IT'S the season for planning summer activities - and help is at hand on the web.

Keep the kids busy indoors and out using the Internet as your link to holiday happiness for the little ones.

If you can't see the forest for the trees when it comes to developing a plan, why not visit some green areas.

The Forestry Commission's North West England Forest District, which includes Grizedale and Whinlatter Forest Parks has recently launched its own website www.nwefd.co.uk.

Beat forester Gareth Browning, who is responsible for the managing the forests of north west Cumbria including Ennerdale, encourages people to visit the site and websites of Whinlatter Forest Park at www.whinlatterforestpark.co.uk, Grizedale Forest Park at www.grizedaleforestpark.co.uk and the Lake District Osprey Watch Home www.ospreywatch.co.uk.

If your tykes are more into sports, our SchoolsNet online connection has put together some top sporting action sites.

They recommend cricket lovers check out www.clickcricket.com, swimmers get tips at www.britishswimming.org, athletics fans take a look at www.ukathletics.org for profiles and advice, and rounders-ready youngsters click on http://rounders.punters.co.uk for guidelines on how to play.

They also suggest a stop at www.lta.org.uk for some insight into lawn tennis.

For a detailed guide to activities throughout the North West, visit our Features - School's Out section for pages of tips on everything from picnic spots to park activities to top visitor attractions.

This comprehensive online guide has locations, times, contact information and costs - and all just a couple of clicks away.

Why not let the kids check it out for themselves!

My search for summer festivals brought up more frogs than princes.

Ticketmaster and various UK city sites have listings.

You could check www.virtual-festivals.com - it will at least give you an idea of what's on.

However, the newly launched Ulverston Coronation Hall site, www.corohall.co.uk, offers a fantastic site with festival listings.

On www.thisisthelakedistrict.co.uk visit our School' s Out section (link is on home page or in Features) for a comprehensive listing of summer activities from one end of the Lake District to the other.

Thisis site of the week: Summer and fun have to involve kite flying at some point.

Some high-flying surfing on the web caught a fantastic site - so simple in its design but up to the challenge of supplying extensive kite festival details for the whole summer.

Set your sites on http://freespace.virgin.net/mike.go/Pages/kitefest.html and sail through all the events.

And, don't forget to enter our My Vacation in Cumbria photo contest.

Enter your photos for a chance to be featured on www.thisisthelakedistrict.co.uk and win a prize.

Email photos in jpg format to kate.harrison@notes.newsquest.co.uk