Taking the Kids: On a (safe) spring break

If you are seeking a theme park fix, Orlando resorts are open with Universal Orlando Resort kicking off the year with a new Military Freedom Pass; Mardi Gras 2021: International Flavors of Carnaval runs Feb. 6 through Mar. 28. Disney fans can get Disney savings, purchasing a four-night/three-day room and ticket packages at select Disney Resort hotels gets you an extra two days of theme parks tickets for arrivals most nights through Sept. 25, 2021.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg has got plenty of outdoor special events, including Mardi Gras (through Feb. 28), St. Patrick’s Day Celebration (March 5 to 28) and the Food & Wine Festival (April 2 to May 23) and you can time travel back in history at Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement and The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Ready to meet Thomas Jefferson? Join the Continental Army?

How about the new LOGE Camp hotels? LOGE, which stands for “Live Outside, Go Explore,” has small, dog-welcoming hotels that celebrate the outdoors in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington with on-site gear rentals.

If you’ve always wanted to try RVing, for a limited time only, El Monte RV and Road Bear RV are offering one-way RV rentals starting at only $9 per day, starting at the companies’ factories in the Midwest. The catch is that these are one-way RV rentals from Chicago, Illinois, or Elkhart, Indiana, to select drop-off resort destinations nationwide.

Check out Harvest Hosts membership program, which provides RVers a network of more than 1,500 wineries, farms, botanical gardens, breweries, museums and other attractions where you can spend the night free, once you’ve paid the $79 membership fee.

You certainly can social distance on bikes. The Adventure Cycling Association has mountain-biking tours, ranging from do-it-yourself to camping to escorted excursions.

With just eight people, you can arrange a private guided bike trip from Backroads.

Consider a trip to the snow where there is plenty else to do — like in Park City, Utah, where guests who book three or more nights’ accommodations online, or by phone at 855/730-7319, between Feb. 16 and April 12 get a Ski Park City Delta gift card worth $300 toward future airfare. (You can get the deal even if you drive!) While you are in Utah, spend a few days at the historic Alta Lodge during one of their upcoming kids-free weeks that include meals and lodge activities. Perfect your tricks on jumps, half pipes or rails with Woodward Private family lessons at Woodward Mountain Park, a network of ten terrain zones, at Copper Mountain in Colorado

If you prefer a more remote wilderness setting, consider a dude ranch. Dude Ranchers’ Association (DRA) member dude ranches in 10 states offer plenty of social distancing, outdoor activities and meals while adhering to the latest COVID-19 protocols.

Head to snowy climes as we have at Vista Verde Ranch near Steamboat Springs, CO (have you ever gone back-country skiing?) or to sunny Arizona to a ranch like White Stallion in Tucson. where you can ride Fat Tire bikes or rock climb when you don’t want to ride among the giant cactus.

Are you smiling yet?

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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The Kid’s Guide to Philadelphia, the 13th in the kid’s guide series, was published in 2020, with The Kid’s Guide to Camping coming in 2021.)