<p>Any suggestions for good destinations for Spring break where we can go as a family and please our college aged son and the rest of the family as well?</p>
<p>See my post on the other spring break idea thread about a chartered yacht vacation in the caribbean or pm me about it!</p>
<p>Bethyy- thanks for your suggestion. I have two problems with it though...I get very seasick and I was thinking it would be too isolating for our family since my kids would want to meet other kids around their ages to hang out with.</p>
<p>The seasickness isn't a problem. I also get very seasick but have never had a problem since the water is so calm and you are out in the open air. The kids thing might be a problem though. My parents rectified it by allowing us each to bring a couple friends so we managed to meet other kids with them. Sorry it doesn't work for you though!</p>
<p>Orlando might be an option. Lots and lots of things to do ... fairly easy transportation around the area ... but definitely not a budget trip. One spring break trip we rented a house with a pool and hot tub -- but have also stayed on-site Disney, and I-drive.</p>
<p>Best spring Break</p>
<p>Grab some Skis and head to Jackson Hole Wyo, or perhaps Park City Utah. You just can't beat skiing in the spring.</p>
<p>If you go to the Bahamas, the area around the Atlantis will keep everyone busy and happy. And, if you are cheap like my family, you will stay next door at the Comfort Suites and still have full access of the Atlantis without the price!!</p>
<p>If you want to stay in the States, almost any beach on the gulf coast will lead you to millions on college students!</p>
<p>A service vacation can be great for the family, relatively inexpensive, and a great bonding experience with lots of people. Especially in the Katrina ravaged area, there are still plenty of Habitat for Humanity projects going on. I have seen ads for such experiences in the Pitt News on campus... I'm sure there are lots of opportunities out there. Not for everyone, but kids I have talked to have loved it.</p>
<p>Check with your college son first to see if he wants to continue to vacation with you- some year he will prefer to do his own thing without you. The end of the nuclear family as you knew it when children become adults.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!</p>
<p>cnp55 - We have been to Orlando and son is in school in FL, so thanks for the suggestion, but I think a FL trip is ruled out.</p>
<p>drizzit - we are totally not skiiers. Been skiing twice in my life and both times were torture! Thanks tho.</p>
<p>snowball - we have been to the Atlantis, but it was quite a few years ago. Actually, that is one of the destinations we are considering. We had a great time there.</p>
<p>fencersmother - I have a good friend who just came back from a trip for Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans. She had a great time. I have to find out more about that possibility!</p>
<p>wis75 - Believe it or not, my college son does still want to go on vacation as a family. He actually asked if we could since I think he is missing that. I think he realizes that he is nearing an age when those vacations will no longer be the same and he wants to grasp the last of those moments. He and his little sister are very close and we all have a lot of laughs together. Yet, it's good for us to go where he can also go off at night and have other teens to hang out with.</p>
<p>Thanks again and keep those suggestions coming!</p>
<p>My "kids" are 23 and 20 and still want that summer vacation with us! What could be bad about a free trip to the beach for a week!! Spring break has been a different story as one would visit a friends family at their beach home and the other either came home for a week of rest or visited friends. I was luck in that neither were into the wild spring break trips to the beach with thousands of their closest friends!</p>
<p>I will take them along as long as they will go. I am hoping when they get married and have children, we will be able to continue these family trips every so often. I know many people in their 60's and 70's that still take their children and grandchildren on a yearly vacation.</p>
<p>I like the all inclusive vacations (ie: Cancun). Your children can hang out with you, or your son can do things on his own. There are various activities (ie: jet skis, snorkeling, etc.). There is also sightseeing, and there are beautiful waterparks (ie: xel ha) with incredible snorkeling. When we were there sometimes we ate dinner as a family, and other times H and I ate alone, and our sons chose to eat in a different restaurant on their own.</p>
<p>I too hope my kids want to come along with ol' ma and pa on some of our little trips. They appear to have inherited the cheap gene, so I figure they'll come as long as we're paying! They can bring as many friends as we can squeeze in.</p>
<p>We took a family trip to Playa Del Carmen last summer with our 17-year-old and 19-year-old and stayed at an all-inclusive (Iberostar Tucan) and had a blast. Lots of activities, did a great tour to Mayan ruins with a ceynote swim, canoeing and zip-line ride (which was so fun!), great beaches, enough food and drink for everyone. I wouldn't go in summer again because it was so bloody hot, but I think during spring it would be fun.
