Plan the Perfect Staycation

By the time Summer comes around, most of us are ready for a vacation from our everyday lives. An escape from the ordinary, however, doesn't always involve a plane ticket to an exotic locale or a reservation at a fancy hotel. With a little planning and foresight, you can turn your hometown into a fun, 5-star destination that is Facebook-photo worthy.

Nothing signals the start of summer like a night spent under the stars. So what better place to set up camp than in your own backyard? If you're a novice camper, hit up your local REI or Target store to buy (or rent) the necessities, such as a tent, flashlight, sleeping bags, portable charcoal grill for s'mores, insect spray, and portable boardgames. To make the night educational, download this monthly guide to star-watching, and have fun with your kids learning about those dreamy constellations.

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Just because your passport says you're not in Mexico or Hawaii, that doesn't mean you can't pretend you are. The best way to plan a figurative trip to your dream destination is to create a traditional foreign feast in your own home, complete with festive decorations. For a Mexican fiesta, visit a site like pinatas.com and select a fun assortment of mexican-themed decor items such as paper flowers and mexican hats. Non-alcoholic sangria for the little ones and margaritas for you are the perfect accompaniment to homemade guacamole and grilled chicken, steak or fish tacos.

When we plan visits to other cities, we often buy guidebooks galore and spend hours researching activities online. Why not pretend you're a tourist in your hometown and buy a travel guide (such as the Lonely Planet or Frommer's series) and learn about everything your city has to offer. The more you research, the more likely you are to discover fun ideas you've never thought of, such as walking tours of downtown or, if you live in a smaller city, day-trip destinations the whole family will love.

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One of the best parts of going on a vacation is laying back and letting somebody else take care of the small stuff! Typically, days spent sightseeing are rewarded back at the hotel with a turned-down bed and a room service menu. Why not bring those luxuries back home with you by hiring a housekeeper and ordering dinner in? Ask friends or go to a referral website like Yelp to get reviews on local cleaning services, and schedule them to come in while you're playing tourist in your hometown. When you get back to your wonderfully clean home, order dinner from your favorite restaurant. Then? Put your slippers on and relax.

Explore the great wide open with a hike you and your kids will love. The key to hiking with children is a mixture of planning and patience: You'll want to make sure you select the right trail based on your child's ability, and then be prepared to accommodate a wide range of issues once you're on it (such as crankiness, hunger and boredom) with plenty of snacks, water and games. While a general rule of thumb for how long of a hike children can go on is to use their age in miles, every child is different. If you're hiking with young children, make sure you have the right gear, such as front carriers for babies and backpacks for toddlers, as well as the proper clothing, sun protection and insect repellants. For more tips about hiking with children, visit REI's website here.

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The key to a great vacation is making sure you plan enough downtime. When you combine a night on the couch (or bed) and your favorite flicks, you've got a recipe for relaxation AND fun. Plan ahead and have everyone pick out a movie they want to watch on Netflix or at your local video store. Then, start the festivities early! Order pizza, dim the lights, pop some corn and let the (insert your family name here) Movie Festival begin.

With warmer weather ahead, a family meal outside is a fun and relaxing way to enjoy the outdoors. Head to your favorite park (or one you've been wanting to visit), and pick the perfect spot for an early dinner al fresco. The secret to having a delicious picnic is to plan ahead. Think like a francophile and create a simple menu of delicious finger foods such as fruit, cheese, sliced veggies and assorted charcuteries (assorted dry-cured meats and sausages). For the main course, try easy-to-eat salads such as chicken, seafood and pasta. For great recipe ideas, click here.

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Good vacations are made great with amazing meals that you can talk about for years to come. Check your town's weekly event guide and make a reservation at a new restaurant that's getting a lot of buzz (or a local classic that always gets rave reviews). If your little ones aren't quite at the age where they can enjoy a restaurant with cloth napkins (those aren't hats, Timmy), then arrange for a babysitter and have a date night out. It might be more expensive than you normally budget for, but think of all the money you're saving by not going out of town!

If the only culture you can muster on a weekly basis is watching an episode of Caillou over your toddler's shoulder, plan a trip to your local art museum and get a history refresh. If you're going with little ones, make sure you plan your trip for the right time of day (i.e., first thing in the morning or right after their scheduled nap). Visit the museum's website beforehand to get a lay of the land, and let your children decide what type of art looks the most interesting to them. Be sure to get a souvenir of your trip on the way out, and you'll always remember your favorite staycation.

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