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Last weekend, I finally discovered a perfect fall outing: the harvest festival at the Agricultural History Farm Park in Gaithersburg, Maryland. We had such a great time on Saturday that we came back on Sunday - and I found myself actually looking forward to this double-header. So what defines a terrific family outing?

Not Needing Much Money
On the way to the festival, my husband and I loaded up with cash. At the end of the day, we found that we had spent exactly....none of it (except for the $10 fee per car). On the second day, I spent a grand total of $1.75 on various baked goods. That's it.

In contrast, when our family braved the Maryland Renaissance Festival last month, the opportunities to spend money were legion. Eateries loomed every six paces or so; each cute little game or activity cost at least $1 a pop (and usually more); face painting started at $10 – and that was in addition to the already hefty entrance fees. For your convenience (of course), ATMs were generously sprinkled throughout the medieval fantasyland. I have avoided calculating exactly how much cash we leaked that day.

Full Story: http://www.currentmom.com/currentmom/2009/10/fall-festivals-with-kids-how-to-keep-your-sanity-and-your-cash.html