Vote for a presidential getaway

It was the day before school resumed after winter break when the kids suddenly became interested in the calendar to see when the next break would occur. After all, four straight weeks of school will be as grueling as, well, running for president.

Hillary and Huckabee may be duking it out, but we may need to duck out of town if, for nothing else, to get away from modern politics for a few days and reconnect with our favorite party: our family. We'll be patriotic and visit these United States over Presidents' Weekend -- and be smart Americans by snagging great family travel deals.

Now through March 31, the historic Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, Ariz., offers a Family Slumber Party package with rates starting at $559 per night for the entire family. The package includes accommodations in a two-bedroom suite, daily pizza delivery and in-room movie rental, and unlimited kids' drinks. Save the pizza and flicks for evening because you'll want to get a good dose of vitamin D outside on the grounds of the AAA Five Diamond Resort. On-site amenities include tennis courts; pools; shuffleboard; sand volleyball; a links-style golf course along with a pitch 'n' putt; and a 32,000-square-foot, award-winning spa.

There's a lot to explore among the 125 acres of gently sloping land in Paradise Valley with views of famous Camelback Mountain. The resort's kids' program, Hopalong College, plays up the Western theme at the on-site Old West town at the base of Mummy Mountain. It has a saloon, livery stable, general store and other mock storefronts. Nearby, you'll discover horseback riding, white-water rafting, Jeep adventures, hot-air ballooning and more. Get cozy after a day in the sun in your pueblo-style guest room with private patios and amazing views of the night sky.

For details, go to www.camelbackinn.com or call (800) 242-2635.

Since we're ducking out of town, why not visit your own presidential retreat of sorts: Duck Key in the Florida Keys? Hawk's Cay is a 60-acre island resort on Duck Key that offers wide-ranging activities for the teen and pre-teen set. The resort is undergoing a comprehensive, multimillion-dollar transformation, relaunching in February, just in time for Presidents' Weekend. Its 177 guest rooms and many of the 225 two- and three-bedroom villas are completely renovated as well as a new lobby area, veranda and sun terrace, Nuevo Latino signature restaurant and bar and an open-air beach grill.

To celebrate the relaunch, the resort is offering discounted rates of $225 per night for newly renovated hotel guest rooms for three-day stays through March (midweek only).

Try your hand at world-class fishing, sailing lessons, eco-kayaking, a Dolphin Connection program and more. Hawk's Cay's Indies Club offers specific teen programs and amenities. Hang out in the teen center for wireless Internet access, flat-screen TVs, games and teen spa treatments.

Eco-minded teenagers will appreciate guided tours around the islands that teach about the Keys and the importance of preserving the fragile environment. At the resort's Indies Spa, a menu of services is designed specifically for teenaged derma with recommended daily take-home regimens. Additionally, the Kids Club offers a pirate ship pool, beach volleyball court, basketball court, arts and crafts, 18-hole mini golf course and more (www.hawkscay.com).

If you have just three or four days and don't want to spend a third of that time traveling, consider a visit to the state known as "The Mother of Presidents": Ohio. Eight U.S. presidents have called Ohio home, including Rutherford B. Hayes (with a Presidential Center in Fremont); James A. Garfield (National Historic Site in the town of Mentor); and William Henry Harrison. Ulysses S. Grant's birthplace is in Point Pleasant and a schoolhouse and his boyhood home are in Georgetown.

All of that will sound too much like school to the kids until you tell them they must vote on whether to visit Fort Rapids Indoor Water Park Resort in Columbus, Ohio, or Cherry Valley Lodge's Coco Key Water Resort in Newark.

The Presidents' Day Weekend Package (Feb. 15-18) at Fort Rapids offers overnight stays with four water park passes starting at $199. Surf over to www.fortrapids.com or call (877) 337-7527. The prices for Presidents' Weekend Packages at Coco Key Water Resort, located at Cherry Valley Lodge, start at $159. Cherry Valley Lodge is an ultra-family-friendly resort-style lodge, 35 miles east of Columbus, that offers a whole range of recreation beyond the water park. Contact (800) 788-8008 or take a dip into www.cherryvalleylodge.com.