Families have discovered that it is easier — and often cheaper — to get away in the spring than in the summer when camps and summer jobs — not to mention work schedules and peak travel season perils — wreak havoc with family vacation planning.

You’ll find plenty of good deals too, wherever you want to go. Here are 23 ideas to get you started.  You can find read a lot more about most of these destinations in my columns and travel diaries.  Just enter the destination in the search tool.

1.ADVENTURE The Grand Canyon, for example, is a terrific spring option — especially when you can trek through narrow side canyons and camp, cooling off in the waters from Havasu Falls. This is a no-work camping trip, though, because Austin-Lehman guides do all the work. Check out www.fsguides.com for other guided adventure options in beautiful wild places.  Here’s your chance to send a postcard from the Native American village of Supai — the most remote in the country. REI Adventures is another great option for a wilderness adventure led by professionals who take care of much of the camp work for you. They also offer a week in the remote area of the Grand Canyon’s Havasu Falls, or a backpacking adventure in the Great Smoky Mountains   Go to Peru or take your teens on a trek to Everest base camp (just $1,411 per person for 15 days) with Australia-based Intrepid Travel where your trip might include a home stay with a local family.  Or try searching for whales with Sea Kayak Adventures in Mexico’s newest national marine park.
 
2.ALOHA Hawaii.  Especially if you are on the West Coast, you’ll find great deals in Hawaii like those from Pleasant Holidays where you can score an air-car-condo deal.  Concentrate your stay on one island like Kauai where you can stay at a luxe resort like Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort, the centrally located Kauai Marriott Resort or a relaxed condo like The Colony Resort on the North Shore and take your pick of adventures—surfing, snorkeling, hiking. Opt for a different kind of all inclusive at Kona Village where you stay in thatched-roof bungalows with no TVs and the kids will leave with a new appreciation for the ancient Hawaiian culture.

3. ATLANTIS, the gargantuan (3,500-room ) Paradise Island resort boasts everything from a teen club CRUSH to cooking lessons for kids to interactions with dolphins and sea lions and an expansive Aquaventure Waterpark as well as spa treatments (for kids as well as parents) and some 40 restaurants and lounges. But despite kids eat and stay free deals, Atlantis can be expensive when you add up all of the activity charges.

4. BELIZE  or Costa Rica    Check out Chaa Creek Lodge, Located at the base of the Maya Mountains in Belize, where you can visit well-preserved Mayan sites, stay on a private nature preserve, ride horses through a jungle, canoe, visit the butterfly farm and combine a stay at a beach resort. Kids up to 18 stay free when sharing a room with parents at the Chaa Creek and the resort offers babysitting services and jungle safaris for kids. Commune with the monkeys in Costa Rica. Friendly Planet Travel has some extraordinarily well-priced tours. Look for other kid-friendly tours from companies like Wildland Adventures and Thomson Family Adventures.

5. CITY LIGHTS    Amtrak offers significant discounts for kids to let you explore a nearby city over a weekend when hotels are eager to fill rooms which means you will score a deal. Check websites like www.getaroom.com  and www.hotels.com , or check www.craigslist.com for apartment rentals in cities where you want to visit and propose what you are willing to pay. Check the city’s official tourism website like www.bostonusa.com, www.nycgo.com or www.sanfrancisco.travel for the latest deals and to see what special family offerings are available when you want to visit—new museum exhibits, theater productions?   Let each child plan a day of the itinerary. You will be amazed where they lead you!

6.  CALIFORNIA   Take your pick of  Disneyland (look for kids fly free deals), Universal Studios Hollywood  or Legoland. You can head to to beach towns like Huntington Beach, explore  museums and restaurants in San Francisco, shop till you drop in Los Angeles, maybe spying a celebrity and San Diego. Want to commune with the animals? Go Whale Watching and to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey or head to the famous San Diego Zoo or Sea World.

7. COLLEGE TOURING-Leave the other kids in the family behind and opt for some one-on-one time with your high school junior. Stay in a Bed and Breakfast near the campus to pick up some intel from locals. Don’t try to cram too many schools into one trip.  They all start to seem the same! Check out www.goseecampus.com, a free website offering the first online college trip planner for high school students and parents. Bring a lap top or iPad and have your high schooler jot down some thoughts after each visit. What did he like? What didn’t she like?  And if you drive up to the campus and they refuse to get out of the car, keep driving.

8. CHERRY BLOSSOMS  Spring is a terrific time to visit Washington, DC. The National Cherry Blossom Festival starts March 20 and lasts until April 27 and even includes a special Blossom Kite Festival.  There are plenty of  freebies (or nearly free)  like  seeing  the stars in Rock Creek Park at the only planetarium operated by the National Park Service, touring the the National Mall with DC by Foot, a walking tour company that gives  kid-friendly tours complete with games and fun facts,  See money made with a free tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Play pilot in a mock cockpit at America by Air, an exhibition on permanent display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Get close to original Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights at the National Archives, then stick around to research your own family’s immigration records. The Fairmont Washington, D.C. is collaborating with Friends of the National Zoo on The Panda Package in honor of the giant pandas – Mei Xiang and Tian Tian. Families The package includes overnight accommodations for two adults and two children and a Zoo Welcome Kit featuring a cuddly stuffed plush panda, a zoo map, Zoo Tycoon 2 computer game for Windows, and more. For every room night booked $10 USD of the room rate will be donated to the Giant Panda Conservation Fund.  Rates start  from $199.

9. EUROPE It’s a lot less crowded, less hot and cheaper than in the summer! If you book a package that includes flight and hotel on a website like www.travelocity.com you can save as much 20%. Plan a 10 day 8 night spring break trip to the historic cities of Florence and Rome with www.tourcrafters.com. The package for two adults and one child up to 16 in a triple room costs $1,049 per adult and $720 per child. These prices include air fare from New York, four nights accommodation at the 4-star Hotel Rome, four nights at the 4-star Hotel Rin Florence, buffet breakfasts, Hop On Hop Off tour of Rome, Eurostar train ticket, free ice cream for kids in each city, and a special kit, Florence guidebook and restaurant discount for kids. Prices are valid from March 1 to 31, 2012. Opt for an active European adventure (Kayak and bike the Croatian coast perhaps?)  with Adventure Center’s multi-activity family trips. On the Croatian Coastal Adventure, you can run rivers, canoe and kayak along the coast, along with bicycling through villages and discovering Croatia’s Rich history!

10 .COOKING TOGETHER Learn how to make a delicious Italian pizza or pasta by hand, while exploring regions of Italy famous for the culinary traditions along the way. Boston-based Lauren Birmingham Piscitelli leads culinary tours in Italy with a focus on kids cooking — whether they are three or 18.  

