VIENNA, Va. (DC News Now) -- Families planning spring break and summer vacations may find the most memorable low or no-cost experiences are just a stone's throw away. Zoë Johnson runs the Virginia Adventure Family Instagram account, which explores the best sites and experiences in the DMV. She s tarted vlogging when she realized other parents may be curious about nearby adventures, and after years of posting, her account has grown to over 86,000 followers. Stretch Your Dollar | Plan to save on your summer travel Johnson shared some advice for families who are searching for adventure. "Just take advantage of those opportunities that are truly, it feels like, in our backyard, that are so close and make it affordable," Johnson said. "Instead of buying plane tickets and paying for luggage, it's like, 'Okay, we fit in a car. Let's go.'" The mother of four said some of the best adventures are days spent in small towns in Virginia. "There are just so many local towns that really you can spend a whole day in. I build these itineraries in my head. It's like 'Ok, we're doing something outdoors, so a hike, a playground,'" she explained. "Sometimes we'll pack our little picnic and bring that along to help save money." One of her favorite resources is her library card, which allows users to check out Virginia State Park passes, instead of purchasing an annual pass for $85. Planning trips to parks to enjoy their programming fills the family's day with fun and learning. "We got to do an entire class on snakes. We got to learn about the snakes we were holding. I mean, my kids just thought it was crazy. It's really fun to see, and taking advantage of these programs that are included with you attending the state parks," she said. When planning staycation days, she incorporates input from the older kids. ...read more read less