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Print this pageGive the Kids a Break
Five solid days with no school, plus a weekend on either side. Sounds like heaven to your average K-through-twelfth-grader, but to parents, February vacation can be
a nail-biter. Outside, the days are gray and cold, and inside promises hours of mind-numbing TV and gaming.
Why not pack up the troops and head for adventure?
House of the Mouse
Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida
Cost for four: $2,500 for RT tickets on Southwest and $1,000 for five-day tickets to one major Disney park each day.
Hassle factor: Not as a high as you might think. “They do a great job of moving people through the park,” says Ann Petronio of Annie’s Escapes. “During school vacation weeks, the parks open early and close late, and guests of Disney resorts have fast passes to navigate lines more quickly.”
What the kids will love: Everything. It’s Disney.
What the ’rents will love: World-class dining and Broadway-caliber shows.
Travel tip: Check online sources such as allears.net and mousesavers.com for news on ride closures and discounts.
Capitol W
Washington, DC
Cost for four: DC offers some great hotel values near the Capitol. Accommodations for five nights can be had near the Hill for around $1,500.
Hassle factor: Low. The drive to DC takes about eight hours, so skip the planes and trains. Once in the city, public transportation is a cheap and easy way to get around.
What the kids will love: The pandas at the National Zoo, and the International Spy Museum, where kids can crack secret codes and develop disguises.
What the ’rents will love: Many museums and attractions are free.
Travel Tip: Take a daytrip to the Civil War battle site at Manassas.
Cool Adventure
Sugarbush Ski Resort, Mill Valley, Vermont
Cost for four: $3,000 for a 2-bed, 2-bath slopeside condo with a full kitchen; equipment rental ranges from $30–$40/day
Hassle factor: Low. Vermont is an easy drive from the Ocean State, so there’s no airport drama to deal with. Skis, boots and boards are easily rented on site.
What the kids will love: Fifty-three miles of trails and 269 inches of snow per year
What the ’rents will love: Most restaurants have kids’ menus and the dress is always casual.
Travel Tip: Check out an extreme skiing adventure with John Egan. A day with the ski-film star can include tree skiing, cliff jumping or backcountry ski mountaineering.
“Aweigh” From It All
Western Caribbean Cruise (sailing from Miami)
Cost for four: $4,700 for airfare, a night’s stay in Miami and cruise
Hassle factor: Medium. Travel to and one-night lodging in Miami plus transfer from the hotel to the ship requires some coordinating. Once on board, there’s nothing to do but relax.
What the kids will love: Many cruise lines offer activities for tweens and teens, such as sports, themed parties, movie nights and more.
What the ’rents will love: Cruises are all-inclusive, so “parents know the costs going in and don’t have to agonize over uneaten restaurant meals,” says Petronio.
Travel Tip: Check out sites like allthingscruise.com and cruisetravel
tips.com for travel deals and shipboard etiquette. —JAMIE SAMONS
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