11. FLORIDA.  There is a lot more to see and do than Orlando in the Sunshine State. Head to a resort like Sandestin on the Gulf Coast where you can sign the kids—and yourselves–up for golf and tennis clinics as well as explore miles-long white-sand beaches. Sandestin is offering many deals this coming spring, including Stay 4 nights and receive the 5th night free (Mention Code FREE5), a 21-Day Advance Purchase – Book your stay early and receive up to 25% off select accommodations for your Spring Break visit (Mention Code LOWEST),  and the possibility to save up to 25% off a consecutive seven-night stay on select accommodations for your week-long visit (Mention Code WEEKLY). They also offer Complimentary amenities including free rental of bicycles, canoes, kayaks, and tennis courts; free fitness center access; free children’s activities (in season), and complimentary resort-wide tram service offered every day of a guest’s stay. Anchor your gang at a Palm Beach area resort and you can take in some spring training games, hit the spa and view the alligators in the Everglades.Or, Tradewinds Island Grand Resort in St Petersburg has just opened a new floating water park in the Gulf of Mexico www.JustLetGo.com/Waterpark while Loews Miami Beach Hotel amped up its kid-friendly offerings as part of its $50 million renovation, complete with a retro ice cream ship and Sushi making lessons.

12. FOLLOW THE SUN TO THE CARIBBEAN   Low season starts in mid-April which means prices drop dramatically. But this year, you will find plenty of deals in March too.
Look for packages like at St. Croix’s Buccaneer which offers free breakfast, kids club and among many other spring specials.  Check out the new junior tennis camps at the beautiful yet quiet Curtain Bluff Resort on Antigua. Rock Resorts are touting a free night at its rapidly expanding group of Caribbean properties, many which have condo-like accommodations.  Look for discounts at all-inclusive resorts like Beaches in Jamaica and Turks & Caicos with special Sesame Street activities for the youngest travelers and tween and teen clubs for older siblings. Jamaica’s  Breezes Trelawney Resort has everything from  trapeze, rock-climbing, tennis lessons, to mini golf and a water playground.

13. FOLLOW YOUR PASSIONS   Or,  learn something new together.  Learn to scuba dive at a place like Bohio Resort in Turks and Caicos.  For more dive resorts and learning how to scuba dive, visit www.padi.com.  Explore a museum devoted to sport like the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in  Springfield Mass where the game was first invented; music (the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH) , spies (The International Spy Museum in Washington DC)  or stars at Pacific Science Center’s planetarium.

14. HILTON HEAD, SC  is a small island with preserved nature, beautiful  beaches, golf, tennis and more.  The Sea Pines Forest Preserve within the Sea Pines Resort offers boardwalks to explore the wetlands, observation decks, and a nice hike. The famous “Salty Dog” in Sea Pines is a marina area offering jet skiing, para-sailing, boat rentals, as well as a bar area near the beach.  The Museum of Hilton Head has guided tours of the beaches offering both bike and kayak tours. Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort has the wide range of activities for kids and teens that other Disney Resorts have, but on a picturesque beach. Family activities are also included. Westin Resort Hilton Head Island has a kids camp for ages four to twelve, which includes crafts, trips to the pool and beach, and more!

15. HISTORY  Build a trip around American history whether in the Historic Triangle of Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown,  or Boston where you can walk the Freedom Trail with a costumed interpreter or Philadelphia where you can see the Liberty Bell  in the new Liberty Bell Center. If your family is into war history, you can also tour a battlefield like Valley Forge or Gettysburg.

16.HIT THE SLOPES There’s nothing like some spring skiing sunshine. Look for late-season deals across the country from Vermont to Colorado, Utah and California   Websites like www.ski.com can save you significantly when you book flights, lodging and lifts together.   For example, the Sky Lodge in Park City, UT () is offering the  “Stay Three, Stay Free & Ride Free” package, where you can get a 4th night free and a 4th day of skiing complimentary–this includes daily lift tickets to Park City or Deer Valley. The package is available March 16, 2012 through April 15, 2012, excluding certain blackout dates. You can save up to $800! Look for family oriented festivals like Kidtopia at Keystone Resort in Colorado.  If everyone in your gang is a beginner, consider smaller mountains near where you live–Hunter Mountain in New York, for example, Crystal Mountain in Michigan, Brian Head Resort in Utah, Bolton Valley in Vermont and Mount Rose on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe.

17. HOME AWAY FROM HOME  Whether you want to head to the mountain slopes or the beach, book a condo or vacation home and you can invite your favorite niece to babysit the toddler, join forces with another family (great for single parents!) or invite a friend for your teen or tween. Check out www.perfectfamilyvacation.com for good deals on digs in resort locales with multi-bedrooms. Also try sites like www.vrbo.com  and  www.homeaway.com where you can negotiate directly with a homeowner. Look for free nights from www.resortquest.com.

18. MEXICO You’ll find great deals at Mexico all-inclusives  along the Riviara Maya, which is still considered safe place to to vacation.  Those who like history and archeology, will be fascinated by visits to ancient Mayan towns, such as Tulum or Coba.  Head to eco-cultural nature and water parks, Xcaret and Xel-Ha, where  you can  swim with dolphins, drift on crystal-clear underground rivers or enjoy various shows by Mayan performers. Adventure lovers will enjoy zip-lining, ATV driving or horseback riding in the jungle, and snorkeling or diving in the Caribbean Sea that boasts the world’s second largest coral reef.
Check out the Azul Sensatori, the new Villa del Parmar Cancun–which offers fully equipped kitchens and deeply discounted all-inclusive rates through the end of April, and Occidental Grand Xcaret–with hands-on activities to encourage families to engage with and learn about the environment.  The hotel offers a turtle tip program in which guests can participate in the liberation of baby turtles; an Xcaret eco-path designed especially for children. You can opt for a condo hotel right in the fishing and tourist town of  Playa del Carmen. Try Condo Hotels Playa del Carmen with five boutique luxury properties, located right next to each other and by the sugary white sand beach.  If you are looking for luxury, try one of the four Velas resorts, where you can experience all inclusive deals with beautiful ocean views, a spa, golf course s and gourmet meals. Hacienda Tres Rios: A green resort in the Mexico’s Riviera Maya, is offering a special spring travel promotion, where you can stay at almost 50% off normal prices.

