25 Best Spring Breaks in the US for Families

One of the most anticipated school, university and college vacations comes in March and April for SPRING BREAK! And Spring Breaks in the US are awesome times for exploring big cities, for simply relaxing at the beach, or even for choosing a colder weather destination for some winter sports (Colorado makes a great destination for skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling).

Whether your plans include jetting to an off-season hideout or taking a road trip to a popular Spring Break family destination, you’ll find plenty of ideas to add to your spring bucket list.

25 Spring Breaks in the US

Way back in November and December when Chris and I begin thinking about Spring Break planning and looking for places to go for the best Spring Break destinations for families in March and April, we usually ask our girls the question, “Where should we go this year?”

We should know better. Living in Colorado, the answer from our girls is always, “Somewhere warm!!!” Discover destinations in this Spring Break roundup with temperatures ranging from cold to hot.

Cruise

1. Caribbean Cruise

If your cruise is sailing to the hot and sunny ports of the Caribbean, kids and adults alike will love the convenience of a cruise with all inclusive meals for the week, amazing ports, and sunshine galore.

You may choose cruises leaving from Galveston, Texas or various cities in Florida. No doubt your cruise ports will include a few days of Spring Break at the beach. Plan for snorkeling, relaxing on the beach with the ultimate beach gear, and playing in the brilliant blue water.

US Territories in the Caribbean where you can enjoy amazing weather, swim, and wear a bikini all day long as you enjoy the sunshine (don’t forget the sunscreen):

• St. Croix
• St. Thomas
• St. John
• Water Island
• Puerto Rico

If you have never been on a cruise before, you may wish to do a little research on what to bring as well as the do’s and don’ts of cruising.

40 Cool Things to Bring on a Cruise to Hot Tropical Places

70 Sensational Cruise Tips and Tricks

Arizona

2. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

A trip to the Grand Canyon has your name all over it for your spring bucket list ! And March through May is the best time to beat the heat. As one of the most visited national parks in the United States, you may share your trip to Grand Canyon with many other “Spring Breakers”.

President Theodore Roosevelt described Grand Canyon as “the one great sight every American should see”. Whether you’re up with the sun to watch the sunrise paint the canyon walls, hiking down to the Colorado River, or sticking around for brilliant sunsets, visiting Grand Canyon National Park should be on everyone’s spring bucket list.

Be sure to visit the South Rim where you will find amazing viewpoints and postcard worthy moments such as Mohave Point, Powell Point, Hopi Point and Mather Point. If you choose to hike the Bright Angel’s Trail, you’ll find it on the South Rim as well. The Grand Canyon Skywalk is located in Grand Canyon West.

For some extra fun, take GuideAlong Audio Tours along with you to Grand Canyon. A visit to Grand Canyon can be made as a day trip from Sedona, St. George, Zion National Park, or Phoenix or plan to spend a few days and take that helicopter tour for stellar views.

3. Sedona, Arizona

You can find so many amazing activities and things to do in Sedona, Arizona and the surrounding area. Known for its magnificent red rocks that create stunning canyons, brilliant mountains, and striking landscapes in the desert, you’ll be planning your trip back before you even leave!

Spring is the perfect time to visit as the weather is not so unbearably hot!

A few things to do in one of the best Spring Break destinations for families:

• Listen to the GuideAlong Sedona Audio Tour
• Plan for hikes in Sedona: Devil’s Bridge, Seven Sacred Pools, and Soldier’s Pass
• Take a Jeep Tour
• Visit the Lowell Observatory
• Explore Tuzigoot National Monument
• Visit Montezuma’s Castle National Monument

4. Slide Rock State Park, Arizona

If you happen to be visiting Sedona, Arizona for Spring Break, plan for a day trip to Slide Rock State Park between Flagstaff and Sedona. This was one of our girls favorite days ever.

