American Airlines was having a sale last week and I didn't get my tickets to the Carribean purchased in time. The seats are almost all sold out so we won't even try to get a good price. Where else can I take my kids, ages 16-6, for Spring Break March 15-22? We live in AZ and want something different, not necessarily a beach. We've done Disneyland ad nauseum.

Would San Diego qualify as different?. Not terribly far away from Az. It won't be hot but it shouldn't be cold either. You are aren't concerned about the beach. Plenty of family acitivities. The Catamaran is a nice place for a family. You have Sea World, the zoo, lego land for the little one. Wild Animal Park, Balboa park. All and all a nice place for a family vacation.

I wouldn't panic if I were you - if you have until March, you may still see some sales for the Caribbean. Also, how about Mexico or Central America? I'd avoid Cancun over Spring Break, but Mexico City/Oaxaca, or Merida and the nearby Mayan ruins in the Yucatan could be fun. If you're near Phoenix, America West may have good deals direct to various Mexican cities. Also try Continental and Mexicana.

I would do London. It is off-season; there are often good deals on fares (especially in January). We paid around $275 from west coast a couple of years ago in March.

different..go up to vancouver, b.c.
ambergris caye in belize
skiing in banff, alberta

The California Coast is a nice trip. Spend a few days in SF, then drive south with an overnight or 2 along the way. Spend the rest of the time in LA or SD.

I'm also a big fan of taking the kids to Europe. We've done it a couple of times. We all had a great time.

Take the family to Vegas. Let the wife shop. Tell the kids to watch television and not to leave the room. Go gambling and get in a few rounds of golf.

The kids will probably like this more than going to some museums and a national park. Wife gets some independance.

Sounds like a perfect vacation.

But with only a week, it's a long way from PHX to Europe and back. You're barely there before it's time to head home. The Rockies or Pacific NW are just too iffy in March - the last thing you want are bored kids because it's raining or crummy, and they're stuck in a hotel room.

6 and 16 is a pretty big spread, but I guess I'd say Washington DC or NYC, preferably Washington, where you might get lucky weather- and cherry blossom-wise. There are tons of things to do in the District, or you can do an excursion to Williamsburg, etc. Get a pass from your Congress(wo)man or Senator for the visitor's gallery at the House or Senate, have bean soup in the Senate dining room, hit the Air & Space museum... the list is really long.

Yes, go abroad!
It is so cheap right now to book it. I just got tickets to Paris for $269 from West Coast on Northwest. I know the sale goes through March. United was next in line, at $312. This price takes you to London, Paris or Frankfurt.