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For vacations where you’ll be going on hiking trips longer than an hour or two, consider investing in the following:

a compass and map

a daypack with enough room for everybody’s essentials

energy bars (they may not be five-star dining, but they do give you energy and keep your kids—and you—from being cranky)

a hiking stick or poles, especially if you’ve got bad knees

a water filter to treat water in the backcountry

bear bells if you’re in bear country

CAMPING GEAR

Planning on saving money and roughing it on your national parks vacation? In addition to a working tent (check the zipper before you go!) and tent pegs, sleeping bags and pillows, and, of course, the ingredients for s’mores (graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows), here are some things veteran campers recommend be among your gear:

camping chairs (folding or collapsible)

camp stove

cooking utensils and plates, cups, etc.

duct tape (great for covering tears)

flashlight or lantern

matches

paper towels, napkins

a multipurpose knife

a rope (for laundry or to help tie things down; pack clothespins, too)

a sleeping pad or air mattress (optional, but using one under your sleeping bag can make a big difference in a good night’s sleep; another option is a cot)

a tarp (will help keep the bottom of your tent—and subsequently you!—dry)

MAPS

If you plan to do a lot of hiking or mountaineering, especially in the backcountry, invest in detailed maps and a compass. Topographical maps are sold in well-equipped outdoor stores (REI and Cabela’s, for example). Maps in different scales are available from the U.S. Geological Survey. To order, go to | www.usgs.gov/pubprod or call | 303/202–4700 or 888/275–8747; you’ll need to first request the free index and catalog, from which you can find and order the specific maps you need.

FAMILY FUN

TOP 5 TIPS

1. Plan ahead. Rooms and campsites fill up fast, so make your reservations as early as you can, says Kathy Kupper, a public affairs specialist with the National Park Service. Many parks will have every room and campsite booked several months in advance (weekends are especially popular). Kupper recommends booking at least six months ahead, and more if you plan to visit one of the more popular parks, such as Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, or Yosemite. If you plan on staying outside the park, check with the hotels you’re considering as far ahead as you can, as these places can fill up fast as well. You also can go online. All of the National Parks have a Web site—links to all of them are at the National Park Service page, www.nps.gov. Many of the parks’ pages have a "For Kids" link.

2. Get the kids involved. It might seem easier to do the planning yourself, but you’ll probably have a better time—and your kids definitely will—if you involve them, says Steve Zachary, a ranger and education specialist at Lassen Volcanic National Park in California. No matter how old they are, children ought to have a good idea of where you’re going and what you’re about to experience. "It builds excitement beforehand, and lets the kids feel as if they’ve got a say in what you’re doing." Zachary, who has traveled extensively through the national parks with his two sons, recommends discussing the park’s various attractions and giving your kids a few choices.

3. Know your children. Consider your child’s interests, says Zachary. This will help you plan a vacation that’s both safe and memorable (for all the right reasons). For starters, if you have kids under 4, be honest with yourself about whether the national park itself is age appropriate. Parents are notorious for projecting their awe for majestic scenery and overall enthusiasm for sightseeing on their younger kids, who might be more interested in cataloging the snacks in the hotel room’s minibar. Likewise, Zachary says, be realistic about your child’s stamina and ability. "I’ve seen parents who want to climb up to the volcano with their 10-year-old, but they live at sea level and the kid has never been hiking. This is a 2½-mi hike at 7,000