I am trying to plan a trip for Spring Break (mid-March). We have young kids - ages 4, 7, 9. We tried to plan a ski trip in Colorado, but can't get flights and everything seems to be booked up. Can you ski in the Carolinas or Gatlinburg in March?? Tried the Disney Cruise, it's booked too. Thought about D.C. to do something educational, but they don't want to go there for their break. WHERE SHOULD WE GO? ANY SUGGESTIONS? Thanks.

Maybe Portland OR? You can head up to Mt Hood for a day of winter fun and have 1,000,000 other things to do every other day!
*Mt St Helens
*Waterfalls
*A Columbia River Cruise
*Beaches (cold, though)
*Zoo
So, so much... do a search on Portland.

Montreal or Quebec City. Should be cheap enough with kids and there are tons of winter activities.

What city and state do you live in? People here can probably give you good ideas within driving distance to avoid the problem with getting flights.

I think the skiing in SC/NC/TN in mid-March will depend on what kind of winter they have had so far, and on the weather a few days before you would go, as I believe they make a lot of their snow.

I think Florida is very iffy in March in terms of weather, you can get lucky with hot sunny days or unlucky with cold rainy ones. Average temps along the east and west coasts are only in the low 70s F, so even if it is sunny it may not be warm enough to really rate as beach weather.

Not to tell you how to raise your kids, but since when do children (esp under 15 or 16) get to decide where they want to go on vacation? My parents just picked a place, and we all went. I went to DC for the first time when I was 10 and loved it, I remember finding it inspiring to see all the monuments, etc. Loved Williamsburg as well. I think Dc makes a great vacation place. (If they are really good, you can take them down to Busch Gardens outside Williamsburg for a day?)

I have a friend who buys last minute packages from travelzoocom. I'm thinking that you have a great opportunity to but a last minute package from somewhere similar. I wouldn't try to plan the trip myself: I'd just choose from several interesting options on some web site.

1. San Diego. The weather should be great. Ocean, Zoo, sea world, mountains, desert.

2. Williamsburg, VA. Depending on your timing, you may hit the opening of Busch Gardens, so the kids can have one theme park day. Colonial Williamsburg (tours are all interactive...all the employees are in character, and they love to interact with the kids.) Yorktown, Jamestown. We rented a timeshare apartment - had an indoor pool.

3. Chicago. Museum of Science and Industry, Art Institute, Frank Lloyd Wright homes, American Girl place, Navy Pier, fantastic pizza and other ethnic food. (P.S. The Suites at Hampton Suites just off of Michgan Ave. are great and cost about half the price of the nearby Embassy suites.)

One more: Arizona. Mid March will be warm in Phoenix, cool in Flagstaff. We rented a condo in Flagstaff and used that as our base. Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Sedona, Cliff Dwellings, etc.