Spring Break

- ideas for family vacations

It's #1: Orlando Spring Break Vacation Orlando gets top billing, as the most popular spring break vacation spot for families. Not bad for a place that doesn't have a mountain, or a sea-shore -- except, of course, of the artificial variety.

With its long, long stretches of beach on both Atlantic and Gulf Coast sides, Florida has plenty to offer families in addition to land-locked Orlando. Yes, it's true that some Florida beaches are notorious for college Spring Break partying; but families can use strategies to avoid that scene, such as choosing destination-type resorts, rather than beach towns, and especially resorts that have private locations and/or large acreage.

Washington DC is a top destination for spring break, and for many families, school break coincides with the weeks of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which celebrates the original gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the city of Tokyo. Highlights for families include Family Day and big Parade.

How nice, that maple sugar season coincides with spring break weeks: maple sugar season -- that special time of year when sap is collected from sugar maple trees -- runs from late Feb. to early April in different parts of New England and Canada. Make a getaway to the countryside, maybe snowshow or ski, maybe hike or bike depending on how far spring's advanced-- but definitely head for some sweets at a maple sugar house.

"Spring skiing" can be a kinder, gentler experience. Check out many family-friendly ski resorts, by region. Utah offers great snow and great access to the slopes: fly direct to Salt Lake City, and seven ski resorts are within an hour's drive. Some ski resorts let you ski free the day you're traveling.

For something different, try YMCA of the Rockies in Colorado, a top-rated and affordable "family camp" with snowshoeing, sledding, ice-skating, and indoor fun as well.

Spring break is a great time for a dude ranch vacation (before the ranches close for the hot summer months.) But Arizona has much, much, more: iconic scenery at awesome Monument Valley, where you can also learn about the Navajo way of life. Million-acre Lake Powell is stunning too, in a flooded canyon: go houseboating! Try an easy raft ride down the Colorado River in a red-rock canyon; or a whitewater raft adventure in the unbelievably grand Grand Canyon, which you can also explore by helicopter flightseeing. Take the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams Arizona, where Route 66 still lives (and so does the Wild West.) Not to mention family resorts...

What glitters in the Golden State for spring break? Kids Fly Free to Disneyland; LEGOLAND California has rides and live shows, all designed for kids age 2 to 12; San Diego has animal attractions including real-life whale-watching; Mammoth Mountain has skiing right through spring break; a dude "ranch resort" has 10,000 acres; and more!

This great promotion includes the spring break months.

Georgia and the Carolinas have some hotspots for families, for spring break: though of course the "hot" (as in temperature) can vary a lot this time of year.

Sea Island is a legandary upscale resort in Georgia; Hilton Head Island, SC, is a popular spot with average highs in the 70's in March/April. Myrtle Beach SC has great beaches and fun parks: watch out for spring breakers, though! Stone Mountain Park GA draws visitors with natural plus man-made attractions -- see these and more ideas.

For families who want a tropical vacation, nothing beckons like the call of an All Inclusive Resort. Mexico and the Caribbean islands offer dozens of choices.

But, which one is right for your family?

Start with an introduction to All inclusive Resorts: WHAT they offer, WHAT's included, WHAT's the price range, WHAT to watch out for, WHERE to find all-inclusive resorts for families.