Spend the perfect afternoon playing in Slide Rock State Park where you can enjoy more spectacular red rocks and an amazing swimming area.

If you come to play in the water, you’ll have a blast, but don’t forget to bring:

• Water shoes.
• Goggles.
• A towel.
• Plenty of sunscreen.
• A swimsuit or clothes suitable for getting wet.
• Dry clothes to change into.
• A whole lot of courage to cannonball off the cliffs. Cowabunga!!!

California Spring Break Roundup

5. Big Sur, California

Big Sur, California is located along Pacific Coast Highway. A Big Sur road trip encompasses 90 miles of coastal beauty from Carmel-by-the-Sea in the North to San Simeon (Hearst Castle) in the South. The Pacific Coast Highway hugs the entire coast of California, and specifically runs along the length of Big Sur with the majestic Santa Lucia Mountains on the inland side and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Even though you are driving, you can still plan to have some Spring Break at the beach on your stops.

The day we spent exploring the Central California Coast with the GuideAlong Audio Guided Tours (formerly known as GyPSy Guide) was all about making stops along the way. The tour for us began in Carmel and spanned all along the coastline toward San Simeon.

Be sure to stop at these Instagram worthy viewpoints and beaches along the way:

• Bixby Bridge
• Pfeiffer Beach
• Nepenthe Cafe
• Sand Dollar Beach
• Elephant Seal Beach
• Hearst Castle
• Stop to watch the sunset
• Don’t forget to download the Big Sur GuideAlong Audio Tour

6. Kings Canyon National Park, California

Kings Canyon National Park is filled with vibrant panoramas, stunning sequoias, challenging hikes, and a rich history. Research the best things to do in Kings Canyon National Park, especially when you only have a few days to explore. Combine this national park visit with a day or two at Sequoia National Park. They are close together!

Be sure to plan your itinerary to include:

• Panoramic Point
• Grant Grove to see the General Grant sequoia tree
• Park Ridge Fire Lookout Hike
• Kings Canyon Scenic Byway
• Stay at the John Muir Lodge at Grant Grove

7. Oceanside, California for Spring Break at the Beach

Drive up the coast about 45 miles from San Diego to Oceanside to scout out the tourist shops for the perfect vacation memento, chill at the beach, stay in a vacation rental on the beach, and walk along the shore.

Want to add in a few more fun family adventures?

• Walk along the pier
• Rent a sailboat
• Visit the San Luis Rey Mission
• Drive to the Palomar Mountain Observatory
• Book a whale watching excursion
• Simply spend the day building sandcastles on the beach
• Learn to boogie board or surf

8. San Diego, California

There are so many fun things to do in San Diego for the whole family. For starters, check out the awesome beaches, sunsets, and food.

• The Unconditional Surrender Statue (Sailor kissing a woman)
• SeaWorld
• Balboa Park
• San Diego Zoo and Zoo Safari Park
• Coronado Island
• Kayak in the ocean
• Find tide pools
• Explore Old Town San Diego

Is there anything more quintessential California than Spring Break at the beach? With 70 miles of stunning coastline, your California Spring Break in San Diego won’t be complete without a day or two spent relaxing and playing at the beach.

A few of the beaches you may wish to visit include:

• Coronado Beach
• Cardiff by the Sea
• Mission Bay
• Ocean Beach
• Oceanside
• Solana Beach
• Torrey Beach

You and your kids will love all of the activities in San Diego that make it one of the best spring break destinations for families.

9. San Francisco, California

You’ve seen San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge on tv and in pictures, but it is so much more majestic in person. That’s also true of iconic San Francisco landmarks and features such as trolleys, Alcatraz Island, taking the ferry, Chinatown, finding the Yoda statue at Presidio, Ghirardelli Chocolate, and the curvy Lombard Street.

With the kickoff to spring, the weather will be in the 60s.

How about a visit to the Exploratorium Children’s Museum? The Exploratorium itself is one of the best spring break destinations for families!

