Learn to spin wool and make candles. Spend a night in a tree house. Go gold-panning out West or visit the nation's capital out East. Loll on a palm-sheltered beach on an exotic island.

If you're looking for a different kind of outing this year, Teresa Plowright, who writes about family vacations for www.About.com, says you have plenty of choices. ''Arizona has cool stuff like houseboating, Ohio's state parks are nice and have geo-caching, or you can stay in a cave house in Arkansas,'' she said.

With the economic downturn prompting deals right and left, family travel columnist Eileen Ogintz of www.takingthekids.com has this advice: 'Do your homework. Don't pay rack rates for anything. Ask `what more can you do for me?' You'd be surprised what they can throw in.'' Another fillip for families: Airfares have come down, so it may be affordable to range farther.

With that in mind, here are nine family summer values -- some traditional, some unusual. Most prices are already discounted. Package terms are subject to change without notice.

Colorado high: For the first time ever, the ski resort of Vail is offering an all-inclusive, guided summer family vacation that will include adventures off the resort. Participants in Vail's Epic Summer trips will visit Rocky Mountain National Park, go whitewater rafting and gold-panning, enjoy a cowboy campfire dinner, and take rides on a narrow gauge railroad, in a gondola and on horseback. Minimum age: 7. Lodging, all meals, guides, airport transfers and tour transportation are part of the six-night package, offered weekly June 6-Aug. 31. Price is $1,195 per person, $895 for kids 7-12. 888-538-3742, www.epicsummer.com.

Never a dull moment: Myrtle Beach, S.C., has miles of beaches, more than 100 golf courses and 50 mini-golf courses, water parks, rock-and-roll and NASCAR race-themed amusement parks and an aquarium. Sea Mist Oceanfront Resort's Family Value Package, valid May 29-Aug. 30, includes accommodations for two adults and two children, passes to both Family Kingdom's Amusement Park and Water Park, unlimited play on the resort's putt-putt course, daily golf on select courses. Cost is $518-$746. 800-793- 6507, www.myrtlebeachseamist.com.

Slime and stuff: Florida residents can enjoy special savings at kid-friendly Nickelodeon Family Suites in Orlando. Rates start at $99 for a one-bedroom family suite, $129 for a two-bedroom themed KidSuite. The resort fee is included, as are two adult beverages, two kid drinks, two arcade cards, 10 percent off food and beverages purchased on property, 50 percent off private sliming and other discounts. 877-NICK-KID, www.nickhotel.com/florida resident..

In them thar hills: Activities at the all-inclusive Earthshine Mountain Lodge in Lake Toxaway, N.C., are designed to keep the whole family busy every day. Some days you can go zip lining, rope-climbing, cat-fishing or sluicing down a water slide. Kids can learn how to spin wool, make candles, throw a tomahawk or feed barnyard animals. Price includes accommodations, all meals and activities. Adults, $170 per person per night, youths 10-15 $110, children 6-9 $90, under 6 $50. Stay six nights, get seventh free. Book by May 22 and taxes (10.75%) are included. 828-862-4207, www.earthshinemtnlodge.com.

Islands in the sun: At the all-inclusive Almond Resorts in Barbados or St. Lucia, the Kids Club provides supervised activities for children of all ages. Included are lodging, unlimited food and beverages, water sports and golf. Prices are discounted up to 50 percent when booked by June 1 for travel through Dec. 20, so a three-night stay would start at $240 per adult. Child rates vary, usually half the adult rate. 800-425-6663, www.almondresorts.com.

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