Pam</p>
<p>We found an air package 4 years ago that made New Zealand affordable. Spring break is early, early fall in the South Island and Auckland (1000 miles to the North) is very temperate.</p>
<p>Lots of activities (parasailing, hang gliding, boogie boarding, bungee jumping, sky diving, rappling, cave exploring) and unbelieveable nature (overnite boat trip on Doubtful Sound in the South was a once in a life experience) and eating fresh food is a treat. Since NZ was settled by the English, there are restaurants from countries around the old British Empire. For the wine lover, the local offerings are a treat (I've been told).</p>
<p>We (15 year old S and I) just booked air and winged it on the accommodations which turned out great. We spent most of the time in Queenstown on the South Island and only a few days in the North.</p>
<p>^Pretty far for just a week, though!</p>
<p>We are fans of Club Med. We are going to Columbus Isle again this Spring. It is one of their more upscale clubs. Our teenage girls (18 & 14) love to go there. All activities, drinks, meals are all included. They have also just renovated Cancun. A very big plus of this club is that internet connection is very iffy and TV shows are not great, so when we are down there it's just sun, beach, pool and family. We also like the kind of people at this club - Europeans, and not so loud Americans. It is very easy to get to - get to Fort Lauderdale and take their charter down.</p>
<p>We've always loved cruises. You never have to worry about how far off your kids have wandered. Our boys are 24 and 19 and we always have a great time.</p>
<p>be forewarned if you look into places in Mexico, especially that are also popular with Europeans, topless sunbathing may not be prohibited. If you don't mind it, then fine, but if it's something you'd feel uncomfortable with, keep looking around for other places.</p>
<p>Unless you really want to escape Florida, you might be interested in a family trip to Key West. It's pretty easy to get to from Orlando, it's a great family destination (an often overlooked fact, but I promise that it's true), it's a great young-people-meeting-other-young-people destination, and it's very popular for Spring Break (depending on when your son's spring break is, it might actually be too popular, but if his break is unusually early or late, you'll be fine). You also get the perks of Florida--amazing weather, friendly locals--but are still able to feel like you're in a completely different place (the city is a bit of a bubble). It should be noted that the city can be pretty pricey, though there are ways of cutting down on cost.</p>
<p>A hotel or rental in New Town will likely be less expensive than in Old Town and will still put you within very easy access of the touristy areas (I mean very easy...the whole island is something like 6mi^2), but still a bit outside of the spring break madness. There's a lot to do that is great for older kids with their families: a jet-ski ride around the island, a chartered boat (private or group) to watch dolphins or go snorkeling (3rd largest barrier reef in the world), para-sailing, a day of sea-kayaking around the uninhabited keys, a trip out to the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson (there are seaplane flights for those who get seasick), lots of really good tours and museums (Key West Lighthouse, Hemingway's House, President Truman's Little White House, Audobon House, the butterfly emporium, the aquarium, the Bahama village or Cuban quarter, the pirate museum, Mel Fisher's treasure museum, etc.). And of course, there are beaches and nightlife. </p>
<p>I've grown up around the island, so I'm a bit of a walking guidebook. Sorry for the details, but I wanted to make sure to say enough to get past the city's spring-break-beach-party stereotype! My whole family has only enjoyed Key West more and more as my sister and I have gotten older, and that includes very busy "youth-oriented" times of year, as well.</p>
<p>I also second a cruise if that's a viable option. Port Canaveral is close and easy to get to from Orlando (many cruise lines have transport from the Orlando Airport). I never thought it'd be something I'd like, but my family had a fantastic time...plenty of opportunities for family bonding, but also a great environment for meeting other people and doing one's own thing. It's also nice to be able to pay a mostly-lump-sum upfront and not worry too much as the week goes by.</p>