think of this? Thanks for sharing!
8:30 am
Oh, good idea and looks like tons of fun!
9:24 am
Great idea! That would work for pool and beach toys too! Thanks
11:57 am
What a fantastic idea not just for you and your kids but the local goodwill as well! I’m SO ready for the beach myself…..
Hugs,
Holly
Holly’s Corner
3:10 pm
Awesome idea! We have a bike rack for our van, but it does NOT hold enough bikes for our 7 kids, lol. We bring about 3 with us for camping, and thats it.
Great idea to donate them.
My wfmw is about getting those kiddos to eat their spinach!
3:23 pm
What a great idea! Isn’t it crazy that you can buy it for cheaper than rent it?! We do the same thing with movies-rather than going out to the movies or renting them, we wait until the rental stores sell their copies. Right now Hollywood video is having two sales: 4 for $20 and 3 for $25 (newer ones). That is a heck of a better deal than spending $ for babysitting and the movie tickets, let alone the candy and diet coke that we would have to buy!
Mari
Slowing Down
Franklin Foto
Come visit me. I’m a nice girl!!
3:56 pm
What a great excuse to donate something nearly brand new! You are brilliant
6:49 pm
Bikes on the beach? Wow! I never thought of that. We’ll have to try it when we go this summer.
11:49 pm
When you give us an idea like that I just want to say “duh.. why didn’t we think of that???”
Of course the hubby has a very special riding bike for the BIG RIDES…
but this is truly a wonderful idea for going to a resort.
(oh. reminds me to put note on calendar. Buy winning lotto ticket next wednesday so we can go to resort and buy bike)
10:23 am
[...] On our daily walks during vacation, I recognized a change from past years. This was the first year I could let them go without being nervous. [...]
10:45 am
We’ve spent enough on rentals the past 10 years or so we could have bought some v e r y nice bikes. And I agree, they’re a MUST at the beach!
5:21 pm
[...] Here’s another beach trip hint. [...]