One of the best things about a family vacation is remembering it later, with our kids. And even when little kids grow up, vacations remain a big part of family history. You can nurture those memories with pictures, journals, scrapbooking-- and family websites, nowadays.

Difficulty Level: Medium      Time Required: ongoing

1. First, take plenty of pictures!  Have everybody take them: you, your spouse, the kids themselves. That way, everyone will be photographed. 
2. Disposable cameras can be great, for kids. The cameras are simple and reliable (whereas cheap cameras seem to break down after a while.)
3. Disposable underwater cameras are a good choice if you're going snorkeling. Though they seldom capture the undersea magic, they can preserve nice memories and also work fine for above-the-water shots. 
4. For the budget-minded: the price for developing pictures varies greatly. Shop around. Check big places like Walmart!  
5. Once you have your photos, be aware that they'll last longer if treated properly. In fact, a small industry has developed around preserving pictures. (See Related Features, below.)
6. Instead of making a simple photo album, consider "Scrapbooking":  a new trend that includes (a) properly preserving pictures and (2) creatively embellishing photos with borders, backgrounds, artwork, memoirs, etc. 
7. Camcorders are much easier to use than cameras. (Go figure.) And kids love viewing the family vacation on tv.
8.  If you're interesting in sharing pictures by email, or in setting up a family website, consider getting a digital camera. (See below.)
9. Encourage older kids to keep a travel journal, and help them find the time to write in it while on your trip.
10. Smaller kids can collect postcards on the trip. Fridge magnets are also good collector's items!

1. For those who aren't ready to buy a digital camera: it's also possible to have photos digitized when they're developed, and/or to create a digital picture from a camcorder tape.  
2. A number of "family connection" websites help you create photo albums online. See Digital Memories, below. 
3. Don't fall into that trap where Dad, or Mom, takes all the pictures and never appears in any photographs! 
4. Occasionally, ask a nice stranger to take a picture of all of you. 

Related Features:

• Digital Vacation Memories: digital cameras; other options; family websites.
• Family Vacation Memories: Photos and Scrapbooking: