Here's the good news: If you plan smart, Spring Break can be easier on your wallet and more fun for your entire family.

Now's the time to plan whether you want to spend a long weekend in the city, head to the snow, the beach or Spring Training. The hotel megasearch site Trivago notes that European cities can be cheaper in spring than summer-fewer tourists too. Wherever you go, get the kids involved in the planning. They'll be happier campers and are guaranteed to lead you in new and unexpected directions. (My Kid's City Guide series to major American cities can help!)

Here are some of the places that Family Travel Forum and Taking the Kids recommend:

SPRING IS A TERRIFIC TIME to visit Washington, DC where some of the nation's finest museums and annual festivals are totally free. My Kid's Guide to Washington, DC can help the kids lead the way! From March 20 through April 17, 2016 is the period for the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which even includes a special Blossom Kite Festival. And don't forget that Washington has more free museums and attractions -- including the National Zoo where you can pay a visit to the giant pandas and their babies - than most cities, more than 100. See the National Mall with DC by Foot, a walking tour company that gives free, kid-friendly tours (gratuity recommended).

YOU DON'T NEED TO TRACK SAND into the room or take off an entire week when you choose one of the dozen Great Wolf Lodge indoor waterpark resorts.  Great Wolf Lodge Southern California opens in Garden Grove today - just in time for spring break! The company's largest resort features a 105,000 square foot indoor water park and 603 suites. Currently, the resort is featuring its Grand Opening deal, featuring a discount up to 20% on stays through November 30. Enter promo code: GRAND. And that same savings can be applied on multi-night stays at the other 12 resorts in North America on stays through March 17. Enter code: MOREFUN.

SPRING IS THE PERFECT weather to turn your littlest ones, who are so susceptible to the cold, into lifelong snow sports lovers. The online resources at Ski.com make planning easy, because their site is searchable by "family" so you can easily find deals and "kids ski free" options for your small group. Keystone Resort touts kids free lift tickets (as long as you spend two nights staying at the resort) and a whole range of off the slopes Kidtopia fun and games. 

CRUISES ARE ALWAYS a good bet for relaxing reunions because meals and accommodations are pre-arranged and paid for, and there's no worrying about getting to the next destination. It's even easier with the number of ports where you can cruise close to your home. If grandparents are along, the supervised programs for infants, tots, kids and teens - not to mention the scheduled bridge games - keep everyone in the family busy. In our Family Cruise Section you'll find many reviews of the major cruise lines.

VISIT A NATIONAL PARK. Last year, almost 293 million people visited America's national parks; this year, celebrate the Centennial of the National Parks together. Use the new site FindYourPark.com to plan a trip during National Park Week (April 16- 24) when all 409 parks and monuments are free for all ages. Fourth graders and their families get admission free to all the parks  through the summer  thanks to the Every Kid in a Park program; those traveling with grandparents can take advantage of their lifetime $10  Senior Pass  that gets the entire car in to the parks.  Many National Park Service properties organize free, ranger-led hikes and nature walks; others have safe areas to bike or canoe and don't forget the Junior Ranger programs!

SPRING TRAINING. If sports rule in your household, this is the time to take your team to spring training, a mainstay at small stadiums in Florida and Arizona where kids' tickets can be less than $10. You'll find special lodging packages close to every stadium. Kissimmee Florida, for example, is a great place to catch the Houston Astros in training followed by an afternoon at the nearby Orlando theme parks. In Peoria, Arizona, spend the afternoon watching the San Diego Padres or Seattle Mariners get into form, then head out after dark to do a night vision tour of the starlit desert and get to know the region's nocturnal creatures.

Now comes the hard part-deciding where to go!