Tip: If you have ever purchased a family membership at a museum close to you, check to see if your museum participates in the ASTC Passport Program. The program allows you to “take your membership on the road” where you will receive discounts or free admission at over 360 museums and science centers around the world. The participating museums must be at least 90 miles away from your “home” museum.

10. Sequoia National Park, California

Sequoia National Park, a sister park to Kings Canyon National Park, is filled with giant sequoias, the world’s LARGEST tree, the highest mountain in the lower 48 states (Mt. Whitney @ 14,505 feet), and hikes for many skill levels.

We only spent one day exploring Sequoia, but saw some of the main points of interest:

• Giant Forest and the General Sherman Tree
• Lodgepole Visitor Center
• Congress Trail Hike to see giant sequoias
• Drive thru Tunnel Log
• Moro Hike

11. Universal Studios Hollywood, California

If you plan to visit Universal Studios Hollywood for Spring Break, you’ll want to plan your schedule to arrive when the park opens so that you can maximize your day. This family-friendly attraction may just be one of the best Spring Break destinations for families… or at least your kids will think so!

Don’t miss out on these rides and attractions:

• Hogwarts Castle
• The Mushroom Kingdom
• Fast & Furious-Supercharged
• Jurassic Park-The Ride (you might get a bit wet!)
• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
• Flight of the Hippogriff™ in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Those are just a few of the rides and experiences you can look forward to.

Tip * If you need a lunch break, exit the park to the Citywalk. It is just outside Universal Studios and features stores and restaurants.  We each got to choose different meals for lunch which made our girls happy.

12. Yosemite National Park, California

Yosemite National Park is nestled in a vibrant valley in the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountain range of Central California. The park features dynamic granite mountains, dramatic waterfalls, giant sequoia groves, and stunning wilderness landscapes.

Yosemite is open year round, but you may find that some trails and roads are closed in March. However, if you visit before the middle of April, you do not need a reservation. That’s a bonus!

You may find snow in Yosemite in March, so come prepared. Chains are required in the winter months. This might be on your Spring bucket list to colder weather destinations!

Colorado: Spring Bucket List

13. Colorado Springs & The Garden of the Gods, Colorado

Colorado Springs offers lots of cool Spring Break adventures, but let’s focus on The Garden of the Gods.

The Garden of the Gods is made up red rock formations. A few of the activities that make the Garden of the Gods one of the best Spring Break destinations for families are:

• Guided nature walks
• The Garden of the Gods Trading Post
• Living History Tours from Rock Ledge Ranch
• Rock climbing classes
• Bike/e-bike tour
• Become a Junior Ranger
• Jeep, trolley, or segway tours
• Hikes
• Instagram worthy pictures
• The red rock formations

14. Estes Park, Colorado

Both the town of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park are two of the top Colorado destinations for families, hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, and photographers alike. They pretty much go hand in hand. Estes is one of the fun places to visit in Colorado in summer, winter, spring and fall.

If you are planning a colder weather Spring Break, Estes Park in March definitely fits the bill. Spring is beginning to arrive in Colorado, but the higher elevations are still a couple weeks behind.

While there are no ski resorts in Estes Park, there is a fun sledding hill at Hidden Valley that usually stays open until April (depending on the snow). Fancy a little snowshoeing? There are plenty of places to tramp and hike through the snow.

15. Glenwood Springs, Colorado

The variety of things to do in Glenwood Springs will keep you busy if you want to add Colorado to your Spring bucket list. Whether you are visiting for a quick weekend getaway, looking for breathtaking hikes in Glenwood Springs, planning a ski week at Sunlight Mountain Ski Resort or Aspen, or booking a snowmobiling adventure, you will have a blast.

Get your adventure on during the day and then plan to soak at the hot springs in Glenwood Springs for the evening.

16. Road Trip to the Hot Springs of Colorado

March is the perfect time to visit hot springs. You can have fun with adventures on your spring bucket list and then enjoy a relaxing soak in the evening.