19. ORLANDO BOUND So many families come to Orlando for Spring Break—2.6 million visitors in March and April–that  you’ll see more kids here than any time of year except the summer. And it won’t be nearly as hot. TheMagicard offer discounts on everything from attractions to accommodations and restaurants. Check out www.mousesavers.com for deals on all things Disney. And, explore outside Orlando. An hour south  is the “Space Coast” with the Kennedy Space Center, which offers a space camp and a number of picturesque beaches and nature refuges. Holiday Inn Club Vacations is offering more space, more amenities and more things to do this Spring Break. If you book your stay early, you can save 30%! Kids will love the water playground and putt-putt golf. 

20. PLAY BALL!  Cheer on your favorite teams at spring training games in Florida and Arizona. Look for deals like at the InterContinental Tampa, which is close to George Steinbrenner’s Legends Field. You’ll find special packages close to every stadium—and plenty to do when the games are done.

21. RANCH  Your kids might never look at chores the same way again, once they’ve pitched in at a place like the Rockin’ R Ranch in Utah, an authentic cattle ranch where besides riding they can try their hand at barrel racing, archery, roping, and more. Not only won’t you have to worry about entertaining the kids, you won’t have to worry about feeding them either because all the meals are included. There are plenty of other ranch options too, with many opening mid-spring, according to the Dude Ranchers’ Association. Check out the new website from a Montana mom who was raised on a ranch and is raising her kids on a ranch — www.Top50ranches.com — which focuses on top riding experiences at ranches in the U.S. and abroad. My gang loved Vista Verde Ranch in Steamboat Springs, CO.

22.SAIL AWAY Cruises are good bets for families whether the kids are preschoolers (organized activities!) or teens (all they can eat! A safe place to roam!)  Some ships like Disney Cruise Line even have day care for infants.)   You can cruise from more than two dozen U.S. ports (including New York, New Jersey, Galveston, TX and Los Angeles)  which means you can avoid flights. Go for three days or a week.  Invite grandma and grandpa along. Mega ships like Norwegian’s Epic and Royal Caribbean’s Oasis and Allure offer something for every age group. And it’s not too late to snare a deal.  Check websites like www.cruisecompete.com for good deals and www.cruisemates.com for a family cruise guide.   You can find a travel agent who is a cruise expert at www.cruising.org.

23.SAIL YOURSELF AWAY  Moorings or Sunsail are among the companies through which you can charter a  yacht with or without a captain for a high-seas family vacation. Consider the British Virgin Islands, acknowledged as  among the best boating destinations in the world, where you are rarely out of site of land.  With a “Powercat”, a family can cover a lot of ocean but there’s always the option of dropping the anchor and going snorkeling, scuba, fishing, reading, or sunbathing! Another option is Mexico’s Baja Peninsula near Cabo San Lucas and Baja California. The bodies of water include the Gulf of California and the Sea of Cortez, both with views of pristine beaches and beautiful mountain ranges.

January is National Learn a Snow Sport Month with more than 200 resorts offering free or discounted ski, snowboard, and cross-country ski and snowshoe lessons for beginners. Find packages and deals. You can also follow the deals on Twitter and Facebook.

Many resorts are pulling out all the stops for families with increased programming, free lift tickets and free flights. If everyone in your gang are beginners, consider smaller mountains near where you live–Hunter Mountain in New York, for example, Crystal Mountain in Michigan, Brian Head Resort in Utah, Bolton Valley in Vermont and Mount Roseon the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. They will invariably be cheaper and less overwhelming for the kids—and you.

TakingtheKids Family Ski Guide is sponsored by Park City Mountain Resort

Several states also offer “passports” for kids of certain ages allowing them to ski free—once you have filled out the paperwork and paid a small processing fee— all season. They include fourth graders in New York; fifth graders in Colorado and Vermont; fourth and fifth graders in New Hampshire, fifth and sixth graders in Utah, and fifth, sixth and seventh graders in Maine. Check with your state to see what they are offering for your grade schoolers. From Jan 3-9, newbies receive a free learn to ski or snowboard lesson, free equipment and free beginner terrain lift at both Vermont and New Hampshire resorts.

There are also many adaptive programs around the country for those with physical and mental challenges including the National Sports Center for the Disabled in Winter Park, CO; the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center also in CO; the National Ability Center in Park City, Utah, and Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports.

I’ve written extensively about many of the top ski areas in North America (just search my columns and travel diaries for more information). Here are resorts in alphabetical order that are good bets for families this winter:

ALTA SKI AREA in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon is adjacent to Snowbird (you can purchase a combined ticket) and is one of the most beautiful mountains I’ve ever skied. You will be transported back to the days before ski areas were all about glitz. Stay in an old-fashioned lodge that will entertain your kids after ski school and feed them early so you can enjoy a gourmet meal. Look for lift tickets to be less than at other major ski resorts, and Alta Ski Area continues to offer “Ski Free After Three.” Head to the Sunnyside lift and you can access five beginner runs, two intermediate and one advanced run for free after 3 P.M. every day.

APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB in New England offers snow-loving families a different kind of winter outdoor adventure, cross country skiing, snow-shoeing, and ice-skating. You can even plan a winter adventure with experienced AMC guides. Custom adventures are available at both AMC’s Joe Dodge Lodge and Highland Lodge in the White Mountains and families can pick the activity, time and skill level at a cost of just $75 for a guide for the family.

BEAVER CREEK Colorado is a great resort for mixing luxury and winter activities. Well-heeled families love this Vail resort because it is smaller than Vail and more laid back while offering first-class service and a terrific ski school, not to mention the free fresh-baked cookies offered at 3 P.M. every day at the bottom of lift #6 (a great way to end the ski day!) Ultimate 4 offers kids a lesson with only four kids per instructor while the resort promises plenty of complimentary activities after the lifts close from rail jams and disco skating to family snowshoe tours and fireworks. Don’t forget the lift-served tubing hill that opened two years ago. Visit during “Beaver Creek Loves Kids” weeks, including December 18 – Jan 1, Presidents’ Week February 18-25, March 10 – 31, and Easter Week April 1-7 for special programs and activities.

BRECKENRIDGE SKI RESORT is in the middle of a historic Colorado town, and is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year. With over 200 restaurants, shops and more, Breckenridge is often dubbed the perfect mountain town. Check out new One Ski Hill Place, a new Rock Resort complete with its own bowling alley. If anyone in your family has any special challenges, head to the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center with a variety of special winter and summer programs. If you visit between January 24^th and February 5^th, you will be able to check out the 22^nd International Snow Sculpture Championships. With the “Breck for a Buck” deal you purchase two nights/days and get the third for $1.

