Now that its March, you might realize that Spring Break is right around the corner. We have gathered some amazing spring break ideas for families so that you can book a trip before it’s too late or even come up with some new activities to do at home. School breaks allow families to spend lots of time together, so check out our tips to make the most of it.
What dates are spring break this year?
Spring break in the U.S. is usually between March and April. It depends on the school district or college college, but it’s almost always in the beginning of the spring season. The weeks that are the peak of spring break are March 4th and March 11th. College spring break is usually the last two weeks of March or they can even fall into April. Elementary, middle, and high school breaks, on the other hand, usually happen towards the beginning and middle of March.
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How to do spring break cheap?
If you want to do spring break cheap, we have a few helpful tips to help you have a great spring break but on a budget.
- Be flexible on your location. Choose a destination that isn’t going to be the most desirable and booked up in advance.
- Try to avoid traveling from Saturday to Saturday. If you travel by plane, train, or bus, shoot for Sunday or Monday as the departure date. Prices are usually lower on those days because it’s the weekend’s end and the week’s start.
- Compare all prices with Expedia and Kayak if you are trying to book a hotel, resort, or Airbnb. Use any and all price comparison apps and research to compare dates, times, rooms, or apartments. You’ll be sure to find the best deal.
- Be strategic with how you spend money on food. Instead of doing three meals a day, you could do brunch, snacks, and dinner to save a bit of money.
What is the cheapest place to go on spring break?
We have gathered a list of the cheapest place you can visit during spring break. These are the best places to see if you want to go somewhere for spring break but want it affordable:
- Key West
- Panama City Beach
- New Orleans
- Outer Banks
- South Padre Island
- San Diego
- Yosemite National Park
What is the busiest spring break week?
The busiest week for spring break is generally March 10th to March 19th. In terms of busiest locations, many people travel to Florida for spring break because it is the sunshine state, and there is so much to do in cities like Clearwater, Miami, Daytona Beach, and Orlando. If you’d rather keep things casual, then you might want to plan around this week in Florida.
Where should you go on spring break with your family?
If you’re looking to hit the road and find a change of scenery with your family, we have amazing spring break ideas for families this year. Check out our round up of the best 15 destinations to try.
1. San Diego, California
There are endless things for you to do with your family if you decide to visit San Diego, California. You can visit LEGOLAND, the New Children’s Museum, Sesame Place San Diego, Belmont Park, and plenty of family-friendly beaches. It can be pricy if you are trying the main attractions listed. If you plan on visiting, we suggest getting the Go City All-Inclusive Pass 25+ Attractions. You will save 55% compared to buying separate attraction tickets.
2. Yosemite National Park, California
If you are looking for an outdoorsy family vacation, then visiting Yosemite National Park, California, is a great option. There are hikes you can do, horseback riding, and breathtaking waterfalls. It is an affordable trip. All you have to pay for is a lodge near the park, which also has plenty of family-friendly activities to try. If you can’t stay at Tenaya Lodge, for example, there are many other close hotels that are just as good and that can accommodate your needs.
3. Outer Banks, North Carolina
It is ranked that Outer Banks, North Carolina is best for family beach vacations because there is something to do for everyone, no matter the age. Whether you are going to the beach, aquarium, art classes, mini golfing, or fishing, you will be able to enjoy keeping the activities simple while spending time with your loved ones.
4. Honolulu, Hawaii
If you want to take a big vacation this year and are thinking of doing it during spring break, Honolulu, Hawaii, is an amazing destination. There are many resorts and hotels you can stay at and family-friendly options like Disney hotels. Everyone can enjoy the beach, activities at the hotel, and even excursions on the water. It is more expensive because of the remoteness of the destination, but depending on where you live, it could be a luxury trip that’s totally worth it.
5. Washington, D.C
If you were to visit Washington D.C, they have tons of hands-on museums, kid-friendly attractions, the National Mall, and events happening constantly. You can do Washington D.C. on a budget, which is perfect for anyone taking a trip with the whole family. Many families opt to hop on and off tour buses so that they don’t have to worry about transportation and can see the whole city with a guided tour.
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6. Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
If you are interested in visiting nature in the midwest, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin has plenty of things to do with the family. You can see the Rick Wilcox Magic Theater show. It comes highly recommended if you have kids. There is also the Noah’s Ark Water Park, Wilderness Territory, and the Country Bumpkin Farm Market. So many fabulous attractions make it an excellent place for a family vacation. There are always deals happening, so it provides the opportunity to spend less and still take the whole family away.
