This is a big weekend for Halloween parties and pumpkin picking. Are you ready for the big night?

Towns across America will be having carnivals, hayrides and fall festivals. Check your local listings for some fun weekend staycations in your area — or better yet, take a drive up the freeway and see what’s cooking in another town!

Our area, luckily, includes Disneyland. They do Halloween right.

This post is part of UpTake’s Friday Family Series. If you would like to see your family vacation photo here please submit it via the contact link in the sidebar, subject line: Family Photo.

Photo: Whit Honea

This duck could be anywhere — maybe he’s at a pond near you. Go look, I’ll wait.

Was he?

Here’s the thing about ducks, they like bread. It’s a fact.

If you’re planning on visiting some parks, ponds or lakes this summer you may want to consider taking a loaf or two with (bread, not your lazy friends) — lots of bakeries and supermarkets sell day old loaves at a discounted rate, which is good because ducks are cheap and probably won’t pay for it.

The more you know.

This was a Wordless Wednesday post but things got carried away. It happens.

Photo by jurvetson via Flickr (click to read the real story of this wet duck)

The thing about the great outdoors is that they are everywhere! Also, great.

Whether you are enjoying a family vacation or an extended staycation, there is almost always a hiking area close by.  It doesn’t have to be the wilderness — parks, neighborhood walking trails and the urban jungle all have a path to offer, and if kids are involved the adventure is sure to follow. I speak from experience.

Hiking is not only a nice way to spend quality time with those you care about, but a perfect way to get the exercise that most of us so desperately need. It’s a win-win!

This post is part of our Friday Family Series.

Photo: W. Honea

Someone must have taken away their credit cards, because these rhinos aren't charging.

Every so often we like to remind our readers that we aren’t the only families out there — we may not even be the cutest.

That’s right, I just said that rhinos are cuter than people. Deal with it.

This mother and baby white rhino duo were spotted sharing some quality time at the Whipsnade Zoo in Whipsnade, England. That’s what mothers and babies do, and not just in Whipsnade.

With summer approaching you may find you and yours on the road or opting for a staycation — either way, don’t forget to support the zoos in the area. It’s true that zoos get a bad rap in some circles, and there are those that deserve it, but a lot of them are doing great things to help restore animal populations, and that’s a good thing. Also, cute.

This post is part of our Friday Family series.

Photo by Martin Pettitt via Flickr