BOLTON VALLEY RESORT is the only Vermont resort to offer night skiing and riding (Wed, Thursday and Friday nights) when tweens and teens rule. You can also give your kids a lesson in being green—the wind turbine near the top of Vista quad produces an eighth of the resort’s energy needs. You’ll run into a lot of locals from Burlington here and because everything is walking distance-lodging, lifts, pool, it is an easy place to navigate with kids. Bolton’s three terrain parks, the 300 acres of trails and glades are divided almost equally for novice, intermediate and advanced skiers and riders. Bolton Valley, having recently partnered with Burton, has introduced a “Learn to Ride” program, combining the most advanced equipment, instruction, and learning environments to provide an excellent snowboarding experience and bring your skills to a new level.

BROMLEY MOUNTAIN RESORT is celebrating its 75^th anniversary this year, and is the only ski area in Vermont that faces totally south which means it could be warmer. Families love this mountain because it is more intimate with varied terrain including two new terrain parks and plenty of off-the-slopes action including outlet shopping, ice skating, sleigh riding, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing! Combine Bromley’s $49 midweek/non-holiday ticket with Bromley’s fantastic Family Friday deal, where each paying adult pays just $15 per kid for up to three kids, except for holidays, and a family of four skis for just $128—not much more than a single lift ticket costs at major resorts. Also, you can save $15 on Each Consecutive Day when you purchase your Multi-Day ticket online, you pay full price for day one, but then $15 less for days two and three.

CRESTED BUTTE MOUNTAIN RESORT combines a friendly, picturesque small town (just a few blocks long!), plenty of steeps and deeps and a new base area Adventure Park for a guaranteed-to-please experience. This year Crested Butte is celebrating its 50^th birthday, and in order to celebrate, is providing a free lift ticket to you on your birthday (you have to be 18 years or older, and provide a valid ID at the Adventure Center to redeem your ticket). This mountain has long been one of my family’s favorites. We think the fact that CB is harder to reach than some other resorts adds to the appeal. There’s an eco-friendly synthetic “ice” skating rink (recycled from the American Museum of Natural History in New York where it was part of a display on climate change), bungee trampolines a climbing wall, and a zip-line that you can ski to, as well as a multi-lane, lift-served tubing hill. Families love the Children’s Center and beginner learning area. Look for deals that include a free flight for every two you purchase and a free beginner lesson, lift ticket and rental for each person on the reservation when booking a lodging stay at Crested Butte Mountain Resort for two or more days.

COPPER MOUNTAIN. On slope, Copper’s terrain is naturally divided for all abilities and includes fantastic bowl skiing. Off slope, three base villages have redefined the Copper experience with accommodations, restaurants, bars, shops, and a kids-only lodge. Copper is also home to the only year-round ski and snowboard program in the state. Offering winter day camps and week-long summer camps, Woodward at Copper has the Barn, the first indoor ski and snowboard training facility with trampolines, foam pits, and Snowflex jumps dedicated to terrain park and pipe progression. Campers develop their tricks in the Woodward at Copper Barn and progress in Copper Mountain’s winter and summer terrain parks and pipe. This year Woodward at Copper is offering fully coached group sessions in the various on mountain terrain parks every day, from Nov. 25, 2011 – April 15, 2012. There are also free snow cat rides to Tucker Mountain, free snow-shoe tours daily, and kids ski free!

HEAVENLY RESORT in California overlooks Lake Tahoe. You can ski in California or Nevada! The kids will love the 60-foot jumps in Jackpot Terrain Park and the largest tubing hill in the west at Adventure Peak. New this year is a kid’s adventure zone called Black Bear Hollow at the top of the Gondola. Right next to the Hollow is an entry-level terrain park with small rails, gentle jumps and boxes meant for youngsters to explore. You’ll love the 34 miles of wide-open, groomed cruisers, and the option for tree skiing off of every lift, as well as sightseeing, ski bikes and snowshoeing. If your teens are angling to go in the back country, you can hire a guide from Heavenly’s Adventure Sessions program, check out and find out what the locals know about. Pay for five nights lodging at Heavenly and receive the sixth and seventh night for free. Also, if you pay for a four-day ski lift ticket you will get the fifth day free.

JACKSON HOLE, WY not only offers the chance to ski and ride but to explore an authentic Cowboy town and Yellowstone National Park in winter when the crowds are gone. If it is your first time to the mountain, you can take a complimentary Mountain Host tour. This will help you get to know the mountain on groomed terrain with friendly Hosts. There is a special Beginner Center where pros guarantee that after your first beginner class, you can ski if you can’t, you can repeat the First Day Learn to Turn class as often as you like. Try out the Rockies’ first Stash Park, in Jackson Hole Wyoming. Created by Burton Snowboards and unique to only five other resorts in the world, the Stash uses natural elements to build terrain park-like features, giving riders a completely different kind of resort riding experience. The Stash has four different runs and over 50 total features. If you stay at the Village Center Inn 3 or more days, you can ski for free. This deal starts at $79/person.

KEYSTONE RESORT. Less than an hour from Denver, with three mountains where families can not only snag an inexpensive condo but get access to an array of discounted or free activities including skating and ice hockey, snowshoeing, snow biking, snow tubing, even Science Snow Tours offered by the Keystone Science School. Keystone is a Vail Resort, which means that its ski and snowboard school is first rate. Your kids will love the huge snow fort, the Kidtopia Festivals throughout the season, Disco tubing and more. Look for a variety of free night deals, even during peak times as well as discounts on a second person’s lessons.

MT BACHELOR in Bend, Ore is the largest ski resort in the Cascade Range, offering 3,683 acres and 360 degrees of lift-accessible terrain. The mountain also boasts two tubing lifts and two beginner carpets, five terrain parks, groomed and tracked cross country trails, snowshoeing, tubing, sled dog rides and more. Kids, 18 and under, can ski free if an adult in their family purchases a multi-day ticket! If you are new to skiing or riding, check out the ‘Ski or Ride in 5′ program: For $199 you or your kids get five lessons, five rental packages, and five lift tickets. Upon ‘graduation’ from the program, students 18 and under get a FREE season pass; adults get a FREE 12-day pass.

MOUNT SNOW RESORT provides a unique “back-to-base” trail system that keeps the entire family together. Mt. Snow, in southern VT, is a draw for young freestyle skiers and snowboarders who come for the only all-park mountain face in the east, Carinthia, equipped with 125 freestyle features in eight parks complete with natural obstacles (rock jibs) as well as recycled pieces (giant tires). For beginner park skiers, there is also The Grommet Park that has small jumps. Don’t miss the tubing Park. January 8, 2012 is the annual Youth Pay Their Age Day for everyone 18 and under!

