Personally, for storing pictures I only use CD-R meant for archival such as Verbatim, it says "Archival life up to 100 years" on the box. You could store them in acid-free archival storage boxes and folders if you're really serious. I wouldn't trust towels of DVDs that they sell for a couple of cents for each. But it's true that for me family pictures are not that important, I don't have to back up 9 GB of pictures.

I also have a Sandisk USB flash drive. I would stay away from U3 technology.

BTW I found this: archivalsuppliers.com

Frankie