Summer Vacation Planning

If you have school-age kids, their summer break is just a few weeks away. Now's a good time to start planning family trips, vacation destinations, and other fun things to keep them busy and out of trouble. Start with your favorite search engine -- if you already have some ideas, check 'em out. Six Flags Over Wherever probably has its own Web site. Or try "Myrtle Beach" and "campgrounds." If you don't have a clue where you're going this summer, but you know you're going somewhere, you can decide on how far you're willing to drive and look for attractions within your range. Theme parks, national and state parks, beaches, mountains -- there's probably a lot within a day's drive. Once you know where you're going, the Internet can help you find hotels, make reservations, buy tickets, plan itineraries, check things out beforehand (insurance, what to bring, Plan B, etc.), and so on. Something always goes wrong on every trip, but a few clicks now will make things fun and easy when the big day comes.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2001