NORTHSTAR at TAHOE. Located on the California-Nevada border near Reno and is easy access from San Francisco or Sacramento. This year, Northstar is expanding its resort boundaries in two areas of the mountain, adding 170 acres of new side-country terrain that can be explored on guided backcountry and snow-cat tours. If you purchase your lift tickets online before arriving, you will definitely get the lowest price possible. Parents can split the cost of one lift ticket—switching off to take care of the baby. They can also haul the gear—and the kids—in complimentary wagons around the new base area, where you can skate free and make delicious, gourmet s’mores around the many fire pits surrounding the skating rink.

OKEMO, Located in Southern Vermont with easy access from Boston, New York and other East Coast points, Okemo offers free use of its lower lifts all season long and kids ski free on select days throughout the season when parents buy a regular priced lift ticket in advance—up to age 18! First time skiers and snowboarders can take part in the free program that includes a lower-mountain lift ticket, beginner group lesson and rental gear. It’s available for ages seven and up every Monday through Friday. And, anyone interested in private lessons beginning at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. (Sun. through Fri., non-holidays) can receive a 20 percent discount off normal pricing. Okemo also has plenty of other options for fun in the snow right at the mountain—skating, tubing, skating, swimming, an alpine coaster and even a giant snow mound where kids like to play king of the mountain. Come midweek and save up to 30 per cent in lodging, get a resort credit and discounted lifts and rentals.

PENNSYLVANIA. The 22 member resorts of the Pennsylvania Ski Area Association are offering a $5 coupon off all Learn a Snowsport packages in January. At Ski Sawmill in North Central Pa, Friday nights are “family lights with adult lifts for just $17; kids tickets for $15 and rentals for $15. Stay at the new Mountain Inn and get free lifts! Check out Hidden Valley with a graduated three-lesson program designed to take kids and adults, from a newbie to an all-mountain skier; the third lesson is a private!

PARK CITY. Located in Utah, Park City is a short shuttle ride from Salt Lake City airport, which is home to three major kid-friendly resorts. The Canyons; Deer Valley, where the luxe Montage recently opened and aims to cater to well-heeled families (no snowboarders at Deer Valley!), and Park City Mountain Resort, which promises there will be no more than 5 kids or adults in your group lessons. I’ve helped them develop a website for snow loving parents – please visit Snowmamas.com. You’ll find plenty of bargains (especially at the Canyons), service and gourmet meals (especially at Deer Valley) and all of the terrain features your riders and free skiers could want (Park City Mountain Resort) which also offers night skiing and riding. You’ll also have fun exploring the historic mountain town chock full of shops and restaurants. The National Abilities Center is designed to help all those in your family with special challenges. (www.nac.org). You can also have the chance to test your mettle on an Olympic bobsled run at the Olympic Park.

SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH in Northern Vermont, not far from Burlington or Montreal, is known in New England for its top-notch children’s facilities (including infant care) and off the slope activities including a zip line. It’s offering a mostly inclusive Club Smugglers’ Adventure Package this winter that includes lift tickets, lodging, ski and snowboard lessons for kids, for adult beginners and unlimited use of cross country and snowshoe trails as well as the FunZone Family Entertainment Center, tubing and more. Smugglers’ Notch has also been working with Burton Snowboards to build the Burton Riglet Park, an on-snow play area on Sir Henry’s Learning Hill with fun features designed for young snowboarders. One of the most exciting parts of the park is the “treehouse,” an elevated platform with ramps that children can ride down, a balance area inside the treehouse and a lift chair that swings to help kids practice getting on and off the lift. Its three mountains encompass 1,000 acres of terrain. Come in January and get half off daycare for those under three.

SNOWMASS. One of the four fabulous mountains in Aspen, Co., Snowmass is where kids have their choice of peppermint S’mores, ice cream sundaes or every variety of Gummi après ski at the new Base Village. Snowmass, by far the largest mountain in Aspen, is family snow sports central with its $17 million Treehouse Adventure Center complete with its own climbing “wall” for pre-schoolers. There are free shuttle buses around the mountains and kids stay and ski free the entire month of March and April with the purchase of lodging and lifts by an adult for four or more days. Purchase adult rentals as part of the deal and kids rent free too. Check the website for other deals and also don’t miss the resident Golden Eagle at the free Aspen Center for Environmental Studies.

SQUAW VALLEY USA has a newly renovated Children’s Center and plans to transform the Belmont Park into a kids’ terrain park complete with a snow fort, kid-friendly jumps, bumps and more. Squaw also provides a kids map designed to lead them on a grand adventure around the mountain. Kids will follow the map through Squaw Valley’s kid-friendly terrain to find fun facts about the mountain’s animals, history and natural habitat—free with any lift ticket. At Squaw you can hit the slopes until 9pm on weekends (9am to 7pm midweek). Come for spring skiing. The near 500″ of snowfall each season make it possible for the resort to remain open through the end of May every winter.

STRATTON is a favorite for East Coast families. Kids 17 and younger are invited to ski and stay free when two adults purchase a (2 night minimum) lift and lodging package. Kids can get free rentals too, when an adult purchases a rental. Kids love the tubing hill and that once they are eight, they can drive a mini snowmobile in the Sun Bowl Base Area. Parents love the village atmosphere of the base area, the 45 acre Learning Park and EZ Street, a three mile green run from the summit. Teens like the Wreck teen club with indoor skate ramp. We logged a lot of weekends at Stratton when my youngest was on a ski team there and never got bored.

Steamboat In Northern Colorado, Steamboat is recognized as a top family ski resort in North America thanks to its new Kids’ Vacation Center, with its western themed play area and well-trained children’s staff. The resort has long been an innovator for families with Kids Ski Free, Kids Fly Free and Kids Rent Free programs. Plus, with the ambiance of an authentic Western town known for breeding Olympians and its Old Town Hot Springs pool and slides, there’s just as much to do off the mountain as on.

STOWE is home to Vermont’s highest Peak, Mt. Mansfield and is known for it’s postcard-pretty New England town, its “Famous Four” double-blacks, some of the longest intermediate cruisers in the East, and a group of beginner trails in the Toll House area. Spruce Peak is geared toward beginner and intermediate skiers and riders. Lower Spruce – the area nearest the Spruce Base Are Complex – is a great place to learn. Take time to visit the Ski Museum, or take a tour of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory! Stowe Mountain Lodge welcomes dogs as well as kids and is known for its farm-to-table cuisine. Check Go Stowe for lodging deals; Purchase your lift tickets at least a week ahead and save 15 per cent plus gain access to a range of deals. Snowshoe or cross country ski at the Von Trapp Family Lodge.

