Escape 'Mud Season' and experience less crowded, less expensive travel

(ARA) - Those who live in America's mountainous regions call it "mud season" - that time of year between April and June when the ground doesn't have enough snow on it to ski but is still too soupy to hike, camp, fish, or get out and enjoy nature. It's a time when those in winter climates look to get away, and this year, you should, too.

Spring is a perfect time to travel thanks to warming temperatures and decreased demand. According to the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI), air traffic from the U.S. to the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico cools in April after spring break before climbing to a peak in August. In some regions, the shoulder season brings travel deals and room rates 45 percent lower than the holiday high seasons.

Still, there are plenty of challenges to traveling south this time of year. Use these hints to enjoy a prime summer vacation before summer even starts:

Leave no child behind

It may not be an option for high school kids or those struggling with their workloads, but for some children a vacation can help reinforce their education through hands-on experience.

"Without question, the kind of life experiences that kids gain from traveling - from experiencing new places to meeting new people to spending more time with your own family - can be as enriching as a week in the classroom," says Alistair Wearmouth, family travel specialist for travel guide Web site Away.com. "Talk to your kids' teachers and make the case that it'll be educational as well as fun."

To make the most of family travel, try to pick a location that overlaps with one of your child's classes, and ask the teacher for an assignment packet ahead of time, setting aside a few hours each day for homework.

Get the jump on summer hot spots

Anyone who's ever hiked the Grand Canyon or visited Martha's Vineyard in August can tell you that Mother Nature and the madding crowds can make these prime destinations too hot to handle. Not so in April and May. In the Northeast, the water may still be too cold to swim, but average highs in the 60s and low 70s are plenty warm to enjoy the outdoors, and even the beach, on warm days.

In the Southwest, places like Moab, Utah, and its excellent national parks (Arches and Canyonlands) are oppressively hot mid-summer, making spring the best time to camp, canyoneer and explore these destinations. Mud season is also the best time to visit Mexico and the Caribbean, since the holiday crowds are largely gone but hurricane season (June through November) hasn't started yet.

Can't get away? Be a tourist in your backyard

For those who just can't get away, the end of spring and early summer also tend to be low seasons at regional attractions and theme parks. So for those in New York, for example, it's a good time to head out to places like Six Flags Great Adventure that get mobbed in the summers. And the best part? No need to book a hotel.

Courtesy of ARAcontent