Need a vacation but don’t have the time or funds? No problem! With a little legwork and creativity, you can plan an escape right in your own home or backyard. You’ll create happy memories for the whole family without the hassle of packing a single suitcase. Consider these innovative ideas.

1. Host a spa day.

You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to unwind. Recreate that tranquil environment in your own home: First, declare the day tech-free and turn off all televisions, computers and cell phones. To add spa-like touches, fill pitchers with water, cucumber slices and mint leaves, playing a peaceful soundtrack, such as the “Spa Suite” channel on Pandora.

Then schedule “treatments” with your kids: Set up a manicure station where they can paint their nails (don’t forget to keep tissues on hand in case of smudges) and a
makeover area where they can experiment with makeup. You can also apply facial masks or draw aromatherapy baths.

Extra splurge: Invest in plush robes to wear all day, or contact a local spa for a masseuse or manicurist that makes house calls for an at-home treatment.

2. Go camping!

Set up a tent in your backyard for a campout. During the day, go on a hike at a local park or nature preserve, complete with trail mix. In the evening, gather around the campfire to roast hot dogs and make s’mores while telling ghost stories.

Extra splurge: To make the experience more comfy, use an air mattress inside the tent. You can also spark your child’s interest in nature with a guide to flowers or small camping kit.

3. Create a backyard waterpark.

Waterparks are classic summer fun, but they’re often expensive or too far away. Set up your own version in your backyard: Fill up a few inflatable pools with water, and get some water guns and water balloons. Then invite your kids’ friends over to play. They’ll spend hours splashing around with the toys.

Extra splurge: Create a healthier version of the concession stand by setting up a table full of drinks, fruit slices and other healthy snacks. Finish the evening with a barbecue or pizza party.

4. Have a luxury vacation (on a budget!).

For a fun spin on a big-city vacation, plan a day full of cultural adventures. Print out an itinerary of the day’s events for your family: Start with a breakfast of croissants at a local park. Then check out a new, unusual museum or cultural sight in the area that your family hasn’t yet visited. Follow that with a meal and dessert at one of the fancier restaurants in town, or serve up dinner at a table decorated with candles and fresh flowers in the backyard. Then finish the evening with a classic New York-centric movie, such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s. For a luxurious touch, place a gourmet chocolate on everyone’s pillow to find at bedtime.

Extra splurge: Give each child a certain amount and let them pick out a souvenir throughout the day. It will serve as a token of their fun family staycation!

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For many kids, this time of year can be frustrating. They want to run outside and play, but the pollen count leaves them sniffling, sneezing and wheezing. What can you do to help? By minimizing their exposure to triggers, providing them with relief and offering some creative distractions, you can still make allergy season fun for the whole family.

Protect Them
There are a few simple things that can be implemented daily to reduce or prevent exposure to environmental allergens.

• Check your filters. Pollen and spores can get trapped in air conditioning filters, so set a specific day each month -- like the day you pay bills -- to change them.
• Schedule indoor activities. On days that the pollen count is significant (check the count here), keep kids inside during the early morning and dusk, when the air has the most allergens. Have fun games and projects in place.
• Do an outfit change. When kids come in from outside or come home from school, have them change their clothes immediately and wash off any residual pollen from their faces and hands.

Provide Relief
Allergy flare-ups are inevitable, so it is helpful to keep a few tricks in your parenting toolbox.

• Try saline solution. It can safely rid eyes and nasal cavities of allergens. (Just remember to keep a box of tissues on hand for the post-application drip.)
• Draw a warm bath. It can provide soothing relief to itchy skin, and the steam may relieve congestion. 
• See your pediatrician. Check to see if a prescription or OTC medication can provide relief during the worst of the season.

Include Them
Kids live in the here and now, so trying to explain a concept like allergies can be difficult. In order for them to understand and take ownership of their allergies, involve them in the solution-making process.

• Ask for suggestions. After identifying specific issues -- for instance, the pollen on shoes or higher count on windy days -- ask your child to think of ways to combat the problems. He might suggest leaving a shoe bin at the door or closing windows in gusty weather.
• Assign a responsibility. After realizing weather plays a large role in the impact of allergens, your child can become the family’s meterologist. Every evening, have him report the next day’s weather, so you can prep together.
• Encourage him to share. Telling their friends why they can’t play outside at certain times can help empower your kids -- and makes the situation feel less frustrating.