SUNDAY RIVER in Maine boasts a 50-plus year history, eight interconnected peaks, 12 hour skiing and riding every Saturday, a White Cap Fun Center with a tubing park, and a Sugaring House that will open in March so you get an up close and personal look of exactly how maple syrup is made—complete with samples. Many families come to Sunday River because of the Perfect Turn Ski and Ride School, During Children’s Festival Week (1/9 – 1/13), there will be scavenger hunts, live entertainment, movies, and themed Perfect Turn kid’s lessons – with ids ski, snowboard, stay, rent, and learn – all for free!

TELLURIDE, a historic southwestern Colorado mountain town, is so safe that local parents let 10-year-olds run around on their own. Kids routinely hop the free gondola from the mountain village for the 12-minute ride into town where they can go to a movie (there’s one movie theater), get some pizza or a burger and some gummies at The Sweet Life. Visiting kids might learn a little Western history in the process. The entire town of Telluride — four blocks long and four blocks wide and nestled in a box canyon — is a federally designated historic district, and it couldn’t be prettier with buildings dating back a century and mountain views in every direction. Even during the busiest week of the year, the ski school has only got about 225 children, ages three through 14, enrolled — perhaps a quarter of the size of other family-friendly resorts like Snowmass. Parents like the intimacy and that the vast majority of instructors in the ski school are veterans here who remember their kids from previous visits. It’s also an easy ski school to navigate — right next to the town gondola in the middle of the Mountain Village. The kids get their rentals right in the building — the instructors take care of that too. Backcountry lovers will love the Black Iron Bowl—a hike-to playground is set against the dramatic backdrop of Palmyra Peak, adding eight runs adjacent to Prospect Bowl, including the wide-open Mountain Quail couloir, European-style faces, open glades and steep chutes. For a luxe experience that won’t bust the budget this year check out the packages at Cappella Telluride including lift tickets, a night free and spa credit.

TAOS SKI VALLEY, Located in northern New Mexico with easy access from Albquerque or Santa Fe, is one of the last, most pristine, and still somewhat undiscovered ski areas in the country. It is still family owned and run. Not only is there great snow and an 18,000 square foot children’s center, but you have the opportunity to explore Native American culture nearby—right at the Taos Pueblo, the only living Native American community designated both as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. There’s plenty for the non-snow sports lovers in the group to do. And Taos Valley now welcomes snowboarders too.

VAIL has more than 5,000 acres to ski, including the famous Back Bowls and another 645 acres in Blue Sky Basin, the huge expanse of wilderness-like terrain that faces Vail’s bowls. This resort offers intermediate as well as expert skiers moguls, tree skiing, and even some cliffs. No one in your gang will get bored here—even after the slopes close. There is a Tubing hill at Adventure Ridge, as well as kids snowmobiling, or a bungee trampoline and ski biking. For some fun on the mountain, check out Coyote’s Den, a 50-foot long wooden ski-through feature and the teepee in Sherwood Forest. Also, check out the Nature Discovery Center at Eagle’s Nest with programs led by naturalists. You can even take a moonlit snowshoe tour! When it comes to ski lessons, for an extra fee, you can opt for the Ultimate Four, which guarantees kids 3-12 will have only for children per instructor.

WATERVILLE VALLEY RESORT in New Hampshire offers 250 acres to ski or ride, a big Nordic Center that is groomed daily and a Town Square just a short walk from most of the resort accommodations. There’s even an indoor ice rink. Book online 24 hours in advance and you can get a Learn to Ski or Ride package for just $39 including a two hour-lesson, equipment and a lower mountain lift ticket. Look for “Town Square” events that include fireworks.

WHISTLER BLACKOMB in British Columbia is just 78 miles from Vancouver and was the official alpine skiing venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympics Winter Games. Whistler and Blackcomb are two side-by-side mountains, connected by the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, which together offer over 200 marked runs, 8,000 acres of terrain, 14 alpine bowls, and three glaciers. There’s plenty of snow—over 430 inches a year—which means one of the longest ski seasons in North America. Check out the website for deals, including discounted airfare from certain cities and lodging deals.

WINTER PARK RESORT is only 67 miles from Denver and offers the state’s longest continually operating professional ski school. The new Private Lesson Center allows your family to learn together—you can even take part in a 1.5 Hour Park & Pipe Special. There is an incredible variety of terrain spread across five mountains. Steeps can be found on Vasquez Cirque, bumps the size of small VW bugs can be found over at Mary Jane. Groomers are found on Winter Park Mountain with beginner terrain. Terrain Parks come by the handful as the resort has five, including the limited access park, Dark Territory. Look for packages that include free nights and free lift tickets. The Resort is also home to the National Sports Center for the Disabled which offers a variety of programs for those with special mental and physical challenges.

I figure the holiday weekend is a success if we manage to get through it without some relative or another storming off angrily or a child collapsing in tears. Besides suggesting some of the (most annoying) relatives might be more comfortable at a nearby hotel, here are six tried-and-true tips for surviving the relatives this holiday season:

HIDE THE GLASS ANIMALS, especially if there are preschoolers or toddlers in the house. Are the electrical outlets covered? Medications stored high in a cabinet? Cleaning supplies locked up? Even baking ingredients such as vanilla and almond extract can be harmful to young children, as can holiday plants like mistletoe berries or poinsettias. For more safety tips, visit the National Safe Kids Campaign Website at www.usa.safekids.org.

STOCK UP ON APPLE JUICE, peanut butter, pasta noodles, and whatever else your young guests are eating these days. Don’t be insulted if they won’t eat the fancy dishes you’ve slaved over. If you are the guest, offer to pick up what your kids can’t survive without. Offer flavored seltzer instead of pop. It won’t stain and doesn’t have sugar. Bring along a children’s cookbook (Amazon.com lists more than a thousand!) or if you’re hosting, have the ingredients for a favorite recipe your kids like to make and invite all of the children to help prepare a dish. Remember, the important thing is the conversation around the table, not what’s on the plates — or left behind when the meal is done.

CREATE A KIDS’ HANGOUT AREA, even if it’s just a portion of the den or living room with toys, a TV and a place to keep their “stuff.” Suggest the kids bring along a favorite movie. If your guests are driving, suggest they bring along favorite pillows, blankets and for the littlest ones, crib sheets, and night lights to make them feel more at home.

GET EVERYONE OUT OF THE HOUSE. No one will get on each other’s nerves as much if they’re not confined to small spaces. Send the gang to the zoo, the local ice-skating rink, children’s museum or playground, if it isn’t too cold. Many local museums offer special holiday activities.

SET THE GROUND RULES. No food on the couch, no teasing the dog, no disciplining anyone else’s kids. Don’t be shy about asking the kids to help either. Even 6-year-olds can make their beds (or roll up their sleeping bags) set the table or help with cleanup.

