Taking the Kids: Spring break
And because Canada is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its confederation, passes to all Canadian national parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas are free throughout the year.
Book a night at a participating hotel in Quebec City and kids 3 to 12 get a P’tit chanceux bracelet that guarantees free admission to 14 must-see attractions and some special gifts. Don't forget that Montreal is celebrating its 375th birthday with plenty of special events and festivals.
With my partners at Family Travel Forum, we've put together Spring Break Ideas to Meet Every Family’s Wish List. Here are five ideas:
SPRING TRAINING, started in late February in Arizona and Florida. Families heading to Arizona should expect extra excitement with the World Champion Cubs in residence. I love taking the kids (even the adult ones) to spring training because it is so much more relaxing and less expensive than going to a Major League stadium. Take in a couple of games in Arizona and the Grand Canyon, less crowded than in the summer. You'll find lots of spring training packages in Scottsdale, for example. Don't forget the baseballs and Sharpie pen for autographs!
HIT THE BEACH. Clearwater Beach, Fla., also bans alcohol on its white sand beaches and is famous for their Sunset Festival at Pier 60 (364 days a year) with plenty of free family entertainment.
TIPTOE THROUGH THE TULIPS in the Netherlands, where spring is the favorite season for locals, Teens love Amsterdam's hip vibe. Among the many Amsterdam attractions for families are the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum, which houses the largest collection of his works in the world.
UNPLUG OUTDOORS. Kids now log more than seven hours of screen time (television and internet) per day and mere minutes outside. The outdoor outfitter O.A.R.S. has launched the #100HoursUnplugged Challenge (www.100HoursUnplugged.com) to get as many people as possible to commit to spending 100 hours offline, outdoors and together as a family. O.A.R.S is just one of the companies dedicated to helping families get outdoors safely and happily, whether river rafting in the West or hiking at Machu Picchu, Peru.
What will the kids choose?
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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow "taking the kids" on www.twitter.com, where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments.)
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