The turbulent economy has many families taking a long hard look at future vacations. To take them or not, is often the question they face. But even if the decision is made to enjoy a staycation over a vacation, a staycation should in no way signify staying indoors. Especially when there is an abundance of places to explore and myriad new things to discover just outside our front steps.

Such is the philosophy of one pioneering outdoor parent-child nature program, Tiny Treks. Founded by Pam Worth long before the No Child Left Inside Act made it trendy, Tiny Treks was hitting the trails with families, encouraging a love of the outdoors in youngsters. The preschool program has been unplugging this generation of children and connecting them with nature for 13 years.

Creek journey. Photo courtesy: Tiny Treks

Instead of watching videos or playing Plants vs. Zombies on iPads, kids can watch migratory birds, play in meadows, splash in creeks or fly kites. Throw in arts, crafts and songs, and families now have souvenirs from their staycations as well. So when you plan your next staycation, keep in mind there may be discoveries waiting for you right in your backyard. Now, log off your computer and go outside!

Find a Tiny Treks near you, like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

Guest post by Sue Fliess.

Find other family friendly things to do in San Francisco, Chicago or Seattle on TravelMuse.com.

If you’re wondering what to do this weekend, why not celebrate Museum Day 2010 and plan a trip to a local museum for FREE!

Over 1,200 museums across 50 states are taking part in Smithsonian magazine’s Sixth Annual Museum Day, on September 25, 2010. These institutions will follow the Smithsonian Institution’s free admission policy and open their doors gratis to visitors nationwide.

There are a wide range of museums to choose from. Here are some of our picks:

• Coyote Point Museum, San Mateo, CA: A great place to take the kids to get firsthand experience of California’s diverse natural environment.
• Oz Museum, Wamego, KS: One of the largest collections of Oz memorabilia, with 2,000 artifacts from the past 100 years
• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA: The MFA is one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world; the collection encompasses nearly 450,000 works from around the world and across the ages.
• Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum, Chicago, IL: The Adler Planetarium — America’s First Planetarium — allows visitors to journey to the stars, experiment with telescopes and learn about space travel, solar systems and galaxies
• Cartoon Art Museum, San Francisco, CA: With a collection of over 6,000 original pieces of cartoon art, this museum is the largest in the US dedicated to comic art.

Check out the map to see what museums in your neighborhood have already signed on and easily print out an admission card, good for two people.

If you love to plan trips to art galleries and museums, explore more options on TravelMuse.

Congratulations to Jose, Coral Gables, Fl.,  who is the lucky winner of our “Create a Trip on TravelMuse, Win your perfect moment in Hawaii” sweepstakes!  We had a great response to the contest with thousands of entries and know that Jose is excited to plan his luxury trip to the tropical island of Oahu.

Surfing in Wakiki. Photo: Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau

Thanks to our partners in Hawaii for providing this amazing trip to paradise!

- Roundtrip air travel and ground transportation, courtesy of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.

- 5-night stay at the exquisite Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach resort & Spa, Waikiki, Complete with a Waikiki Starlight Luau.

- Dolphin Swim Adventure Program at Sea Life Park Hawaii,
Sea Life Park offers a variety of marine-life shows, exhibits and educational programs for all ages and is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Among its most popular features are the swim-with-dolphin programs.  The Park is a member of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums.  Sea Life Park is owned and operated by Parques Reunidos Group.  For more information, visit the Park’s Web site at www.sealifeparkhawaii.com.

- Atlantis Submarines sub tour off Waikiki,
Atlantis Submarines has nine locations worldwide including Hawaii, the Caribbean, Mexico and Guam. In Hawaii, Atlantis operates five submarines in Kona, Lahaina, and Waikiki. The company also owns Honolulu-based Atlantis Navatek Cruises, offering sunset dinner cruises aboard the high-tech revolutionary Navatek I, along with seasonal luncheon whale watch cruises from December to April. For more information, visit www.atlantissubmarines.com.

- Premium Battle Station Tour at the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pearl Harbor.
Located a mere ship’s length from the USS Arizona Memorial, the Battleship Missouri Memorial completes a historical visitor experience that begins with the “day of infamy” that saw the sinking of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor and ends with Imperial Japan’s unconditional surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Walk the decks of America’s last battleship as knowledgeable guides share stories from the Mighty Mo’s astounding career spanning five decades and three wars — from World War II to the Korean conflict to the Liberation of Kuwait — and her transformation into a floating historic attraction and memorial, standing perpetual watch over Pearl Harbor. Call toll-free 1-877-MIGHTYMO (1-877-644-4896) or visit www.ussmissouri.org.

- Polynesian Cultural Center, “Ha:Breath of Life“ evening show and buffet dinner.
Immerse yourself in the diverse cultures and customs of Polynesia at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Join in an array of interactive activities and shows in eight island villages and exhibits. Watch the Rainbows of Paradise canoe pageant on the lush lagoon winding through the grounds. Enjoy Hawaii’s best Lu‘au experience at its award-winning Ali‘i Lu‘au dinner and show. Experience the spectacular “Ha: Breath of Life,” Hawaii’s newest Polynesian night show featuring a cast of more than 100 performers. Call toll-free 1-800-367-7060 or visit www.polynesia.com.

If you’d like to plan a similar trip you can check out this itinerary to Hawaii on TravelMuse.