"Like most people, we can't afford to go anywhere with gas prices so high, so we're staying home this year," says Elizabeth Werner, toy expert and chief toy officer for iVillage online community.
Sand & Water Cart: This portable beach gets high marks from Elizabeth Werner of iVillage online because it comes with an umbrella to help protect kids from the sun. The cart also comes with two boats, a water tower and a cup. It holds 40 pounds of sand and is recommended for kids ages 2 to 6 ($70 at Toys R Us and www.toysrus.com).
Of wickets and birdies: Old-fashioned toys like croquet and badminton are good for the whole family and are portable enough to take them on picnics (kids croqu[...]