If you’re anything like me, at the end of the summer you have a million photos of your kids in funny poses, silly faces and wildly fantastic expressions. Vacations and destinations are awesome, but preserving those memories in a way that will last (which doesn’t take much time) is a tall order when combined with back-to-school time.

Here are a few ideas that are sure to make for lasting memories without breaking the bank.

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Summer and picnics go together like hot dogs and mustard, but planning a successful picnic is harder than it looks.  You’ll need food that everyone likes, drinks, something to sit on, and some kind of entertainment (besides, you know, eating).

Before you throw the entire contents of your house into your car, slow down and make a quick plan.  Here are some things that will maximize your picnic fun and minimize hassle.

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San Diego is a wonderful city for a family vacation. The San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, and SeaWorld are famous local attractions that draw tourists by the thousands every summer. For families looking to venture beyond the boundaries of San Diego, there are a few nearby destinations worthy of a day trip. Downtown San Diego is fun, of course, but adding something less common to a San Diego County will make a family vacation more unique. These three coastal towns are recommended as early pit stops for any family traveling up the California coast from San Diego.

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It was like something out of a movie – one minute, my little one was feeling a bit sick.  “No biggie, I thought,” even though we were a thousand miles from home.  “Kids get sick.  I’ll let her watch an in-room movie and stock up on the juice, and she’ll be fine in the morning.”

A few hours later, we were in an ambulance.

Everything turned out OK with Abby (she had a nasty ear infection, a virus, and a touch of dehydration all at once), but things sure could have gone smoother if I’d had a better idea of what to do when my kid got sick on vacation.  And, what with the recirculated air on planes and the recent incidents of whole cruise ships falling prey to, not an iceberg, but a virus, your kid might be next.  Be prepared!

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