7. St. Augustine, Florida
If you want to come to the sunshine state but do not want to go to the main spring break attractions, you will love St. Augustine, Florida. You could do a dolphin feeding where you can see happy and healthy dolphins and give them some food, which children love. There is a fantastic pirate museum that can be very cool for the kids to check out as well. It’s pretty easy to get to and will provide beautiful watery views.
8. Cincinnati, Ohio
Visiting Cincinnati, Ohio, is a great idea if you live close by and want to take a driving trip. You can visit the aquarium, zoo, the Great American Ball Park, Kings Island, and much more with the whole family. It is a great place to visit if you’d prefer to explore on your own, keep things low key, and avoid major crowds.
9. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
If you want to check out Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, with the family, these places listed are must-go visits. For example, you can see the grand prismatic spring, the rainbow at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and the Geysers at the Upper Geyser Basin trail. Most of the things you will do require being outdoors, so consider that when deciding where to go. This would be a great place to take the family if your children are old enough to hike for long periods of time.
10. Orlando, Florida
Visiting Orlando, Florida, can be a lot, but your kids will never have so much fun. If you enjoy wild adventures and keeping busy, it’s a great city to travel to for spring break vacation. The city has much to do, like Disney World, Universal Studios, live-action shows, and more. It is pricy if you are trying to visit the theme parks and be close to everything in the area. If you want to go to the beach, you certainly can give that a try with your family. Be warned that these beaches tend to get most crowded in the afternoons.
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11. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
If you want a family-friendly vacation, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, should be on your list. They have endless beaches, Pirates Voyage Dinner show, Ripley’s Aquarium, and many other places to take the family while you are visiting. Their options for places to stay run across every budget, so if you are trying not to break the bank, this is a good option. It’s also a place that offers many deals on bundle tickets for families.
12. Charleston, South Carolina
If you are looking for a new place to visit, you can go to Charleston, South Carolina. It’s a city with a ton of southern charm. If you’ve never been before, you can take a one-hour carriage tour with your family. That way, the kids can enjoy the ride, and the adults can enjoy hearing about the history of the town. You can also head to Folly Beach, the closest beach to Charleston. A recommended place is the South Carolina Aquarium, which is great place to bring the kids.
13. Rocky Mountains, Colorado
If you like the great outdoors, visiting the Rocky Mountains will be right up your alley. You can go camping, hiking, sightseeing, and more. It’s definitely a place to go if you want to disconnect yourself from the city or business of work. It can be peaceful and relaxing when you take the time to simply enjoy the great outdoors. You can even do wildlife watching, which kids tend to love. You will see a lot of elk, deer, and coyotes in this part of the U.S.
14. Anaheim, California
If you don’t want to visit Disney World, maybe you’d prefer to visit Disneyland outside of Anaheim, California. It is only an hour from Anaheim and it is a perfect place to enjoy the lovely spring weather and cool off at the water park they have. It can be a bit pricy, but LEGOLAND offers deals like Buy three get one ticket free. You must budget carefully, but you can definitely make this part of your spring break plan with the whole family.
15. Take a cruise!
Our last choice, but not least favorite, for what to do during spring break is to take a cruise. Cruises are great for families, especially extended families, because they offer several different types. You can go for either three, five, or seven days. While there are many cruise lines, there is one that really stands out, the Disney cruise line. You can meet many other families and see their featured shows and activities for families. Disney can be expensive, so if you want something less expensive, another great option is a Carnival cruise. They have great prices and still provide activities and shows the kids can see.
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Best spring break activities for families
If you aren’t trying to go anywhere for spring break, but are looking to fill time at home since the children won’t be in school, we got you. Try a few of these ideas to help your whole family relax and enjoy the time off. You can even arrange playdates where friends or cousins come over to partake in the fun.
1. Scavenger Hunts
Planning out a scavenger hunt can be fun and relaxing not only for you, but for the kids as well. You can have fun seeing the wheels in their head turning as they try to figure out each clue. You can do it from your house on a rainy day, which is a great way to fill the time. It also helps kids develop critical thinking skills, so they are learning without even knowing it.
2. Obstacle Course
You can make an obstacle course, whether outside or indoors, using the things you have in your home. If you are doing it indoors, you can use the couch cushion for them to jump on, toys to dodge, and any other items you can think of. Outside can be more fun because they can run around in the yard or even at a public park. This is a very fun and active game that requires a little creativity to get going.
