Spring Break Trips and Outings for the Whole Family

When planning a family vacation, there are a few things to consider, such as your time frame and considerations when traveling with kids. For instance, will this be a kid-centered trip or a kid-friendly trip? Even a trip to Disneyland, for example, can look very different depending on how you answer this question.

Nicole Gerber, SmartFlyer travel adviser, recommended parents ask themselves these questions:

• How much do we want to spend?
• Are our passports up to date?
• What type of trip are we looking for?

To save yourself from falling down those travel-website rabbit holes, pause and take a few minutes to figure out what your family wants (and needs!) this spring break, then take a peek at these key points to consider:

• Dates: Besides planning for time off from school and work, build in a cushion of time in case of travel delays or other unexpected schedule snafus.
• Budget: Stay within a realistic budget, and seek out seasonal discounts on travel, lodging, and entertainment tickets. “As spring break is a busy time to travel, consider something off the beaten path,” Amy Annis, a Ciao Bambino family travel adviser, recommended to Today.
• Kid-centered or kid-friendly: This could mean the difference between a week of amusement parks or a resort where kids have activities but the adults are entertained, too.
• Primary purpose: Relaxation, adventure, quality family time — or everything in between?
• Location: Will you head for the ocean, mountains, desert, country, or city — or a little bit of everywhere?
• Activities: Sightseeing, history, culture, outdoors, shopping, dining — decide as a family what you want to spend the majority of your time doing.

Resorts

For vacationers who prefer to skip the research, here are some (almost) all-inclusive resorts where all you have to do is book your stay and show up!

• TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete’s, Florida, is a family-friendly haven, full of resort-included activities like a giant inflatable water park, huge beach slides, pirate shows and kid camps, mini golf, and a wall-to-wall aquarium big enough to snorkel in (and yes, you can totally buy tickets to do just that). The area of St. Pete’s just outside the resort is my favorite for beach walking, strolling, and taking in the local live music and restaurants.
• Great Wolf Lodge has over 20 resorts all over the United States and features an indoor waterpark (water is kept warm at 85 degrees all year round), themed rooms, shopping, dining, and other events for kids. Esther Chan, a mom of four, was able to come out with her newborn son and enjoy some much-needed family time at one of the California resorts. “I love that they have a little wolf den room!” Chan told Mom.com. “They also have an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, a Dunkin’ Donuts for that morning cup of joe for parents, and round-the-clock activities for kids. And they pass out free headbands if you howl like a wolf! We ran around the hallways like a little wolf pack.”
• Castle Hot Springs in Morristown, Arizona. This wellness resort is a great vacation spot for families of kids 16 years and older seeking a restful, family-bonding trip. Families will enjoy thoughtfully detailed cabins, complete with access to natural geothermal hot springs, canyon hikes, archery lessons, and farm-to-table meals.
• The Abbey Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Located 90 minutes from Chicago, with access to boat rentals, a private beach, indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, and childcare services, this resort is perfect for families seeking a luxurious lakeview retreat.
• Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Jeffersonville, Vermont. Continually recognized as one of the best family ski resorts in the U.S., this property has eight lifts of varying levels of difficulty, childcare for kids 6 weeks old and up, outdoor activities such as ice skating, tubing, snowmobiles, and a warmed outdoor pool, and indoor activities like mini golf, climbing walls, and laser tag.

National Parks

Spring is a great time to visit national parks, as temperatures and crowds rise in the summer months. While some national parks have closures during colder months, here are a few that remain mostly open and have features kids would enjoy. (Always check ahead before traveling, of course!)

• Yosemite National Park, CA — Waterfalls, sequoia trees, dramatic cliff faces, and unique rock formations make this destination one that will wow all ages.
• Grand Canyon National Park, AZ — Families of older kids can enjoy biking, hiking, and river-rafting, as well as educational experiences like the geology museum, stargazing, and a train ride on a WWII passenger train.
• Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO — Sled or sandboard down the tallest dunes in North America! Visitors can also enjoy horseback riding and stargazing.

Cities

Focusing on a city you’d like to explore could spark some of the most memorable spring break family trip ideas. These are some of the top city destinations year-round but are especially great for spring vacationers seeking to avoid summer crowds.

• Honolulu, Hawaii. For perfect weather during a time when much of the U.S. is still chilly, take a trip to the island of Oahu. Spend a few hours at Ala Moana Beach, a kid-friendly cove, then walk across the street to Ala Moana Center, an open-air mall with a wide range of unique and familiar shopping and dining destinations. Visit the Ko’Olina Lagoons for a more secluded beach day, or drive around the island to the North Shore, home to many world-famous surfers, Matsumoto Shave Ice, and Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck. Older kids may enjoy hiking up Diamond Head, a 300,000-year-old volcano crater.
• San Diego, California. Ranked among the top Best Spring Break Family Destinations by U.S. News and World Report, San Diego has something for everyone – beach, city, shopping, dining, museums, and of course the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Sea World.
• Naples, Florida. Aside from the white sandy beaches, sand dunes, and mansions, kids will love the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (even the outside of the museum is a sight to behold) and the outdoor Sun-N-Fun Lagoon Water Park. Adventure-seekers can enjoy wildlife sightings at the Big Cypress National Preserve, go on an airboat swamp adventure to see alligators, or take a paddling trip to spot dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, and birds.
• New York City. For families who want to see everything! New York is loaded with children’s museums and parks, an aquarium and a botanical garden, famous landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, and historic modes of transportation like the Staten Island Ferry and the Roosevelt Island Tram.

Want spring break family trip ideas that won’t take you too far? These activities are low-cost or free and great for families that just want to get away for the day.

• Visit a nearby kids’ museum or garden.
• Attend a spring musical at a local theater.
• Have a beach/lake glamping day. Pack car snacks, finger foods, a portable hot water dispenser, instant noodle cups, hot chocolate, blankets, chairs, a tent, and whatever else you’ll need to feel pampered and comfortable. Many beaches and lakes have bike, kayak, and other land/water rentals.
• Enjoy spring flowers. From the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm in Maui to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Washington State, to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve and Carlsbad Flower Fields in California, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., there are many opportunities to “stop and smell the roses” this spring.
• Visit a national park. The National Park Service hosts a variety of educational programs for kids, including a Junior Ranger Program, where kids can download activity booklets and earn a Junior Ranger badge, and Every Kid Outdoors, which allows U.S. fourth graders and family members free access to parks.