Distract Them

• Dress up their tissues. With so much sneezing and sniffling, a box of tissues will become a staple for your children. Have your child personalize the box with paint, glitter or stickers so it seems more fun.
• Build a fort. If your kids are stuck inside, make them a special place: Build an elaborate fort with sheets, blankets and furniture. This can be their haven for storytelling, homework and imaginative play.
• Schedule outings. Suffering from spring fever? Have your child choose a special place, like the mall, museum or gym, once a week. This will give him something to look forward to during allergy season.

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You’ve heard the saying so many times it seems trite: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

But even though it may be cliche, nutritionists will tell you this tidbit is absolutely true. “Not only is skipping breakfast bad for a child’s metabolism, but it also means they’ll be so hungry later that they’re much more likely to make poor food choices throughout the day,” says Heather Cupp, a registered dietitian at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

Anyone with kids knows, however, that weekday morning meals are usually the most hectic. With a limited amount of time to get everyone up, dressed and off to camp, school or day care, it’s no wonder that fitting in a healthy breakfast can seem like an impossible feat.

No matter how busy your weekday mornings, the whole family can still eat well. All it takes are a few key planning decisions and some smart food choices. Below, our experts’ strategies for turning the rushed (or nonexistent!) morning meal into a healthy, enjoyable group activity:

1. Prep ahead. Do as much as you can ahead of time to minimize the morning rush. If you’re having blueberry pancakes for Sunday brunch, make a few extra batches that you can freeze and use throughout the week. If hot cereal is a favorite, prep a few days’ worth of servings in your slow cooker and keep a big bowl in the fridge. Save even more time by setting the table and packing the car the night before.

2. Optimize your kitchen setup. Save valuable minutes in the future by taking time now to organize your kitchen so you can easily find the things you regularly need for breakfast, says Kim Cosentino, owner of The De-Clutter Box, an organizing company in Westmont, Illinois. “Think of the cabinets on either side of the stove as prime real estate, and use them for items that you use on a regular basis,” says Cosentino. “If you cook hot oatmeal a lot, put the oatmeal box in the cabinet next to the stove.” Similarly, store glasses near the fridge and sink, and stash dishes and silverware near the dishwasher to save time unloading.

3. Think outside the box. If you’ve got a picky eater who turns up her nose at traditional breakfast foods, there’s no reason the morning meal can’t be a sandwich or even last night’s dinner. “When I have leftover pasta of some sort, I heat that up or make a point of cooking some sort of pasta the night before so I just have to nuke it in the a.m.,” says Susan McQuillan, a New York City-based registered dietitian, writer and mother. “Usually the pasta already has some sort of vegetable in it, like broccoli -- or I just add chopped-up cherry tomatoes and olives before serving.”

4. Put the kids to work. The more routine steps your kids do on their own, the more time you’ll have to prepare and serve a healthy breakfast. So make it easy for them to pick out their own outfits and dress themselves every morning by organizing their closets and drawers by type of clothing (underwear in one drawer, shirts in another, etc.). Also put a “clean or dirty” magnet on the dishwasher to get them involved in setting the table and clearing it afterwards.

5. Make it quick, easy and healthy. “The ideal breakfast includes protein and fiber, both of which fill kids up and sustain them all morning,” says Elisa Zeid, a New York City-based registered dietitian and the author of Nutrition at Your Fingertips. By contrast, a couple of hours after eating a sugary, high-carb breakfast like a donut or pastry, “a child’s blood sugar will drop, and he won’t be able to concentrate.” Preparing a well-balanced, nutritious breakfast doesn’t have to take a long time. All of the following kid-friendly meals can be put together in just a few minutes:

· A peanut butter and banana sandwich with a glass of milk

· Trail mix made of nuts, dried fruit and whole-grain cereal

· Yogurt parfait made with high-fiber cereal and fresh fruit

· Slice of leftover veggie pizza, warmed in the toaster oven

· Corn tortilla with melted cheese and salsa

· String cheese, a handful of nuts and a banana

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You’ve packed the bags. You’ve dog-eared and highlighted the travel guides. With everyone excited for the family vacation, someone getting sick is the last thing you want. Here’s how to keep the family healthy while you’re away -- plus what to do if sickness does strike.

Stay Healthy (No Matter Where You Are)

1. Keep sipping.

Be sure to stay hydrated, especially if you’re driving. Dehydration can lower blood pressure and make you feel dizzy or drowsy. Because babies and kids get dehydrated faster, make sure they get plenty of fluids too. Staying hydrated supports the immune system, helping you and your kids fight sicknesses like colds and the flu.

Drinking fluids also helps prevent blood clots in the legs. Clots can occur when flying, especially for long distances. Drink plenty of water so you have to get up and use the restroom about once an hour, says Dr. Michael Zimring of Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore and author of Healthy Travel. “When you get up and walk, you reduce your risk of clots,” he says.

