Summer will be over soon and across the country you can hear the familiar sounds that signal the end of vacation — the sighs of exhausted parents and the groans of kids returning to school. Okay, maybe there is some relief at being back in the family nest, but, my guess is that after the long summer break most families struggle with the re-entry into a regular routine.

* Create a personalized memory map.
Invite everyone in your family to recall their favorite vacation moments and places. Use questions to draw out the highlights for adults and kids alike. For example: Where did you have the most fun this summer? What made this vacation special? What place would you like to visit next year? Why? Then pull out whatever craft supplies you have on hand — markers, scissors, glue, paper, rubber stamps, old magazines — and have fun creating your own map of your favorite destinations. For a greater challenge, ask your kids to imagine the city or country you visited from a different perspective, like from the air or from the sea, and then work together to draw your vacation spot from that viewpoint. For example: What would grandma’s town look like if we were flying over it? What does our backyard look like to a squirrel? How does Manhattan look from the deck of a tugboat?

* Make your own keepsake.
Every parent knows that even the coolest souvenir eventually loses its charms. So, after the vacation dust has settled, set aside a night for making do-it-yourself momentos. Begin by asking each person in your family to think about a significant landmark, person or event from your summer vacation. Is your seven-year-old still talking about the rollercoaster he went on? Let him use clay, Play-Doh © or Wikki Stix© to mold a miniature replica of it. Or use pieces of colored markers and clear plastic salvaged from food containers to create vacation-themed sun catchers. If you get really inspired, Google “baked holiday ornaments” for a kid-friendly recipe that uses flour, water and salt. Then get your kids to help you whip up a batch. Come December your family will be able to enjoy unique decorations that capture the spirit of your summer fun.

* Use a real map or Google Earth to locate destinations you visited over the summer.
Look for ways to bring the map to life by sharing your own recollections about your family’s summer escapades. For example: Here’s the trail we hiked where we saw that hawk flying overhead. And remember when we got soaked on the water flume? Can you find that amusement park on the map? After you’ve pointed out some places on the map, ask your children to re-tell their favorite parts of your family’s journey. For even more fun, use your smart phone or video camera to record your children’s vacation memories and then share them with the people you visited. Or play vacation charades and act out your family’s summer adventures.

* Create a memory jar.
The beauty of memory jars is that you can dip into them whenever the mood strikes. To create one, you’ll need a clean empty jar, felt tip markers or pens and strips of paper. Next, gather your family and ask everyone to think back over the summer months. For example: What was something that surprised you on our vacation? Why? What’s something new that you learned? What was your favorite moment this summer? What’s one special vacation moment that you’ll tell your classmates about? What’s one activity you would like to do again next year? After everyone has had chance to share and reminisce, ask each person to jot down a sentence or a few key words about their memory on a strip of paper. Older children who know how to write can help their younger siblings get their ideas down on paper. Fold all the strips in half and toss them into the memory jar. Later, on those rainy fall days or chilly winter nights, you can randomly pull out some of the paper strips, read them aloud and take your family on a trip down vacation memory lane.

Taking the time to savor the highlights of your family’s summer break can make those memories last until it’s time for your next vacation!

Author Justine Ickes, a mom of two energetic vacation-loving boys, blogs about travel, culture and parenting at www.travelingmom.com and at www.cultureeveryday.com.