The smell of burning wood passes by your nose first thing, and the fire is crackling to make bacon and eggs. The birds are chirping and you are waking up in a tent, with the sun streaming through the zippered-up windows. You are awake with the birds, as they say, and ready to go!

"How about a hike?" you think as you tie up your hiking boots, and you find yourself a sturdy walking stick and start heading towards the sun. If you have a direction in mind you might be ahead of the rest of us, because it’s all about relaxing and taking in the smell of fresh air and the mountain scenery.

The weather is beautiful; not a cloud in the sky and as the day trails on and your legs start to feel the burn you head back to camp for the night. After a long hike, you start up the fire and get the burgers cooking. As night falls the stars begin to shine through the clouds and you are free from the lights of the city with the moon brilliant in the dark sky. As you breath in the night air the campfire is ready for the roasting of marshmallows. Your night is complete and you are at ease.

Now… how are the kids?

Haha... you might laugh, it’s true, sometimes on vacation we need to be selfish and soak up the sun, or enjoy the campfire for a few un-nagged moments. However, as you look across the campfire at your family, you see smiles and eager eyes glancing at the chocolate bars and the graham crackers. The kids are exhausted from the day, but their bellies are full and they managed to avoid the brutal sunburn (which is a small miracle… who knows when the last time you applied sunscreen was?!). Maybe you end the night with a few campfire songs, or just enjoy each other’s company without a cellphone, video game, or TV in sight.

If this sounds like the perfect weekend getaway for you and your family there are a few important things you need to think about! First, let’s start a checklist! Whenever I start to plan a vacation, I need to make sure there are a few things I take care of right from the start. Are my keys, wallet, and phone going to be safe (and out of sight/out of mind)? By bringing my NoSho Lock Box with me, I know that I can easily and discreetly keep my valuables stashed away (just Google "NoSho Lock Box" to learn more).

Next comes food! With no restaurant in sight, and only the fire in front of you to cook on, you need to get creative. The creativity can only go so far when It comes to hot summer days and food that needs to be kept cold. It’s important to invest in a cooler that will get you through the days and nights without having to worry about where you can get your next bag of ice.

Lastly, don’t forget about sleeping comfortably! That means: tent, sleeping bags, and air mattresses… check, check, and check. Likely you’ll want a pillow as well, and a tarp can come in handy if rain is in the forecast.

Hopefully you are getting to the end of your checklist, but remember that flashlights are important too (nothing worse then scared kids without a nightlight)! You’ll also want your usual safety items, such as a good first aid kit, and plenty of sunscreen and bug spray.

The idea is to be one with nature; leave the flat irons and make up at home! Appreciate the little things that are around you as you take some time to unplug and relax. Most importantly, after the checklist is complete and you are ready to go, remember that the laughs, songs, and smiles are what is going to create the lifetime memories!