2. Drink often, but drink wisely.

If you’re hanging out in the sun, avoid alcoholic or caffeinated drinks, which make you lose fluids. And be aware that sweating can quickly bring on dehydration.

If you’re traveling internationally, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guide to safe drinking water to find out where you can drink from the tap and where bottled water is best. This will save you and your family from traveler’s diarrhea, an illness sure to keep you in your hotel room instead of out enjoying the sights.

3. Avoid motion sickness.

Few things will make a car ride as miserable as a bout of motion sickness. Fix your eyes on the horizon to help prevent nausea and vomiting. To help the little ones, “play games (like License Plates) to keep kids focused on the midpoint of the road ahead,” says Dr. David Pollack, a pediatrician at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

If you’re flying, stave off queasiness by avoiding greasy foods before takeoff, staying hydrated and snacking on crackers.

Beat These Common Vacation Ailments

1. Earaches

When flying, earaches and “popping” in the ears are common, especially for little ones. Give kids something to suck on, like a lollipop, bottle or pacifier. It’s unlikely that an ear infection would be reason enough to cancel a trip, but if you think your child has one, call your pediatrician before boarding the plane. Ear infections can lead to fever, diarrhea and vomiting. Still, “there is nothing better for an ear infection than getting out of a cold environment and to a warmer climate,” says Pollack.

2. Sunburn

Apply SPF 30 sunblock whenever you’re outdoors, says Dr. Ramzi Saad, a dermatologist at South Shore Skin Center and Spa in Plymouth, Mass. But if you or your kids do burn, Saad recommends cool compresses to soothe the skin, plus moisturizer to keep it from cracking and peeling.

3. Swimmer’s Ear

Water stuck in the ear canal after a day at the pool is painful but easy to treat, says Pollack. Try making a mixture of half vinegar and half water. “A couple of drops in each ear canal help to dry it out faster,” says Pollack.

4. Allergies

Depending on where you’re traveling, allergies might be a problem. If your kid suffers from seasonal or any other type of allergies, don’t forget to pack his medication. And even if your family doesn’t suffer from seasonal sniffles, it doesn’t hurt to pack an age-appropriate allergy medication along with health essentials you might need occasionally, like tissues, antidiarrheal drugs and antacids.

Remember: If there’s an emergency, go to the nearest hospital. For more minor issues, like a cold or flu, you can call your family doctor. He might be able to diagnose the issue over the phone and call in a prescription to a pharmacy in the area. And if you’re traveling internationally, plan ahead and get travel medical insurance, which can help put you in touch with a local English-speaking doctor and cover the cost of care.

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Where are you planning on spending the holidays? According to a recent national survey, more than 40 percent of families are planning on packing their bags. Unfortunately, traveling can leave kids cranky, bored or upset -- and parents frustrated. But you can steer clear of these bumps in the road with a little advance preparation. With the following simple strategies, your next trip will be less stressful -- and more memorable.

1. Discuss your destination.
To prepare your kids for the unfamiliar, tell them what they can expect. If your sister has three dogs and two cats, for instance, prepare your kids for a wild week: “Aunt Linda’s house is a little loud with lots of people and animals, but that is what makes it fun!” Children are better able to handle change when they’re in the know.

Also, remember to stay positive. Even if you’re dreading the traffic to your in-laws’ home, avoid griping in front of your kids. Instead, discuss topics that will help create positive memories, like how excited you are to decorate the tree with grandma and grandpa.

2. Gradually change their schedule.
If grandma’s house is in another time zone, shift your kids’ bedtime by 10 to 15 minutes in the week or two leading up to your vacation. This adjustment will prevent them from becoming exhausted on the trip. Also don’t forget to plan for a week of readjustment when you return.

3. Pack activities.
To keep your kids from chorusing “are we there yet,” bring plenty of toys and games to keep them occupied. Ask your kids what they want to do in the backseat or on a flight, whether it’s playing a handheld video game, reading books or drawing on a new sketchpad.

When they get bored, bring back travel games from your own childhood. Some favorites from my family: finding license plates from every state, searching for letters of the alphabet on road signs and punch-buggy contests.

4. Bring touches of homes.
Children thrive on the familiar. When you’re out of your normal routine, providing things they know helps to ease the discomfort of unknown situations and unfamiliar surroundings. Pack five small items that you use in your child’s daily life, such a favorite spoon for breakfast, his toy train, a plastic fish for the bath, a favorite book and his own pillow. These touches provide consistent reinforcement throughout the day that home isn’t that far away.

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Photo: Corbis Images