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Planning a family vacation can begin months before the actual date of departure or mere days ahead of time, depending upon where you decide to go. Here are some tips to ensure that your vacation is one your family will never forget:

1. Take inspiration from your own childhood trips. For example, my family had taken a wonderful vacation to the Black Hills/Mt. Rushmore area of South Dakota when I was a child and that was a place I wanted to share with my family. Be prepared for some aspects of the trip to be better than you remembered them and for some to fall short of your memories. And, of course, many things will have changed since you last visited, making it a new experience for you, too.

2. Do as much research as you can on-line. Find driving directions, hours of business and tickets prices for any attractions in which you may be interested. You may even find discounts and coupons on-line. Print them out and keep them in a folder or three-ring binder. Keep all important papers relating to your trip in the folder or binder and don't forget to take it with you!

3. Request brochures by mail or find pictures on-line to show the kids and build anticipation for the trip.

4. If you are visiting an area of historical significance, find books or information on-line about the subject to read ahead of time so your family will have a deeper appreciation for what they see and hear.

5. Make reservations ahead of time for hotels and attractions whenever possible. Knowing you have a place to sleep at night is a comforting thought at the end of a long, busy day.

6. Plan a reasonable itinerary for your trip. Don't schedule things so tightly that you're hurrying everyone through the day's activities. And don't plan to spend hours each day in the car. After all, how many times can you stand to hear "Are we there yet?"

7. Remain flexible. Things seldom go exactly as planned so be prepared to go with the flow.

Here are a few suggestions for family-friendly vacation destinations in the Upper Midwest:

BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA - Visit Mount Rushmore and see one of our nation's most recognizable monuments. While you're there, pan for gold, hear the history of a gold mine and tour one of several nearby caves. Don't forget to visit Deadwood, one-time home of such Old West characters as Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane and tour the cemetery where they are buried. The casinos in Deadwood make this town an adult playground, too. And don't miss the nearby Badlands.

WISCONSIN DELLS - An early summer flood in 2008 put a damper on some attractions (such as the Tommy Bartlett Water Show and duck boat tours) in this family vacation area, but the numerous waterpark hotels are sure to please children of any age.

OKOBOJI, IOWA - Visit the Iowa "Great Lakes", a chain of five spring-fed glacial lakes in the northern part of the state, and ride one of the nation's oldest wooden rollercoasters at historic Arnold's Park amusement park. Take in a play at the Okoboji Summer Theater and go on a guided tour of the lakes on "The Queen II" tour boat.

NORTHERN MINNESOTA - Stay at a resort on one of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes and introduce your kids to the fine art of fishing. Walk across the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River in Itasca State Park, Minnesota's oldest state park, and visit Paul Bunyan and Babe the Big Blue Ox in Bemidji.

Learn more about this author, Cindy Viesselman.
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