June is here, which means summer is here. One may go into a panic with the thought of "What will I do with my children this summer and how can we build lasting memories?" We here at Macaroni Kid believe that slow and steady wins the race and have a few suggestions for how to calm the panic and create fantastic summer memories for the whole family.

Take a Day Trip
Short, day-trip excursions over summer vacation are a fabulous way to break the day-to-day monotony. To find a location within a 1 or 2 hour drive from your home check out the Internet or even your local Chamber of Commerce for ideas. A few suggestions might be a children's museum, zoo, aquarium, lakes, beaches or even a water park.

Hit the Pool
If you don't happen to have a pool in your backyard or if your town doesn't have an outdoor pool, search around for one in a nearby town. Kids love swimming with other kids!

Keep the Kids Learning
Don't forget that summer vacation should have an educational component that keeps the kids' minds active. Take them to a museum, visit historical sites, and maybe even go on a few walking tours. We like to call them "Educate Me" days!

Have a Picnic
Picnics are easy and inexpensive! You have to eat anyway, so why not make it a picnic? Picnics are definitely overlooked as cheap summer fun with the kids because they can seem complicated or too time consuming. Picnics at the beach or the local park are great for dinner on summer weekdays.

Treat the Kids to a Hotel
If you have the funds, you may want to consider an overnight trip. Kids love hotels and indoor swimming pools...and you'll enjoy the restful break between exciting days.

If you have any road trip locations in our area that you would like to share, please leave a comment below. One can never have too many options!