10 Favorite Spring Break Destinations for Families
Spring Break is a challenge. Do you stay at home and force the kids to go play with friends, or do you head out on a family vacation?
I prefer to head out on a family vacation – although it doesn’t always happen that way. We enjoy a day trip to a national park or an adventure to California and the Happiest Place on Earth. Either way, we look to go someplace warm if we decide to leave the comfort of our own home.
There’s a little something for everyone in the list of favorite Spring Break destinations for family outlined below. What will you choose?
Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth
One of the biggest worries people have about timing their Disneyland vacation is: Will it be too busy? Spring Break is one of those times the park is busy, but that doesn’t make it less-doable. I’ll just say, it’s a popular place to go in general, and Spring Break time is no exception.
Springtime in southern California is usually a nice break from the cold winters that have swept the US. Think warm, but be prepared for spring showers.
Three days is the perfect length of time to do Disneyland. You’ll be able to get in all the rides, many of them more than once – especially if you use the FastPass or MaxPass options.
A family vacation to Disneyland can be pricey. Learn a few ways you can make your Spring Break vacation to Disneyland more affordable for the whole family.
St. George (Utah): Snow Canyon State Park and Zion National Park
St. George, located in southern Utah, roughly 1.5 hours from Las Vegas, is a hot spot for families and Spring Break. You’ll want to book a hotel early, because they start to fill up fast. Worst case – book in Cedar City (45 minutes north of St. George) and make day trips from there.
Zion National Park is less than one hour from St. George. There are many hiking trails that work well for young kids. Angel’s Landing may be a little too much for young kids (Yikes), but the Upper and Lower Emerald Pools is perfect.
Snow Canyon State Park is about 15 minutes from St. George and offers family-friendly hiking trails as well. In fact, it’s one of our all-time favorite state parks.
You can bike the trails throughout the city, explore the Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm, go swimming in a local rec center or venture toward Las Vegas and hike through Valley of Fire State Park.
Cancun (Mexico) as a Spring Break Destination
Cancun is a hot spot for Spring Break. It’s popular, but it’s likely popular for the college-age folks. If you’re okay negotiating around that, there are a lot of things to do in and around Cancun.
You can take a day trip out to the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza or Tulum. Ride the ferry to Isla Mujeres and enjoy time on the beach, shopping, dining or exploring.
If you need a family-friendly hotel, the Marriott Cancun Resort offers activities for the whole family – including a movie night in the courtyard.
Moab (Utah): Arches and Canyonlands National Park
Red Rock country in and around Moab is another Spring Break hot spot. Book your hotel early so you have more options. The Aarchway Inn is on the north end of Moab and minutes from the Entrance to Arches National Park.
Tour companies in Moab offer guided river trips, offroading in the sand dunes, or mountain bike rentals for some exploring.
Arches National Park has a lot of hiking options for kids. You’ll want to get into the park early in the morning or early afternoon to avoid the crowds. Some people wait in line for an hour to get into the park because of how popular it is. But if you plan your day right, you won’t waste time sitting.
Canyonlands National Park has two areas to explore. North of Moab is Island in the Sky – majestic overlooks of the Colorado River. South of Moab is The Needles – hike among the rock formations.
Deadhorse Point State Park is another area you can check out. It’s less popular than the two national parks, but it’s beautiful just the same.
Sunny San Diego (California)
If you’re looking for warm weather, beaches to play on and activities to do in the city, San Diego may be your best destination. We took a family trip to San Diego, which included Lego Land, Sea World and of course, some beach time.
In San Diego proper, you can find a great meal in the Gaslamp District. Don’t pass up the opportunity to walk on the deck of the USS Midway aircraft carrier. Or walk through a Cold War-era Soviet submarine at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Venture into Balboa Park and visit the San Diego Zoo. The kids will love that for sure. If you’re looking for some great food and culture, head into Old Town and do some exploring.
Disney World Theme Parks in Florida
Walt Disney World is great for Spring Break for many reasons: Nice weather, a lot of hotel options (inside the resort and in nearby Orlando), plenty of fun rides and tasty restaurants, to name a few.
While many families look at Walt Disney World as a summer vacation destination, there’s no reason it can’t be your Spring Break destination. Read more about maximizing your vacation to Walt Disney World, while saving a few dollars.
Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend
Lake Powell in southern Utah/northern Arizona is a Spring Break mecca. There are house boats, speed boats, swimming, hiking and so much more in and around the lake. If you don’t have a boat, you can rent a house boat. Many of the beaches have rentals, too.
If you want to explore other areas around the Lake Powell, Page, Arizona, has hotels to stay in and activities for the whole family. Take a short hike out to Horseshoe Bend on the west side of the city. Explore Lower Antelope Canyon – a beautiful slot canyon iconic to the region.
New York City as a Spring Break Destination
Many people don’t think of New York City as a Spring Break destination. It may not have the warm beaches of Florida, California or Mexico, but it’s a city with a lot to see. If the weather is cold, step inside one of the countless museums the Big Apple has to offer:
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- The American Museum of Natural History
- 9/11 Memorial and Museum
- Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum (although part of this museum is outdoors)
- The Museum of Modern Art
- United Nations Building Tour
- The Guggenheim Art Museum
- KGB Espionage Museum
You can also pick up a Broadway musical, visit Times Square and grab a hot dog from a stand in Central Park. The opportunities are endless. And if you pick up a New York CityPASS, you’ll save a few dollars on admission to the most popular attractions.
Orlando (Florida): But not the Theme Parks
Heading to Orlando doesn’t mean you have to do Walt Disney World, Sea World or even Universal Studios. There are a lot of options inside and surrounding the popular Spring Break destination.
Along International Drive in Orlando is Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, the Sea Life Aquarium, the Orlando Eye, minigolf, WonderWorks and numerous restaurants.
If you want to venture east, you can explore the Kennedy Space Center or take in some beach time. Both of those destinations are sure to create lasting family memories.
Washington, DC, in the Spring
You never know what the weather’s going to be like in Washington, DC, in the spring. Granted, there’s the Cherry Blossom Festival, which usually means more milder temperatures are in the mix. But Be prepared for potential colder temps depending on the year.
But Washington, DC, has more that you can see in a week-long Spring Break. There are countless memorials, monuments and museums. The Smithsonian museums are rich with history – and admission is free. Don’t pass up the chance to visit the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
You can visit Arlington Cemetery and the changing of the guard. A tour of the Capitol Building or White House are full of history as well – and it gets you out of the cold. You just need to plan your tours in advance.
Summary
Everybody has a favorite Spring Break activity. There’s the staycation types and the travel across the country types. Regardless of how you choose to spend your Spring Break, make the most of it and create those memories that will stick with your kids for decades to come.
PIN THIS:
