Families get a break: New resort packages can make this spring a season to remember

By Michael Nassar

Spring break may be a cherished tradition for schoolchildren of all ages, but it’s also synonymous with the annual migration to the sun by hordes of hormonally charged college students going wild at the usual hot spots — Cancun; Panama City Beach, Fla., and South Padre Island, Tex.

Yet there’s an upside to the madness — especially if you have younger kids underfoot for a week: The rest of the country gets pretty quiet. (Even onetime spring-break fave Fort Lauderdale famously gave revelers the boot recently in an effort to change its image.)

So if you’re looking for a spring vacation to satisfy kids large and small, take heart — here are some alternatives that don’t involve wet T-shirts or Jell-O shots. And with the discounts and deals being offered to attract wary travelers, spring break doesn’t have to mean spring broke.

Bargains for living la vida Boca

Boca Raton Resort & Club has long been one of Florida’s favorite resort destinations, but now you can take advantage of a Winter Escape package starting at just $299 per night through April. Guests also can earn $50 in resort credit for every second night of their stay, along with discounted golf, spa treatments and free breakfast for kids 10 and under.

Built in 1926 with Mediterranean-style architecture, the resort features a half-mile private beach, 30 tennis courts and seven pools — including an infinity-edge Atlantic pool and a zero-entry family pool ideal for younger children.

Feel at ease stretching out at Spa Palazzo, secure in the fact that the kids are enjoying an enriching and educational day in Camp Boca. This day camp focuses on fun and safety, offering numerous activities (a booking for the Winter Escape earns a free day session). All parents receive a beeper with a 60-mile radius to ensure constant communication.

Afterward, the family can reunite for movie screenings, frozen hot chocolate tastings or family bingo.
Or, eco-conscious families can tour the Everglades on an airboat, experiencing Florida the way it used to be (www.cypressairboats.com).

Better yet, send the little nippers to bed early and take advantage of the resort’s dance lessons, or an organized evening of drinks and card games. For information, go to www.bocabeachclub.com.

Southern comforts

The weather outside might still be frightful, but in Charleston, S.C., life can be really delightful. One of America’s favorite Southern cities, Charleston has a cure for spring fever with its warm climate and affordable accommodations.

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/travel/2009/03/08/2009-03-08_families_get_a_break_new_resort_packages.html