The idea of spring break has long been associated with teens and college students going to party for a week with their friends in Cancun or some other locale where the drinking age is under 21. But for those of us who are married and have young kids, we’re trying to avoid places that resemble anything in this trailer for the upcoming film Spring Breakers.
Here are a few of the top spring break destinations for families this year according to travel websites Away.com and Travel.com:
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
St. Patrick’s Day Torchlight Parade and Fireworks Display.
If you’re not one to lie on a beach all day, consider spending a long weekend at Steamboat Springs, Colorado. March is the perfect time of year to ski in Colorado; the temperatures are warmer than the dead of winter but it tends to snow more and the sun stays out longer. This ski resort is a great value for the money if you’re bringing little ones along; packages include free equipment rental, skiing, and airfare for kids. If you go over St. Pattie’s weekend, enjoy the celebrated Torchlight Parade and Fireworks Display.
San Diego, California
Exploring sea caves in La Jolla.
Not only is Southern California gorgeous in March, but it’s also a great family destination for any time of year. San Diego has many resorts with kid-friendly activities like the Loews Coronado Bay, which offers surfing lessons, water sports, and kayak rides to explore the coastal sea caves. The city is also home to the greatest zoo spread throughout over 100 acres in Balboa Park. If you want to see animals in a more natural setting, there’s also Wild Animal Park 35 miles outside the city that offers a safari-like experience.
Captiva Island, Florida
Captiva Island. Located along the Gulf Coast, Captiva Island offers seclusion, unspoiled beaches, and unusual wildlife that mainland Florida lacks. This is a good pick for families who want a quieter vacation. Don’t worry about being bored—the South Seas Island Resort is a great choice with plenty of activities for the kids like kayaking, sailing in the harbor, playing in the lagoon pool complex, and the new H2Whoa! Waterpark.
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Cave snorkeling in Xcaret.
Though it’s located just south of Cancun, Riviera Maya is a Mexican Caribbean destination with lots of kid-friendly activities and some historical significance. For older kids, plan to visit Coba to climb the 122-steps up the Nohoch Mul pyramid. Other fun activities include UNESCO’s Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve; a visit to Yal-ku Lagoon offers an unforgettable snorkeling experience. For the young ones, Xcaret is a Mayan archeological site turned Disney-like theme park where kids can snorkel, swim with dolphins, chase butterflies, and do more cultural activities.
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Enjoy rock climbing, mini golf, and go-carts all indoors.
If your kids are water-slide obsessed, you might want to consider booking a trip to the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. This resort houses the finest water park in the country—and it’s indoors so it doesn’t matter that it’s March and 40 degrees outside. The water park includes 125,000 square feet of slides, lazy rivers, wave pools and whirlpools. On top of all that, there’s an indoor theme park as well complete with a Ferris Wheel, go-carts, bowling and arcades. This is definitely a vacation geared more toward the kids than the adults, but your children are sure to never forget it.
Where are you taking you family this month? Do you believe in vacationing with children or do you leave them home with your parents? I personally am tempted by the secluded resort in Captiva Island but stay-cations can be fun too!
