Even during a cold, wet spring, we can figure out that life is full of not only drudgery, work, sickness, fear and occasional loss, but hope and spirit, new life and rebirth, too.

It’s the second half of that equation that we go looking for when we go on vacation. Hundreds of families have begun trips in the past two days as another school vacation is upon us in Connecticut.

For many, that means Florida, where we ventured recently for sun and a break from cold. Some observations:

Florida is still a great place to visit, but even its most livable areas have become crowded and apparently dangerous. How else would you explain so many gated communities with high walls?

Still, they have everything in Florida (except hills that aren’t made out of trash). They have Publix markets, better restaurant chains (McCormick and Schmick’s, P.F. Chang’s), nicer ballfields (my town doesn’t even have tractors to maintain theirs), more luxury cars than you could ever imagine and good public beaches.

Even though Florida is the state that gave us Bush-Cheney in the 2000 vote — a stupendous practical joke on the rest of the country — it’s also home to Cape Canaveral, millions of amazing birds and the vast entertainment complex that is Orlando-Kissimmee.

Disney World dominates that area, of course, and while we’ve been to Disneyland in recent years, we hadn’t visited the Florida house the mouse built in about 17 years.

The Magic Kingdom still strikes us as impressive and imposing, so if you’re visiting on a school vacation week, you’ll want to get there really early. Or get a "park-hopper" admission and come in late to avoid the morning crush.

As for kids, I’d advise against bringing any younger than 4; they can’t handle the grind, and aside from enjoying a few moments of wonder on their faces, we’ll all regret being there when they start screaming, barfing, whining and napping.

Tomorrowland needs another makeover. My new television is more futuristic than this place. At least the Carousel of Progress still exists (unlike in California where it was cannibalized into something boring), but I liked the old song better. I remember that "Best Time of Your Life" tune from 17 years ago, but can’t recall the new one I just heard.

Epcot can still be charming, with its evening fireworks and international flavor, but the restaurant at the Italian pavilion was overpriced. Entrees were in the $25 range and didn’t include a salad. Managgia.

If you enter midafternoon, you’ll be there for the fireworks but you may not have a shot at getting a Fast Pass for the fun Test Track ride. Being a gardener, I’m still thrilled by Living With the Land, which takes you on a ride through a greenhouse with amazing vegetables well-hung on trellises (if you’ll pardon the choice of words).

Speaking of the flora and fauna, the 14th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is ongoing until June 3 at WDW Resort. The festival has expanded to 60 days this year, says Disney, which is billing 2007 as "Year of a Million Dreams." (Mine? Peace would be nice.)

Based on others’ advice, we skipped Disney-MGM Studios but we did sample Animal Kingdom.

Attractions such as It’s Tough to Be a Bug, the rapids ride and the safari are worth it. The Expedition Everest roller-coaster also "sold out" of Fast Pass options (reservations you make for quick boarding later), and the walkways were a bit thin for the mobs pushing those extra-wide strollers in the hot sun.

The best thing about Animal Kingdom might just be the real plants that line the walkways, and the live birds on the nearby branches.

You can stay in WDW for a hefty sum to save transportation time, but the beauty of the Orlando area is all the affordable choices families have in extra-large accommodations. We stayed at the top-rated (on tripadvisor.com) Paradise Vacation Villas and we could have slept 10 in the oversized, two-story condo (for about $120 a night).

True, you don’t spend that many hours there if you’re going to the parks (Universal Orlando is also fun), but you have the option of buying the makings for breakfast at Publix and making your own eggs and English muffins in the morning in the fully equipped kitchen. Buying breakfast out while on vacation wastes money, and you have to look presentable at 8 a.m. (shudder).

We also spent a day or so each in Ft. Myers Beach and Deerfield Beach, on opposite coasts. The first had beaches of packed-down, fine white sand and calm water (with Sanibel Island visible offshore). There’s a cool public area near the pier with street performers once a night.

Deerfield Beach could use a friendlier commercial area, but the stretch of public beach (deeper sand) and long street promenade are lovely. We stayed in a "resort" that was just an older motel with a fantastic location and friendly owners. ("Hi, Joe! How was the beach?" said the owner when we walked back onto the property one afternoon. "That’s too friendly," muttered my wife.)

We’ll return to Florida again, but not to live. The seasons, valleys and hills of the Northeast are year-round attractions.