Travel Talk 2¢: What would you say is America's top spring break destination for families?
Feb 5th, 2008, 07:45 AM
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Travel Talk 2¢: What would you say is America's top spring break destination for families?
Does Florida take the cake for spring break in the U.S. (for families mind you, not rowdy college students)? With Disney and family-friendly beach destinations like Sanibel Island it would seem like it is probably the most popular. Would you agree? Or is there another area of the country you'd recommend to families?
I personally spent many spring breaks with my parents staying along the coast of the Carolinas. The Outer Banks and Myrtle Beach primarily...the water was usually only warm enough to swim in on a dare but we always had a good time.
Feb 5th, 2008, 08:49 AM
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My favorite spring break trip: Moab, Utah.
The hiking is incredible, and a lot of the hiking is fairly easy. There's also great biking. One bike trail even has fossilized dinosaur footprints. The atmosphere is casual and there are some fun restuarants.
Moab is just starting to warm up in March and April. The sun is spectacular on the red rocks. It's a great destination for families.
The hiking is incredible, and a lot of the hiking is fairly easy. There's also great biking. One bike trail even has fossilized dinosaur footprints. The atmosphere is casual and there are some fun restuarants.
Moab is just starting to warm up in March and April. The sun is spectacular on the red rocks. It's a great destination for families.
Feb 5th, 2008, 09:41 AM
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I've been traveling to the Brunswick Islands in North Carolina my entire life & go there (now) pretty much year round. (Since I reside in CLT) That being said, we didn't have Spring Break when I was a kid, so as an adult w/small ones now (5 & 2), I would say the Keys for us, or the Caribbean.
Feb 5th, 2008, 10:12 AM
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Disneyland and southern California area is wonderful during the spring. The weather is pleasant and the scenery breath-taking. In addition to the wonderful restaurants as well as shoppping areas.
Santa Barbara is also just gorgeous!
Santa Barbara is also just gorgeous!
Feb 5th, 2008, 12:02 PM
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kureiff-- Moab sounds wonderful. Where would you recommend for families to stay? Resort? Mom and pop place?
missypie-- Williamsburg is great with kids--educational, and then there's Busch Gardens!
Brutforce-- which island in the Caribbean?
ileen-- how are the crowds at Disneyland? I imagine their nothing like Orlando.
missypie-- Williamsburg is great with kids--educational, and then there's Busch Gardens!
Brutforce-- which island in the Caribbean?
ileen-- how are the crowds at Disneyland? I imagine their nothing like Orlando.
Feb 5th, 2008, 12:17 PM
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Our spring break is the end of March. Williamsburg was a perfect spring break trip. The temps were great for walking around without melting from the humidity. We stayed on one of the Williamsburg properties - which I highly recommend. Our 5th grade twins at the time had been studying this era the entire school year - so it was literally coming to life for them. After all the history - we would have loved a playday at Busch Gardens - but they hadn't opened yet for the season.
We did Southern CA another year for spring break. Again - awesome weather (although it was sweatshirt weather on the beaches the days we went). I remember long lines at Disneyland and California Adventure. Three other spots I think would be great for spring break (simply because you can avoid the extreme heat/humidity in the summer) - Washington DC, San Antonio, TX and Boston.
We did Southern CA another year for spring break. Again - awesome weather (although it was sweatshirt weather on the beaches the days we went). I remember long lines at Disneyland and California Adventure. Three other spots I think would be great for spring break (simply because you can avoid the extreme heat/humidity in the summer) - Washington DC, San Antonio, TX and Boston.
Feb 5th, 2008, 12:19 PM
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I think your answers will vary depending on whether they come from the East or West.
Here on the West Coast, our favorite spring breaks spots have been (1) ski areas (Snowbird/Alta, Whistler, Mammoth Mountain, or Mt. Bachelor); (2) Hawaii; and (3) the Southwest canyon country, including the Grand Canyon (hiking to the bottom of the canyon for an overnight stay).
This is for a family with active teenage kids and their outdoorsy mom.