LEAVE THE EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE at the door. The holidays are not the time to air long-held grievances.

When all else fails, bring out the chocolate Turkeys.

Happy Halloween 2011!  If it’s raining, no worries. Many children’s museums, aquariums and zoos have special Halloween doings, not to mention theme parks and even hotels.   Meanwhile, here are some good bets for safe and sane family fun this Halloween around the country:

IN ORLANDO: Got teens who love scary stuff? Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights is the nation’s best and most intense Halloween event. Guests will confront extreme Halloween entertainment that cannot be experienced anywhere else.  This year, they will scream as they become prey to fiendish creatures, panic as they come face-to-face with a horrifying “thing,” feel chills as they are haunted by deceased souls – and watch in paralyzing fear as Lady Luck transforms from a tempting seductress to a bloodthirsty beast. Lady Luck is the force behind this year’s event, and she awaits those brave enough to challenge her and take a chance. Click here to learn details about the event and to see the real face of Lady Luck.. (Take the little ones to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party  at Disney World complete with the “Boo-to-You Halloween Parade and HallowWishes fireworks. The Halloween Party requires extra admission.

Massachusetts boasts a rich history filled with mayhem and the dark arts. From witches to ghosts and other unexplainable paranormal activity, the Commonwealth is the place to be this Halloween season. Witchcraft that was once thought to be alive in Salem, the home of Lizzie Borden in Fall River, and the haunted graveyards, mansions, and trails that scatter the state, Massachusetts has plenty of stories, legends, and tales of years gone by.For a complete list of spooks and thrills visit www.massvacation.com

Grand Canyon Railway (GCR) will offer special runs to its “secret pumpkin patch” on select weekends in October. In addition to choosing a pumpkin to take home, guests will enjoy refreshments such as pumpkin pie and hot cider, a hay maze and crafts. Pumpkin decorating and face painting will take place at the depot as well. Rates are $20 for adults and $15 for children 2-15, and each child is guaranteed to go home with their own pumpkin.

HalloWeekends, Cedar Point’s Amusement Park’s annual Halloween event full of frights and family-friendly delight in Ohio serves up plenty of scares with  Blood on the Bayou, where nightmares live in the shadows, and the dead walk, searching for new prey as well as spooky funi including a Monster Midway Invasion Celebration. Check out a full listing of family activities on the website and  HalloWeekends website.

Howl-O-Scream transforms Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Williamsburg and Sea World San Antonio into a nightmare of inescapable fear that overwhelms the senses with a new spin on horror. The devious creatures that infest haunted houses, scare zones and thrilling shows have plenty of psychotic surprises in store and bone-chilling roller coasters to keep the screams coming all night long.

Look for Halloween fun at museums and aquariums across the country all month long. For example, at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium, Ascarium weekends return October 15-16, 22-23, and 29-30 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m with spooky stories, music and magic shows as well as trick or treating.

The World Pumpkin Capital of Half Moon Bay, CA  celebrates its bountiful fall harvest 41^st Annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival  this weekend Oct 15 and 16 with everything from pumpkin patches to a parade, haunted house, pie-eating contest, pumpkin carving and now even the iPumpkin, the official mobile application of the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival. iPhone and iPad users can download the application for free.  Just 40 minutes south of San Francisco, Half Moon Bay boasts more than 3,000 tons of pumpkins produced each year by local growers.

By day, the Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls is the ultimate family fun zone with Canada’s largest indoor water park with 13 waterslides and four-story water fort.  But at night during Halloween season, the lodge transforms to “Howl-O-Ween at the Wolf” complete with a trick-or-treating trail that coils through a haunted forest, a monster mash family dance, pumpkin carving, spooky story time and even Wolf science.

Those who dare to brave the Wisconsin River at night, can embark on a Ghost Boat courtesy of Dells Boat Tours Friday and Saturday nights through Halloween weekend sailing from downtown Wisconsin Dells. The after-dark tour takes passengers on an eerie boat ride up river to the mysterious and creepy Witches Gulch., a scenic and beautiful gorge by day that is transformed into a creepy, chilling cavern by night.

Head for Monster Mash family-style in San Diego at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay this weekend and next with a poolside monster mash hula contest, pumpkin painting and waterslides enveloped in fog and spider-webbed pool cabanas. Rates start at $199 per night. Next door, SeaWorld is touting its Spooktacular activities too, complete with children’s costume parade and underwater Halloween Fantasea.

Time travel back to a  spooky 19th-century village with beautifully carved pumpkins lighting the way and take a journey through a haunted ship at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut where you can also listen to scary stories, have your future told by a roaming fortune teller, and listen to  musicians singing eerie tunes of long ago. The fun includes crafts, games and a nightly costume parade for the kids. There will be activities that are “family-friendly,” “mildly-creepy,” and “not for the faint of heart!” Oct 21-22, 28, 29.

This Halloween, families are expected to converge on Ireland’s historic Ashford Castle for a “Hogwarts Halloween” celebration where Harry Potter’s magical world of witches and wizards will come to life. The castle’s secret rooms, hidden alcoves, and mystical surroundings of secluded woodlands give Ashford Castle the ideal setting for magicians in the making.  After all, sorcery and magic at the historic castle date back 700 years, so who knows what will happen this year? But this isn’t for anyone counting their pennies. The two-night package is priced at €950 (approximately US$1,361).

If you’re looking for a different way to celebrate Halloween, Loews Hotels has you covered with a ‘Spooky Suite’ and costumes from Party City, the go-to Halloween supply store.  Party City’s Costume Concierge will assist in styling adults, children and pets.  The ‘Spooky Suite’ package is available October 25-31 at 13 Loews Hotels with rates starting at $207 and including a stay in a Halloween-themed suite, Loot bag with tricks and treats, costumes and more.

Discover the haunts of Monterey, CA on The Ghost Trolley of Monterey. This region’s dynamic mix of inhabitants delivered a wealth of intrigue and controversy via a 90-minute trolley tour winding in and out of the Path of History, visiting locations of both historical and recent ghost sightings including Monterey’s historic cemetery. www.toursmonterey.com.

This Halloween weekend, visit a haunted lighthouse. The Point Sur State Historic Park and Lighthouse in Big Sur is commonly listed among the top 10 haunted lighthouses in America. Many apparitions call this outback lighthouse home, including the spirit of the teenage daughter who died there of tuberculosis in 1900.

