Family vacations in America can be entertaining, relaxing, educational, or all three. There is something enjoyable to do virtually everywhere you go.

The epitome of a fun family vacation spot would be in Orlando, Florida. This city has Disney World to offer, the attraction of every child’s dreams. You’ll need to spend at least four days here to get a good feel of what this mega theme park has to offer, and you can get good package deals if you stay in Disney World accommodation.

For more of a relaxed holiday, why not try the Mayan Riviera in Mexico? The children will love to chill out on the beach, or run around exploring historic ruins. There are hundreds of all-inclusive resorts in Mexico that offer all sorts of relaxing activities while on family vacation, such as snorkelling or spending a day at the Xcaret theme park.

And if you’re interested in making the family vacation a bit of an educational experience too, you’ve got plenty of options. There’s Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia for some educational fun, or the Smithsonian Institute, Museum of Natural History and the Museum of American History all located in Washington, DC.

The three islands available for vacation are Saint Croix, Saint Thomas and Saint John.

Each island has its own charm and attractions, and visitors often spend a little bit of time checking out each island.

You can rent a car on St Thomas and take in the many quaint attractions this 32-square mile island, including a breathtaking 18-hole golf course, a marine park and even a bowling center. Charter boats can also be organised, and in the evening you can nestle into one of several charming nightspots.

St John is the smallest of the trio, but arguably has the best walking tracks of the bunch. If you are interested in watersports you can check out the Cinnamon Bay Watersports Shop for information on the local diving and jet skiing scene, or else you can get stuck into some good walks. The Lind Point trail is very beautiful and will only take you an hour, as will the Cinnamon Loop trail.

The biggest of the three islands, St Croix is 82 square miles and as such requires a little more time to fully explore. Don’t miss the gorgeous botanical garden, which contains the ruins of a sugarcane village from the 1800s. You can also witness the talents of woodcarvers at the St Croix leap, and if you want you can order furniture made of local mahogany.

Riding the U.S-Canada border, the Niagara Falls have been a mecca for tourists since well back into the middle of the 19th century.

The thundering mass of water can be viewed from observation towers on both the American and Canadian sides, via boat from the area below, and from a number of hiking trails that surround the falls.

In addition, visitors who make the trek to the Canadian side are able to inspect the waterfalls from an antique cable car known as the Whirlpool Aero Car.

Each year about 12 million people make the journey to Niagara Falls, making the site a perpetually high ranking fixture on the US tourism circuit.

Maintaining the natural beauty and wonder of the falls has been a constant challenge for both the US and Canadian governments, partly because of companies constructing buildings nearby but also due to erosion from all the visitors the site receives.

There is a fantastic side history to the Niagara Falls, because many people have attempted stunts such as going over the falls in barrels or crossing on a tightrope.

This spectacular park encompasses four major attractions – the Magic Kingdom theme park, the Epcot technology and international culture theme park, Disney’s Hollywood studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

There are no less than 32 hotels and resorts located at Disney World, meaning you and your family will have a real variety of accommodation options as you try to get the most out of your stay.

Because of the sheer size of the Disney World complex, it can be a bit overwhelming and hard to know how to best spend your time there.

Luckily, the Disney World website has a feature that will allow you to plan your visit according to the attractions you want to see most, and you will be able to print out a full itinerary.

Remember that you are probably going to partake in a full range of activities, from going on rides to dining out and from shopping to attending organised tours.

It is a good idea to speak to a representative from your resort or hotel, in order to get advice about how to maximise the enjoyment of your holiday.

The Big Apple is a hub of activity, and its infectious energy will leave you wanting to come back for more.

Perhaps the most iconic attraction in New York is Times Square, a crossroads of commerce in Manhattan that is a mecca for tourists.

In 2008 no less than 37 million people visited the ‘Crossroads of the World’, making the location the most visited in the entire USA.

Don’t leave New York without also exploring the Empire State Building, a US historical landmark that stands more than a quarter of a mile high. The building has a glass-enclosed area for great viewing, as well as outdoor promenades on all four sides.

The Musuem of Modern Art is also a must see, playing host to more than 100,000 sculptures, paintings, drawings and other works of art. It is a mammoth collection that won’t disappoint, so set aside some time for a lengthy visit.