3. Pool Party
If the weather is going to be nice and warm near you, then a pool party is a great activity for the whole neighborhood. If you don’t have your own pool or belong to a pool, you can get a small kid’s size pool and some sprinklers for the backyard. The kids can run around playing in the water, and you can sit back, stick your feet in, and enjoy it with them.
4. Rock Painting
Rock painting is a great quiet day activity, especially if your children love crafts. You can grab some paint supplies and decorations from the arts and craft store. Then, all you need is to grab some rocks from outside to create a DIY project. Your kids can experiment with different colors and rocks to see what they like best. When you are done, you can take the rocks and put them all across town for a cheerful touch.
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5. Camping in your backyard or local area
Another fun activity for the whole family is camping. You can do it in the backyard or local state park. If it is raining outside, you can put a tent in the living room and have an indoor camping day. This is fun because it’s like building a fort together. You can even roast marshmallows and sing camping songs to bond as a whole family. The children will love it.
6. Be a Tourist
If there are places you haven’t visited yet in your area, you can take a day to explore your city as if you were a tourist. Look up places that you have been meaning to take the family and use spring break as the opportunity to officially check it out.
7. Arts and Crafts
A good arts and crafts day can keep everyone occupied if you want something that will entertain the kids for a while. You can pick up some canvases, paper, paint, crayons, markers, stickers, and tablecloths. We always recommend placing a tablecloth on the table or floor where the kids will be doing art, so you don’t have to worry about a big mess to clean up.
8.Yes Day
A “Yes Day” has been floating around for some time now. The concept is that parents have to say yes to everything their kids ask to do that day. You can implicate some ground rules so they know they can’t go and ask for hundreds of dollars or request to buy an expensive gaming console. Some things that we have seen include having ice cream for breakfast, trying out makeup, jumping on the bed, and so on. What better time to loosen up the rules than spring break?
9. Picnic at the Park
Pack a nice lunch with fruit, sandwiches, juice, blanket in a basket or cooler, and head to the kid’s favorite park. That way, they can run around and get out their energy while you and your partner or other parents lounge out with your picnic lunch. This is a social idea that can easily include other friends or family. Plus, you get to enjoy the spring weather.
10. Plan a playdate
If you know your child’s best friends from school, it’s a great idea to set up a play date during their week off if the children will be around. This way, your kids can enjoy some out-of-school fun with their friends and you know they will have something fun to look forward to during the week.
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11. Go Mini Golfing
There are tons of mini golfing places all over. You can find the closest one to you and take the kids for a fun outing. Sometimes, they even have indoor mini golfing courses if the weather isn’t cooperating in your area. It is a fun place to take the kids, and mini golfing usually has fun themes or tricks on the course that will keep your kids mesmerized.
12. Board Games
Trying to find a fun game to play, but you want to eliminate screen time? There are plenty of funny and cool board games to play with your kids. One example that is a kid favorite is Pie Face. To play this game, you put whipped cream on the device and spin a number. You then have to crank the level that many times, which moves the whip cream much closer to hitting your face. The goal is to be the last one standing and not get splashed with whipped cream in the face. However, it will make everyone laugh even if you lose.
There are tons of other board games available on Amazon that you can ship to your home before spring break starts. For example, The Game of Life or Ticket to Ride.
13. Make slime
Slime is so popular among children and now, they make kits for at-home DIY slime. You can get all kinds of different kits from Amazon, which are easy to deliver right to your home. If you want to make glow-in-the-dark slime, foam slime, bead bomb slime, and more, these are all options that are available online. The kids will have fun making it and they can play with it in the future, too.
14. Sky Zone (or any indoor trampoline place)
If you’re staying home this spring break, try a quick day trip to an indoor trampoline center. This activity is excellent for kids to burn off some energy and they have so much fun jumping around. There are tons of Sky Zone locations across the country, or a similar gymnastics center for children that you can check out. Once you leave, they will be so tired. Don’t be surprised when they fall asleep on the way home.
15. Science Experiments
Lastly, an idea that kids love are science experiment kits. There are all kinds of science experiment kits on Amazon that you can pre-order now and try out during spring break. The one we linked above has a hundred different experiments. It includes lots of possibilities like color-changing experiments and guides for creating crystals. This is another fun way to learn and play at the same time.
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In conclusion, there are so many amazing spring break ideas for families whether it be traveling to a new city or planning activities to try out at home. The best part of spring break is that you can have extra time to plan and participate in these activities with your kids. They will have so much fun wherever you are. It takes a little creativity to keep them occupied so that you can also relax, but it’s so worth it. We hope this helps you with some family bonding ideas!