If you are looking for a bonafide haunted hotel, head to Punderson Manor State Park Lodge in northeast Ohio’s Punderson State Park. And it doesn’t have to be Halloween. Some employees have heard the sound of children’s laughter when there are no children around. Fires go out. Pencils fly across a room. Doors open and shut of their own volition. Faucets turn off and on with no one near. Televisions turn on by themselves – or off. A self-proclaimed psychic spent some time on the property and says she spoke with a ghost who said he would continue to haunt the manor “until his rocking chair was returned.”

Little ghosts and goblins get set for big fun at Miami’s biggest kid-friendly Halloween Extravaganza – the Monster Splash Nighttime Bash – returning for its 17^thyear on October 28 – 31, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at the Miami Seaquarium.

How can families get the most of their summer vacation? 

What mistakes do parents make when planning a family vacation? 

How can you save money on your family vacation? 

WHERE TO GO? Orbitz recently released its list of top destinations for travel this summer. Orlando was ranked number one, followed by Las Vegas, Seattle, Los Angeles and Denver. The rankings were determined by bookings through Orbitz but also affordability of airfare and hotel rooms.  

WILL GAS PRICES AFFECT TRAVEL? Everyone is dismayed about high gas prices. But there are ways to get the most bang for your gas buck (like going someplace where you won’t need a car), using public transportation (certainly greener!) and considering a train trip (Amtrak has many discounts for kids.)  

Here are 10 ways to travel smarter this summer: 

1. AVOID FAMILY FEUDS: Vacations increasingly include multi generations and are a great way to stay connected when we live so far apart but they can be fraught with difficulty if you don’t plan well. Who is paying for what? Exactly how much is grandma willing to babysit? Are there enough bathrooms? 

2. PARENTS MAKE MISTAKES TOO:  A big mistake parents often make is not consulting the kids in planning the itinerary. But when they do, the kids are far more cooperative with others’ choices. In a place like Orlando, make sure everyone has a say in the itinerary each day.  Each day, a different family member should get his pick first. Before you leave, wherever you are going, discuss everyone’s “must-see, must-do” for the trip—and make sure they are accomplished. For example if you’re planning a trip to Orlando, VisitOrlando.com offers some great new planning tools so the family can easily create an itinerary together. 

3. TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR of theme parks, museums, historic sites. Are there special family activities and workshops when you plan to visit? Perhaps you can visit when they are offered. Are there unique theme park experiences you need advance reservations for?  

4. KEEP THE LITTLE COSTS FROM CATCHING UP WITH YOU: Souvenirs can add unexpected expense when t-shirts can cost $30 and sweatshirts $50, not to mention cuddly animals, sparkly tiaras or Mouse ears and pirate hats.  Before you leave home, discuss with the kids exactly how much they have to spend. How much are you giving them? How much do they have to supplement from birthday money or babysitting? If possible, encourage the kids to wait till the end of the trip or at least the end of the day to shop.  Encourage collections—pins, patches, stickers for their reusable water bottles. 

5. FOOD—Even if you can afford it, no one wants to eat out three meals a day on vacation with kids. If possible, book a place with a kitchen so you can at least eat breakfast.  Have take out by the pool. Picnic for lunch—even at the theme parks. You don’t want to wait in long lines when the kids are hungry. Always pack snacks and reusable water bottles (slap stickers on them and they become instant souvenirs.)      

6. RESTAURANT SMARTS-Seek out local ethnic restaurants which not only are less expensive but tend to be kid-friendly. Ask if you can split portions. The kids who have outgrown the kids menus may be happy with an appetizer-sized portion too. 

7. ALTERNATE pricey excursions with time at the pool, beach , playground and hotel. Remember, you don’t need to be on the go every minute. 

8. SEEK OUT local parenting websites and newspapers to find out what is happening for local kids when you visit. 

9. BRING A FRIEND for your teen. You’ll have two happy teens rather than one grumpy one and you will feel more comfortable giving them more freedom. 

10. RELAX.  You are on vacation, not doing a marathon. You don’t have to see and do everything. 

THEME PARK TIPS:

Love it or hate it, it’s that time of year again. Some 335 million of us will be checking out the latest thrills and shows at  600 local amusement parks, giant theme parks and water parks this year, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. They’re tops on every kid’s vacation wish list-a lot of parents’ too. They’re expensive, exhausting and a lot of fun if you do them right. They don’t have to bust the budget either. Here’s how:
1. DON’T TRY to sneak kids onto ride they aren’t tall enough for or let them ride alone when they shouldn’t. Those rules are in place to protect your kids. Seat a younger child on the inside and make sure they keep their hands and feet inside at all times. (Check out the website www.saferparks.org)
2. NEVER FORCE a child to ride an attraction if they are frightened-even if you’ve waited in line. Never tease a child about their fear. You can always return later-or next year.
3. TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR before you visit so you and the kids can decide where you want to go first. Everyone should get to choose at least one attraction each day.
4. PACK reusable water bottles, healthy snacks and a lunch. Not only will you save money and eat healthier, but you won’t be waiting in long lines for food when the kids are hungry.
5. CHECK the theme park website and local tourism site for coupons that can save you money on your admission.
6. IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, CHECK THE OPTIONS FOR unique VIP experiences that will save you time. See what’s offered in Orlando.
7. Use park programs, like Disney’s FastPass that allow you to avoid long waits by getting a ticket with a specific time to return to the ride-and go to the front of the line. Another tip: Stay at a Universal Orlando resort and your room key guarantees you front of the line privileges.
8. BRING STROLLERS for younger children-much cheaper than renting them.
9. SLATHER on sunscreen and make sure you all get out of the sun periodically.
10. DIVIDE THE GROUP if you have great variety of ages, keeping in touch via cell phone or walkie-talkies.
11. DESIGNATE A PLACE to meet if you get separated and make sure the kids know where it is. Make sure the kids know to seek out someone in a uniform who is working should they get lost. On a card, write your name, cell phone numbers, the name and hotel where you are staying and put it in each child’s pocket. If they get lost, they may get upset and can’t remember your name beyond “mommy,” much less where you are staying! Carry reusable water bottles and snacks so that you don’t have to wait in long lines when the kids are hungry. It will be cheaper, healthier and greener.
12. BE PREPARED with jackets, rain gear and hats.
13. Save the flip flops for the pool! Make sure you and the kids wear comfortable shoes or sandals.
14. DISCUSS the souvenir budget in advance and save shopping until your last day-if possible.
15. Leave when the kids-and you-have had enough. There will always be another visit.

To find out more about the weekly Tribune Media Services syndicated column TAKING THE KIDS (www.takingthekids.com), please call or email me: 203-227-9180 - Eileen@takingthekids.com. Taking the Kids has 10 million readers and appears in major newspapers and on websites across the country.