Winter Vacation Ideas

Great choices include family ranches and inns that are open year-round, with many outdoors activities; Smugglers' Notch family resort, known for skiing; resorts with indoor water parks.

Ski resorts in the Catskills and Adirondacks; Rocking Horse Ranch - 500 acres with snow tubing, ice-skating, sleigh rides, skiing; Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Water Park...

Winter carnivals, Chinese New Year, Black History Month, NYC, London at bargain rates...

In cold climates, winter festivals are a wonderful way to liven up the long months after the holiday season. Lots of towns and ski resorts have a winter bash, perhaps with snow-sculpting or ice-sculpting championships. Quebec City has a major Winter Carnival, and it's a true "Carnival", like the one in Rio: a celebration before the somber time of Lent begins (in the Catholic religious year).

Winter vacations in the snow are truly winter vacations, where you revel in the snow and the fun it gives. These days, even non skiers or 'boarders can have fun in the snow: snow-shoeing, for instance, or tubing, or trying the spa. Also, all resorts offer lessons for any age; it's never too late to learn to ski. All resorts offer kids programs; many have teen programs and nurseries too.

A fun type of outing. You can find dog-sledding opportunities offered by good companies in many snow vacation areas.

On 30 nights, from late February until late April, this Orlando theme park showcases a 10-block-long parade, 14 elaborate floats, extravagant costumes, and theme cuisine.

Don't expect to find the all-inclusives of the Caribbean; instead, set your sights on: luxury resorts with special programs and features for kids; a good-value resort with creative kids' programs; Waikiki (-busy, yes, but lots of fun) ; or go the condo-rental route so popular with families.

All-inclusive resorts are a popular choice for family getaways in Mexico, in several hotspots: tourist powerhouse Cancun; Mayan Riviera, south of Cancun, and offering many interesting outings, from Mayan ruins to a huge coral reef; Los Cabos; Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, on the west coast.