Spring break is more than just college students going wild and partying. It is the perfect time to bond with the whole family and have a well-deserved vacation. If you have kids, whether they are kindergarteners or college students, now is the best time to plan a family spring break get away.

Schools across North America have different schedules for spring break, so everyone does not go into one vacation spot all at once. Generally, spring often draws smaller crowds in popular vacation areas than summer. But if you want a totally quiet and intimate bonding time with your family, don’t go to places where the local kids are out of school at the same time, the odds are high that they’ll be visiting many of the same attractions that you and your kids will visit.

Spring break also offers more options in travel destinations than summer. Tropical or desert resorts at this time of the year are not too hot and crowded. Some ski resorts are still open until mid-April so skiing enthusiasts can still head out to the slopes to ski (see our article about The Enchanted Circle in New Mexico). A lot of resorts also offer many discount packages in spring, since this is typically an off-peak season.

Here are a few exciting places where you can spend spring break with your entire family:

St. Lucia
This is a tropical paradise that is well suited for adventure loving families with older kids. Spring offers the quintessential weather, before tropical storms brew in June. Hikers and cyclists have miles of trails such as the Millet Bird Sanctuary Trail, 1,000 feet above the sea, which is moderately challenging, and the Forestierre Rainforest Trail is gentler. Cas en Bas and Vieux Fort summon skilled windsurfers, and equestrians should go to Gros Islet’s International Riding Stables. Don’t forget to visit exquisite Marigot Bay (where Dr. Doolittle was filmed), and 100-year-old Castries market with crafts, spices, and tropical foods. History and nature flourish on Pigeon Island, a 40-acre park with ruins, trails, and a museum. The possibilities are endless for fun in St. Lucia.

Lafayette, Louisiana
Spring in Lafayette is filled with family educational activities and fun events. Learn about Cajun culture at Vermillionville, where interpreters and craft demonstrators bring Cajun life and history alive. Watch alligators on the Atchafalaya Basin Swamp Tour at McGee’s Landing. See where the famous Tabasco sauce is made when you visit Avery Island. The island also has amazing gardens, wildlife, and bayous. Dance like a local at Randol’s Restaurant and Cajun Dancehall, and check out Lafayette’s family-oriented concerts and festivals, including Downtown Alive, most Fridays in March and April, and Pyromania XIII, an arts weekend of artisan demonstrations and hands-on instruction for the public, in early April. Spring is a great time of year to enjoy the “deep south” since temperatures and humidity levels are still low (bugs and mosquitoes aren’t as prevalent yet too).

Disneyworld – Orlando, Florida
When you discuss spring break options, you always have to mention Disneyworld! It’s the iconic spring break destination for families. With four major theme parks, two water parks, 22 themed resorts, other attractions, and a total area the size of Boston, a Disney World vacation covers a vast destination for the entire family. Spring break is one of the best times to visit Disneyworld. During late April, after spring break, until Memorial Day, you can enjoy free concerts during Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival. Disney is more than just Mickey Mouse, so make sure you discover every inch of this magical place!