The Guggenheim Museum is another star attraction, a modern architectural masterpiece created by Frank Lloyd Wright. Some of the world’s finest 20th century art is on display here, including Van Gogh, Picasso and Kandinsky.

Last minute offers are not hard to find; the only problem with them is that unusual or difficult conditions are normally attached.

For example, with cheap last minute flights you may have to board a plane at an ungodly hour, or you may have to sit in transit for eight hours on a stopover.

Accommodation offers can be fraught with drawbacks too, so make sure you fully read the conditions of the stay before you handover the cash.

There will probably be a minimum stay period, and you may not have access to amenities that you normally take for granted. Breakfast, for instance, might not be included in your accommodation price.

Organising holidays on the back of cheap last minute deals is probably only suitable for some types of travel groups; a young couple or university students, for example.

Family groups or larger touring groups simply won’t be able to depend on late deals because of the uncertainty attached.

However, there are other ways for larger groups to organise discount travel deals – booking well in advance and in large numbers will often attract a low price.

If you are taking your family on the trip, why not focus on a little bit of history and explore the national capital, Washington D.C.

One of the central locations to visit in Washington D.C. is the National Mall and Memorial Parks area, which covers a space of more than 1000 acres and includes some of the most important sites in American history.

A tour through this region will take you to the Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials – homage to three of the most influential presidents in US history.

You will also be given the opportunity to look at the Korean and Vietnam War Veterans Memorials, and get a feeling for wartime history.

And if you are really keen on history and artefacts, the Smithsonian Institution houses no less than 19 museums to be explored and enjoyed for free.

More than 25 million people made the trek to see the free museums last year, and it is an excellent opportunity to combine learning with a relaxing break.

Known as the City by the Bay, San Francisco is a lively and friendly city that boasts a fantastic array of tourist attractions.

In 2007 more than 16 million people made their way to San Francisco to view its majestic harbour and enjoy all the city has to offer!

The top visitor’s attraction in San Fran is Fisherman’s Wharf, which is a hub of activity and is host to some outstanding seafood restaurants. Among the excellent food served here is clam chowder and Dungeness crab.

The Wharf is also home to the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, and Pier 39, a fun location that has a heap of interactive water-based features including virtual 3D rides.

Another must see location in San Francisco is the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, home to a large variety of marine and land animal and boasting spectacular natural settings.

If you are game you can camp in this reserve, and with plenty of beaches and bushland to explore you will not run out of fun things to do.

Las Vegas is known as the gaming and partying capital of the world, and a short visit to ‘Sin City’ will allow you to see this for yourself.

The heart of Las Vegas is known as the ‘Neon Trail’, because of the glaring bright neon lights that adorn virtually every building in the area.

More than 37 million people make the trip to Las Vegas each year, many of which were no doubt hoping to record big wins on the roulette and poker tables.

If you do decide to take a family trip to Las Vegas and see the city that doesn’t sleep, spend a little bit of time researching which hotels or resorts are going to suit you and your family the most.

Many of the best resorts do a great job of accommodating the wants and needs of kids, allowing parents to get out and fully enjoy the city.

Be sure to get out and see the Bellagio Fountains, a light and sound show that is partnered by fountains in front of the Bellagio Hotel.

You can also get a little taste of Italy in Vegas, by going on a Venetian-style gondola ride through the grand canal!

The good news is that airline tickets have come down across the board in the last couple of years, and with a little effort you should be able to get a good price on all your flights.

One of the first ways you can make a saving is if you are willing to sacrifice going direct on some flights and are ok with making a stopover. Airlines attach premium prices to direct flights because they are the most sought after, but flights that take longer and ‘hop’ from city to city will cost you less because of the inconvenience and extra travel time.

If this option is not to your liking, a good idea is to book well in advance of your travel dates. Airlines love to know that they have got business secured into the future, and will offer you good prices if you book a long time ahead of schedule.

At the other end of the scale are late notice bookings. If an airline is unable to fill a flight they will sometimes offer dramatically reduced cost tickets in order to boost numbers.

You can find plenty of websites that list last minute ticket sales. Remember that this is a risky approach to travel, however, and you may not get the results you want. You can’t plan a holiday around possible discount tickets.