1. Volcanoes and Wildlife Adventure: Costa Rica. If you have active and curious kids and are looking for a controlled but off-the-beaten-path adventure, try one of Austin Lehman?s Costa Rica tours, which include bike trips at the base of the Arenal Volcano, explorations of Tortuguero National Park, and a whitewater raft trip down the Pacuare River. The seasonal price is about $1998 per person, with 25% off for kids 12-16 when sharing a room. www.austinlehman.com2. Fun in the Sun. The Franklyn D. Resort in Jamaica provides a nanny per family from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and additional assistance is available in the evening. Your ?vacation nanny? will accompany kids to daytime activities including scavenger hunts and snorkeling expeditions?they will even stock your fridge and clean your room. Activities for adults and older kids include snorkeling trips, tennis lessons, and kayaking and windsurfing. The boutique all-suite, all-inclusive family hotel is not the most luxurious of Caribbean options, but the resort attracts many repeat guests because of the quality of the child assistance provided. Those traveling with larger families or grandparents are also eligible for an upgrade from a one-bedroom to a two-bedroom suite for a nominal $100 per night through April 21st. www.fdrfamilyfun.com; 800-654-13373. Orlando: The First ?World?s Fair for Kids.? Though Disney World naturally positions Orlando as a favorite family destination, the first ?World Fair for Kids? takes place April 15th through the 23rd at the Orange County Convention Center. Quasi, an intelligent robot for kids created by Carnegie Mellon University, is the official mascot. Guests will be invited to check out the latest in virtual video sports games and at least nine Guinness World Record attempts will be made. (Your family can be part of history by joining an attempt to break the world record for the largest number of people to jump rope simultaneously on April 17th.) Popular characters and celebrities will sign autographs, and the event will include non-stop live music from performers like Whizkid recording artist Jillian Wheeler, television star and singer Raven Symone, country music artist Billy Ray Cyrus, and many others. Single-day passports cost $29.95 each, and multi-day passports are $59.95 per person. Kids under three attend free. www.orlandoinfo.com4. Come Sail Away. Cruises can be a risky proposition for families in March since deeply discounted cruise deals target college students at this time of year. But the Disney cruise line is a safe bet for those seeking a wholesome, as opposed to rowdy adventure. Though itineraries vary in price, a seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise for two children and two adults costs approximately $5,500-$7,000, excluding airfare and transportation to Florida. (Children under three travel for free.) Evening entertainment includes Broadway-style shows, magic acts, and character visits, while special areas including an internet café and a disco catering to teens. www.disneycruise.disney.go.com5. Spring Ski. Voted the ?#1 Resort for Family Programs in North America? for seven years running by readers of SKI Magazine, Smugglers? Notch in Vermont is a logical (and nearby) choice for a spring ski trip. Approximately 6 hours from New York by car, Smuggler?s Notch offers terrain for skiers of all ages and experience levels, ranging from beginners areas to more advanced trails for intermediates, and including the East Coast?s only triple-black-diamond trail, the Black Hole. The resort also offers a renowned ski and snowboard school, Snow Sport University, and other outdoor adventures including dog sledding, snowmobile rides, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Take advantage of the Supersaver Value weeks, March 17th to April 9th, when a family of four can stay in a two-bedroom suite for five nights at $2235. www.smuggs.com 6. Mayan Ruins. There is something for everyone in a trip to Mexico?s Mayan Riviera. Nearby all-inclusive resorts provide beach fun and easy meals for the kids and deluxe spa services and golf for adults. Meanwhile, adventure travelers can arrange to tour Mayan ruins, coral reefs, and eco-archeological theme parks. Palace Resorts has a number of kid-friendly properties in the area, including the brand new Playacar Palace, offering one of the best golf courses in the region. www.palaceresorts.com7. Family Spa Retreat. If your idea of bliss is a spa vacation, Pinehurst Spa in North Carolina makes it easy to work the kids into your plan. Its exclusive TeenSpa Lounge is stocked with teen magazines, the latest products and music and caters specifically to teens ages 12-17. Special services include the Total Teen Facial and a Teen Tune Up workout session with a certified personal trainer. Teens 13-18 can also participate in supervised ?adventures? including boat relays, paintball, scavenger hunts, and more. Younger children can accompany a parent to the main spa for services including the Pinehurst Kid Facial and Pinehurst Kid Massage, while a KidsClub is designed to entertain those 3-12 with indoor games, arts projects, and swimming. For information, call the Resort Services Desk at 910-235-8415.8. Dude Ranch Adventure. Tanque Verde Ranch, located on 640 acres in the foothills of the Rincon mountains east of Tucson, Arizona, offers a counselor supervised Children?s Program with riding lessons for ?wranglers? and ?buckaroos? ages 4-11. The Southwestern resort provides comfortable accommodations with breathtaking desert and mountain views, as well as indoor and outdoor pools, spas, saunas, guided hikes of the Sonoran desert, all-day horseback rides, and mountain biking. An inclusive rate includes most activities and three meals daily that feature barbecue prepared by an award-winning chef. 800-234-DUDE9. Find the Divine. If you?ve ever contemplated the benefits of attending a spiritual retreat with your family, options now abound across all faiths and denominations, including nondenominational and retreat centers for meditation and yoga. Some facilities and organizations provide self-development workshops designed for families and teens. www.findthedivine.com10. Family Volunteer Vacations. If the events of the past year make you feel as though you should contribute rather than indulge, there are many wonderful family-friendly options, from working with HIV-positive children in Brazil, to assisting educators in Tanzania, or, much closer to home, working with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for low-income families or those displaced by Hurricane Katrina. See www.crossculturalsolutions.org for international opportunities and www.habitatforhumanity.com for domestic options.
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