Here on the West Coast, our favorite spring breaks spots have been (1) ski areas (Snowbird/Alta, Whistler, Mammoth Mountain, or Mt. Bachelor); (2) Hawaii; and (3) the Southwest canyon country, including the Grand Canyon (hiking to the bottom of the canyon for an overnight stay).
This is for a family with active teenage kids and their outdoorsy mom.
Feb 5th, 2008, 12:30 PM
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I wondered if the Grand Canyon could be a spring break trip the end of March. At one time I read a post that someone said "if you have crampons, you'll be okay." That made me think it would be too icy to hike down for my comfort. If I'm making the pilgrimage to the Grand Canyon - I'm getting down there by raft, or hiking...and if I could avoid doing it in August - all the better.
Feb 5th, 2008, 01:27 PM
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blueslipper---I suppose ice right at the top would be a possibility in late March, but not at all likely. We've done it twice around the 8th or 9th of April (our daughter's spring break week), and the temperature and trail conditions were perfect.
Feb 5th, 2008, 02:24 PM
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Yes, Williamsburg has Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, Busch Gardens AND an outlet mall!
We hiked a ways down the Bright Angel trail one year in mid-March. There was a tiny bit of ice near the top but nothing that couldn't be avoided. There was snow in the shady spots at the side of the trail which was a great source of amusement for my native Texan children.
On March 1st I'm calling to try to get Phantom Ranch reservations for a walk all the way down the Grand Canyon for Spring Break 2009. (wish me luck!). I'm thinking start with major hiking in the GC; then end at one of the Phoenix resorts that has its own water park.
We hiked a ways down the Bright Angel trail one year in mid-March. There was a tiny bit of ice near the top but nothing that couldn't be avoided. There was snow in the shady spots at the side of the trail which was a great source of amusement for my native Texan children.
On March 1st I'm calling to try to get Phantom Ranch reservations for a walk all the way down the Grand Canyon for Spring Break 2009. (wish me luck!). I'm thinking start with major hiking in the GC; then end at one of the Phoenix resorts that has its own water park.
Feb 5th, 2008, 02:51 PM
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Favorite family spring break trips for us:
Deer Valley and Keystone for skiing
Disney cruise
San Diego - Disneyland (heavy on the theme parks, with Disney, Legoland, Sea World and SD Zoo, but kids LOVED it)
Grand Canyon (we did have several inches of snow on the rim in mid-March two years ago), mule ride to the bottom and night at Phantom Ranch, and ended at lovely Enchantment Resort in Sedona.
Many friends head to Florida's Emerald Coast but weather there is iffy in mid-March so we haven't done that yet.
Good luck with your planning.
Deer Valley and Keystone for skiing
Disney cruise
San Diego - Disneyland (heavy on the theme parks, with Disney, Legoland, Sea World and SD Zoo, but kids LOVED it)
Grand Canyon (we did have several inches of snow on the rim in mid-March two years ago), mule ride to the bottom and night at Phantom Ranch, and ended at lovely Enchantment Resort in Sedona.
Many friends head to Florida's Emerald Coast but weather there is iffy in mid-March so we haven't done that yet.
Good luck with your planning.
Feb 5th, 2008, 03:00 PM
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Here's what we liked a lot:
Southern Utah/Sedona - love this area to begin with, but I feel the spring is an awesome time to visit b/c the temps are so much more pleasant than in the summer
San Diego
Bahamas - Atlantis
St. John
Sanibel/Sarasota
Southern Utah/Sedona - love this area to begin with, but I feel the spring is an awesome time to visit b/c the temps are so much more pleasant than in the summer
San Diego
Bahamas - Atlantis
St. John
Sanibel/Sarasota
Feb 5th, 2008, 04:49 PM
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Katie:
Florida is great, and we've done the Keys twice, for the snorkeling (Looe Key). Bahia Honda has a sandy beach, and the waves are very gentle for young children. The main activities were swimming, kayaking, boating, fishing. The kids liked feeding the tarpon at Robbie's. Pennekamp has a nice small aquarium. As I recall, it was mostly families with kids. The waves are too tame for boogie boarding in the keys. We took a day trip to the Dry Tortugas, it was pretty interesting.
