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by Dana Joseph
(reprinted with  permission)

Make a Plan

Your own backyard and beyond are full of possibilities for family fun. No matter where you live -- big city, small town, out in the country -- there's plenty to explore. Firsthand experiences nourish your child's imagination and intelligence. Give your kids hands-on travel and exposure to adventures and you'll equip them with curious, bright minds for life.

• Plan a routine. Once a month, declare a family trip day. If it's the first Sunday of every month, try to stick with it. Of course, you can't ignore soccer practice or a best friend's birthday party. But you can make the Family Day plan a firm one most of the time by planning activities your kids will enjoy. Even if everyone wants to sack out with a rented movie, that counts. Being consistent about taking special family day trips tells your kids that time together matters. The regular rhythm of the monthly plan will contribute to your family's fun factor and to the stability of your emotional connection as a unit.

• Brainstorm ideas. First, get a local city or county map and, with your kids at your side, use a compass to draw a circle with a 5-mile radius around the dot that represents exactly where you live. Get out a magnifying glass and take a good look. What's nearby that looks interesting in any direction? It might be the woods across the street or a nature preserve you've never been to. If so, get tree, flower, and bird identification books and spend some afternoons learning about the flora and fauna in your area. Is there a river or stream that looks like a good picnic site? If so, pack a Frisbee and the family pet and off you go. How about that catfish restaurant a couple of miles away that people drive to from miles around? If you've never been, mark it on the list. The same goes for fishing holes, swimming holes or county parks that may offer a range of recreational activities. Use a colored highlighter pen to note any spot on the map that seems like a possible destination. Increase the radius of your day-tripping possibilities until you've exhausted what's realistic for your family!

• Call local chambers of commerce. The chamber of commerce in every city exists to ballyhoo the interesting local offerings and businesses, from historical sites and funky diners to donut shops and walking trails. Ask for any brochures or flyers that list points of interest in the area you're considering.

• Dig into books. At your local library, ask a librarian for area travel books. Also, check out the travel books in your local bookstores and on book store Web sites such as amazon.com. There are bound to be guides to your area and your state. One excellent series is the state-by-state Off the Beaten Path (Globe Pequot Press). Written by local experts, these treasure troves will tell you all sorts of trip-worthy things about your state that you might never discover on your own. You'll learn about everything from quirky hotels with movie-themed rooms to surprising local landmarks. Also check out the Oddball state-by-state series (Chicago Review Press) and, if you're lucky enough to have been covered by the series, pick up your state's Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities and Other Offbeat Stuff (Globe Pequot Press). A search on your favorite Internet bookseller's site or search engine for guides to your state will produce compelling possibilities for day trips of scenic drives, swimming holes, caves, birthplaces, factories, local curiosities and more.

• Call the parks and recreation departments in the area. These folks are fonts of knowledge when it comes to activities in the area, whether it's the best sledding hills, ice-skating ponds, fishing holes, baseball diamonds, or overnight camping spots. They usually can provide you with maps of all the parks in their jurisdiction and the facilities and activities available at each location. Don't forget to ask for hiking trail maps, too.

• Contact the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Like a chamber of commerce, but even more focused on the business of getting people to discover what's great about a city or town, the Convention and Visitors Bureau can be a great guide to what a locale has to offer. A little searching on the Internet will turn up Web sites for visitors' bureaus that handle tourism on a city, regional, or state basis. You can often request tourism packets online. Or call and have a conversation with a staffer, who will surely enjoy the opportunity to make suggestions about travel resources.

• Check out other resources. State departments of transportation, natural resources, and parks and wildlife organizations often publish magazines brimming with day-trip ideas. The Sunday travel section of your local newspaper will give you ideas, too. Highlight potential destinations and clip articles. Stash them in a Family Day idea folder and you'll never be at a loss for things to do and places to go together. Make a day of it. Pack a simple lunch that includes a special treat for the kids. Maybe it's cold pizza, a snack pack of their favorite chips, fruit you canned together, or some chocolate-chip cookies you made as a family the night before. Or stop somewhere that the locals frequent: People are almost always happy to give restaurant or diner recommendations. Maybe your research on the Internet turned up barbecue joints, fried-chicken kitchens, and mom-and-pop places that could become new traditions for your family.

• Keep day trip items in the trunk year-'round. No matter where you live and what kinds of activities your family loves, certain things always come in handy. Having them in the trunk of the car will ensure that you've got most everything you need on hand. Get a large lidded Rubbermaid tub and throw in whatever appeals: a Frisbee, football, Nerf ball, soccer ball, cooler, thermos, blanket or quilt, sunscreen, extra sweaters, juice boxes, wipes, non-perishable snacks like peanut-butter crackers, and some interesting books for all ages.

• Don't bite off more than you can comfortably chew. Try not to pack too many activities into what should be an easy, relaxing day. Avoid itineraries. Go with the flow. Don't be overambitious in the driving. Simple moments close to home can make lifetime memories. Save the more-involved vacations for the summer. Day tripping is all about just getting out and having fun as a family.

• Take a camera and a journal. Encourage the kids to document your day trip adventures. It will make them good observers of life and detail. If you develop this habit in your day trips, it will reinforce the special nature of your time together. And the photos and journal entries will serve as wonderful keepsakes in years to come. Have everyone jot a few notes -- the young ones can dictate -- about the memorable part of your day trip. Let the kids take turns with the camera to capture compelling moments. Always get a shot of all of you together; you may end up with this year's Christmas card. When you look back on these special things you did with your family when the kids were young, you'll be glad that you made day trips a priority.

 Dana Joseph is a freelance travel writer based in Fort Worth/Dallas, Texas