JOLLY KNUKS, or clowns, are just one of Carnival's many attractions. -- Photo by Kate Pocock

OK, SO the kids have been sick, you've spent hours at the vet's trying to solve Fluffy's flea problems, the first snow landed you a fender bender and a staggering waiting time at the reporting centre. You just haven't found the time or energy to shop for smaller gifts that might go along with SpongeBob SquarePants or the latest electronic device from Santa or grandpa. Don't panic.

Why not come up with some creative last-minute solutions that inspire future travel? As Mark Twain so rightly said, "Wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth." So give a little wanderlust along with some fun surprises now.

Here are a few suggestions that might solve the current present dilemma and promise a family vacation:

EATING AROUND THE WORLD: I'm not advocating the route of one distraught mom who found herself frantically throwing presents into her supermarket cart on Christmas Eve. (However, she did report that her nieces, nephews and kids were thrilled with the jumbo bags of cookies she wrapped.)

Instead, head to the produce section where you can find exotic passion fruits from the Caribbean, kumquats from Florida, special apples from South Africa or boxes of dates from Morocco. My kids were fascinated with a fig ring from Arabia. Then get out the globe and have a round-the-world picnic.

GLOBAL WARMING: If you don't own an old-fashioned globe, why not invest in this battery-free, joint family present. A simple, colourful 71 cm. world with green continents and blue oceans costs $37.95 at Chapters/Indigo.

Or, purchase My World And Globe (Workman Publishing, New York, 2003) for $22.95. This bestselling item that comes with an inflatable 46 cm globe, 110 stickers and a book about our world, has sold 558,000 copies. It's been updated to include new countries such as East Timor.

If you have a space cadet in the family, pick the Children's Night Sky Atlas (Dorling Kindersley, London) as an accompaniment. This glorious volume features see-through patterned pages of constellations that look as real as well, the real thing on a summer's night far from the city; $29.99. For delivery by Christmas (order by midnight, Dec. 21), visit chapters.indigo.ca. Then plan to head out to a starry place next summer.

ANIMAL ADOPTION: Many zoos, aquariums and conservation groups offer "adoption" of critters. The Toronto Zoo, for example, lets you adopt a giraffe or cheetah starting at just $25 (416-392-9114 or torontozoo.com). Check out the British Columbia Wild Killer Whale Adoption program (vanaqua.org or 604-659-3430). For $54, pick your pod or mammal and you receive a CD of whale sounds.

Or how about the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota? Their Adopt-a-Wolf kit for $19.95 US lets you pick your wolf and includes an adoption certificate, story of the pack, photo and wolf magnet. Call 800-ELY-WOLF or wolf.org/wolves/index.asp. Then plan a trip to visit your "adopted" creature.

INSTANT AQUARIUM: Buy a disposable underwater camera, fill the bathtub with plastic fish or sea creatures and let the kids shoot off a roll of film. They'll have a blast. You can tell them this is practise for a trip to the Caribbean sea where they can snorkel with stingrays (in Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands) or with sea turtles in Barbados (off the western side of the island with a Tiami day cruise).

For more information, contact the Cayman Islands tourism department at 800-263-5805 or caymanislands.ky) or Barbados Tourism Authority (416-214-9880 or Barbados.org).

SNOW, GLORIOUS SNOW: Your kids may be baffled when you present them with snowballs you've stored in the freezer or a castle made of ice cubes. But you can tell them it's just a small part of a bigger snow package -- a trip to a Quebec ski resort like Mont Sainte-Anne near Quebec City where 406 cm of the white stuff falls each year.

Why the ice cubes? Take advantage of Hilton Hotel's Frosty Ice package that gives you a night in Quebec City, a night at the Ice Hotel Quebec-Canada and attractions passes for just $295 per family (Sunday through Thursday; kids pay a supplement at the ice hotel depending on age).

KIDS ARE sure to get excited about the promise of a future trip to the Cayman Islands where they can swim with stingrays.

Even if you just visit and enjoy cider in ice cube glasses, your kids will be intrigued by this giant snow igloo. For the Hilton Quebec packages, call 800-447-2411. For the Ice Hotel, call 877-505-0423 or visit icehotel-canada.com.

Finally, after all this preparation and planning, it's time to sit by the fire and say Aaaaah. Good holidays.