4 Spring Break Destinations for Your Family

When planning your family’s spring break vacation there are a number of different things that may come to mind—sunny beaches, spring training baseball, historic road trips, exploring nature, or one last chance to hit the slopes before summer. The good news is that you don’t have to choose just one of these activities for your vacation. The U.S. offers a variety of places with attractions for the whole family to enjoy. Here are four spring break destinations that are sure to please:

San Diego, CA

San Diego offers stunning beaches, great parks, cool museums, fantastic zoos, and terrific whale watching. The San Diego Zoo, located in Balboa Park, extends over 100 acres and features over 3,700 animals of more than 650 species. Wild Animal Park, which is located 35 miles outside the city, provides a safari experience through 1,800 acres in an open bus that is perfect for viewing herds of wild animals in a more natural setting. A 30-minute ride on the Carlsbad Coaster will take you into Carlsbad. This is an inexpensive train ride that kids will love! While in Carlsbad, visit the Carlsbad State Beach and go to LEGOLAND. You’ll also want to check out the beautiful beaches in La Jolla, shopping downtown, and the amazing cuisine in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Hilton Head, SC

While college spring breakers go to Myrtle Beach, families can journey further south to Hilton Head. This gorgeous island, which is located just off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia, features 14 beautiful miles of sandy beaches, 20 world-class golf courses, and more than 100 miles of bike paths. The number of activities seems endless—watch dolphins, go crabbing, fish, kayak, sail, horseback ride, or visit an animal farm with petting zoo and pony rides. For a taste of Southern charm and history, hop in the car for a quick trip into Savannah or Charleston.

Phoenix, AZ

Known as the Valley of the Sun, the greater Phoenix area offers the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Zoo, and Major League Baseball spring training. Take on a golf course, shop in downtown, or visit the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in nearby Scottsdale. If you are feeling more adventurous, go whitewater rafting down the Salt River. You could also travel to nearby Tempe’s SEA LIFE Aquarium, the Tempe Center for the Arts, Big Surf Waterpark, or Arizona State University Finish with a day trip up to the Grand Canyon to view this natural wonder.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Spring is a wonderful time in Salt Lake City. The slopes are still open, so you can ski and snowboard with breathtaking backdrops. You can also ice skate or watch athletes train in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games venue. In celebration of the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary this year, venture four hours south to Utah’s “Mighty 5” national parks—Arches, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef. They deliver spectacular scenery and as much hiking, biking, whitewater rafting, and stargazing as your family desires. The parks are close enough that you could see all five in a week or visit fewer in a shorter trip. Each park offers free ranger-led and Junior Ranger programs for kids. Take in a night sky program with volunteer astronomers at Bryce Canyon, view the pictographs and petroglyphs in Horseshoe Canyon at Canyonlands, or stay in a glamping-style tipi just outside of Arches and Canyonlands,

Wherever your family spends spring break this year, we hope you have a great time. Do you have a favorite spring break location? If so, tell us about it!