Chris and I have undertaken the arduous task of visiting many of the hot springs in Colorado. I know. I know. It’s a rough challenge. But…we are willing to make the sacrifice for YOU!

Here are a few springs that you may want to add to a road trip spring break roundup. Note, we have not visited all of them…yet, but we have received positive recommendations for all of them:

• Glenwood Springs Hot Springs
• Mount Princeton Hot Springs near Salida
• The Springs Resort and Spa in Pagosa Springs
• Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn and Spa in Buena Vista
• Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves in Glenwood Springs
• Old Town Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs
• Strawberry Park Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs

Are the hot springs just as fabulous in the summer? You bet, so you need to plan to come back to Colorado for amazing family vacations in the summer.

Florida Spring Bucket List

17. Disney World, Florida

Are you planning an epic travel surprise to Disney World for your family? Parent points for you!

We took our girls to Disney World when our youngest reached the height requirement for the rides (average minimum height is 40″). She was five and has awesome memories from one of the best Spring Breaks in the US. We saw these happy smiles all week long.

The list of rides at Disney World is long, but you will have to be sure to visit the Tower of Terror. Our girls were a little nervous. They wanted to go on the ride, but they felt A LOT of trepidation. Misha (the girl in the red shirt) kept telling us, “I’m not a screamer, I’m a clutcher.”

Kristen (the youngest) liked to tell us that even though a ride was scary, “I didn’t say a word.” That was not always true. I went on most of the rides with her and she “screamed her ever-loving little head off!” It was her way of staying brave. The Tower of Terror definitely requires a little bravery; it was stomach-dropping, plunging fun.

18. Key West, Florida

Spring Break at the beach and in the Florida Keys did, in fact, live up to the coolness factor my girls were anticipating. They loved Spring Break at the beach, snorkeling on Key West, the beautiful weather, and even riding bikes through Shark Valley National Park past the alligators on a day trip to the Everglades. Yes, that is an alligator tail in the photo above!

If you are looking for a fun things to do in Key West for families as well as cool places to visit along the way, fantastic weather and beautiful sandy beaches, look no further than the Florida Keys for one of the best Spring Break in the US.

Oregon

19. Redwood National & State Park, Oregon

There is something simply awe-inspiring, even spiritual, when you first encounter the redwoods. One minute you are driving along in California, and suddenly the road is flanked with dense forests of giant redwood trees.

Did you know that the Coast Redwoods are THE tallest trees on earth? You will find them primarily in Northern California but there are also a few amazing groves along the Southern Oregon Coast (not more than 50 miles inland). Seeing these magnificent trees is worth a trip for your Spring Break roundup.

Some of the magnificent trees include:

• Big Tree
• Corkscrew Tree
• Shrine Drive-Thru Tree
• Christmas Tree
• The Star Wars Tree
• Tall Trees Grove
• Giant Tree
• Dyerville Giant
• Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

20. Seaside, Oregon

I think you could stop anywhere along the Oregon Coast and be in for a treat. If you are hoping for some warm water swimming and playing in the ocean, you won’t find that in Oregon—anytime of the year.

In March, you may even experience a little rain, but you might also luck out and have the best weather day in March! Our girls loved Seaside, Oregon when they were younger. They played in the sand for hours, threw frisbees, and flew kites. They even ventured into the water!

Texas

21. Corpus Christi & Padre Island, Texas

I would recommend renting a car so that you can drive from the airport and then to a variety of locations in the area. For our Spring Break trip, we stayed in Corpus Christi and drove to the beach. Did you know that the sand on the beach at Padre Island is so compact that you can drive right on the beach?

For your Texas Spring Break at the beach, you might enjoy:

• Touring the USS Lexington aircraft carrier
• Visiting Port Aransas (A beach pass is required)
• Learning to boogie board at Padre Island (you can often find boards at a dollar store)
• Relaxing in the sunshine
• Buying inexpensive sand toys and playing in the sand

Need more ideas of things to do at the beach? I’ve compiled a list of 70 ideas.

