Spring break: Have you made plans?

My kids' spring break is just around the corner. We're planning a road trip through Washington state, visiting an aunt and uncle on Puget Sound and my son's best friend who recently moved to Seattle. We hope to check out the Museum of Flight and get at least one sunny day on the beach.

If you're still looking for something to do with your kids over Spring Break, here are three ideas:

Naples, Fl. This luxurious beach resort, two hours west of Miami, sits on the Gulf of Mexico. It's ritzy and glitzy and known as a vacation spot for wealthy Midwesterners. The waterfront is lined with over-the-top mansions and beach-goers wear fine linen cover ups and flip-flops studded with gems.

This is the perfect spot if you want to laze on the beach all day while your kids splash around and build sand castles. The sand is soft and sugary and the pale green waters as warm as a bathtub.

The Strand, the main drag, is loaded with shops and restaurants; we liked Bella Mia Amore for thin-crust blistery pizza and off the main drag Inka's Kitchen for outstanding Peruvian cuisine.

Bed down at the Best Western Naples Inn & Suites, surrounded by a jungle of palm trees, ferns, and hibiscus. Skinny pathways wind through the vegetation and lead to the two pretty swimming pools and hot tubs. Plus, kids have a blast hitting around balls at the miniature golf course.


Hannibal, Mo.
In this small port town 120 miles north of St. Louis, you can step back in time and explore the life of great American Mark Twin. At the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, you'll learn that Twain moved here when he was 4-years-old. His childhood and the town and the river it sits on served as inspiration for both Huck Finn and the Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

You'll also want explore the caves that are mentioned in many of Twain's books, hop aboard the Mark Twin Mississippi Riverboat, and play a round of miniature golf at Sawyer's Creek fun park. (For more things to do, go to visithannibal.com)

Hungry? The tower of onion rings and a frosty mug of homemade root beer at the Mark Twain Dinette across from museum will fill you up. Also, fried chicken, juicy burgers, and spicy chili.

The Best Western Plus On the River sites in the heart of town and you can walk to all the museums and restaurants. At the end of the day, kids will enjoy jumping into the swimming pool.

Santa Monica, Calif.
If you're looking for some Southern California sun, this beachy town makes a great homebase. It's close to all the attractions from Disneyland to Hollywood. But there's also plenty to do right here. Head for the Santa Monica Pier where you can ride the Ferris wheel and eat corn dogs (look for the original Hot Dog on a Stick). Or you just might want to park yourself on the white, sandy beach.

Need a place to stay? The Best Western Plus Gateway Hotel Santa Monica offers great value and clean, comfortable rooms in a town where you can easily find hotel rooms for $1000 a night.