22. San Antonio, Texas

After a few days at Padre Island, we made a quick stop in San Antonio before flying back to Colorado. March in Texas is a great time to visit.

Did you know that Alamo means cottonwood? Plan to take a tour of the Alamo to learn about its history, the medicines of the time, the industry of the people, and their day to day life.

You won’t want to miss walking along the River Walk, finding a place for lunch along the river, visiting San Antonio’s first neighborhood La Villita, and stopping at the Cathedral of San Fernando. If you have a little extra time, the Mexican Market is bright and colorful and stocked with some oversized hats!

In addition to the Alamo, San Antonio has five additional Catholic missions along the San Antonio River:

• San Antonio de Valero
• Concepción
• San José
• San Juan
• Espada

Utah Spring Break Roundup

23. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

There are plenty of hikes and scenery for miles in Bryce Canyon. We did the Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail and climbed up the Navajo Loop Trail.

You can begin this hike at either Sunrise or Sunset Point but a clockwise direction is recommend to descend on the Queen’s Garden Trail and ascend the switchbacks of the Navajo Loop Trail. Whether you begin at Sunset or Sunrise Point, these two viewpoints are connected by a flat, 0.5 mile (0.8 km) section of the Rim Trail that completes the loop.

Exploring the Mighty Five national parks in Utah is perfect for your spring bucket list. Even better, GuideAlong has Audio Tours of each park that you can purchase separately or as a bundle. Listen to them on in one awesome trip or come back for more awesome Spring Breaks in the US!

24. St. George & Snow Canyon State Park, Utah

St. George is one of those places in Utah that has a warmer climate than the rest of the state and it is the perfect place for your Spring Breaks in the US. Not only is it close to some amazing national parks—think Zion, Bryce, Arches—but the area also boasts sand dunes and red rocks at Snow Canyon State Park.

I don’t think our girls realized just how much fun they would have climbing on the rocks, playing in the sand, finding petroglyphs, and riding bikes along the path. They got exercise without realizing they were exercising. Win win!

25. Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park is a marvel in nature. According to the National Park Service, “Follow the paths where people have walked for thousands of years. Gaze up at massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red that soar into a brilliant blue sky. Experience wilderness in a narrow slot canyon. Zion’s unique array of plants and animals will enchant you as you absorb the rich history of the past and enjoy the excitement of present-day adventures.”

Fancy a hike in Zion? How about the Angels Landing Hike? It is not for the faint of heart, especially if heights are a concern for you (you will need to make reservations to hike it). Angels Landing may be considered one of the most dangerous public hikes in the United States . The trail combines steep switchbacks, narrow sections, sheer drop-offs, metal chains for guidance, and a narrow land bridge at the plateau. If that doesn’t deter you, enjoy the amazing views and the sense of accomplishment.

If Angels Landing is beyond your comfort zone, AllTrails adds their top ten:

• Angels Landing
• Scout Lookout
• The Watchman Trail
• Emerald Pool Trail
• Zion Narrows Riverside Walk
• Zion Canyon Overlook Trail
• Lower Emerald Pool Trail
• Zion Narrows Bottom Up to Big Springs
• Observation Point via East Mesa Trail
• Kayenta Trail

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25 Best Spring Breaks in the US for Families

How’s that for a Spring Break roundup? Obviously it does not include every place in the US that you might visit for the best spring break destinations for families. These are simply the places are family has loved and visited.

Before you even decide where to go, you need to decide what kind of vacation you want to have. Are you looking for adventure? Do you want to enjoy a relaxing Spring Break at the beach? Do you want to experience a cruise?

Maybe a little bit of everything? Lucky for you, this Spring Break roundup helps you discover the best place for your family.

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