My kids (now teens) loved Bryce, Zion, and the Grand Canyon. They earned Jr. Ranger badges at each of the parks. We hiked and went on a horseback ride. The kids saw petroglyphs. We visited some smaller state parks in the area and hiked there too. My daughter was studying the Navajo Indians at school and it was thrilling for her to visit the area.
Another year we went to New Mexico. The kids enjoyed Santa Fe and Carlsbad Caverns (another Jr. Ranger badge). We went to White Sands, and boy it was windy! On Easter Sunday, we walked across the bridge from El Paso, Tx to Juarez Mexico and enjoyed the day walking around, shopping, and meandering.
The Bay area was a big hit. (Stayed w/relatives near Mt. Diablo State Park) We did a long day trip to Yosemite (jr. ranger badge). Another day went to Benicia and Sonoma. The kids loved San Francisco - the Japanese Garden in Golden Gate park was cool. We took Bart when possible.
We loved CA so much we went back.
Monterey California was another Spring Break Destination. The kids enjoyed the aquarium, Carmel beach, walking around Carmel. We all loved the shoreline walk in Pacific Grove, with a carpet of pink flowers. We also went to Big Basin State Park for the Redwoods. We watched people surf at Santa Cruz from the boardwalk.
We took a ball whereever we went, something like a nerf football that we could throw around when the kids got bored and needed a break. We took tennis rackets too, you can always find a tennis court even in a small town.
Another time we went to the Tampa area and Sanibel. Sanibel was nice. We took a side trip to the Everglades (another jr. ranger badge) and did a kayak tour. On the way back we went to Marco for the day and found lots of nice shells at Tigertail. The kids said Tigertail beach was the best part of the trip.
.. we've taken "outdoorsy and active" trips...
Our favorite place is the Outer Banks. Every summer - just can't get enough of the waves. We've been there every season except Spring Break.
Places I'd like to go for Spring Break in the US but haven't been:
1. Moab
2. San Diego
3. Texas (San Antonio)
4. Great Smoky Mountains (rent a cabin, do some day hikes)
5. Asheville NC, bike riding, hiking,
6. Hawaii
Florida is great, and we've done the Keys twice, for the snorkeling (Looe Key). Bahia Honda has a sandy beach, and the waves are very gentle for young children. The main activities were swimming, kayaking, boating, fishing. The kids liked feeding the tarpon at Robbie's. Pennekamp has a nice small aquarium. As I recall, it was mostly families with kids. The waves are too tame for boogie boarding in the keys. We took a day trip to the Dry Tortugas, it was pretty interesting.
My kids (now teens) loved Bryce, Zion, and the Grand Canyon. They earned Jr. Ranger badges at each of the parks. We hiked and went on a horseback ride. The kids saw petroglyphs. We visited some smaller state parks in the area and hiked there too. My daughter was studying the Navajo Indians at school and it was thrilling for her to visit the area.
Another year we went to New Mexico. The kids enjoyed Santa Fe and Carlsbad Caverns (another Jr. Ranger badge). We went to White Sands, and boy it was windy! On Easter Sunday, we walked across the bridge from El Paso, Tx to Juarez Mexico and enjoyed the day walking around, shopping, and meandering.
The Bay area was a big hit. (Stayed w/relatives near Mt. Diablo State Park) We did a long day trip to Yosemite (jr. ranger badge). Another day went to Benicia and Sonoma. The kids loved San Francisco - the Japanese Garden in Golden Gate park was cool. We took Bart when possible.
We loved CA so much we went back.
Monterey California was another Spring Break Destination. The kids enjoyed the aquarium, Carmel beach, walking around Carmel. We all loved the shoreline walk in Pacific Grove, with a carpet of pink flowers. We also went to Big Basin State Park for the Redwoods. We watched people surf at Santa Cruz from the boardwalk.
We took a ball whereever we went, something like a nerf football that we could throw around when the kids got bored and needed a break. We took tennis rackets too, you can always find a tennis court even in a small town.
Another time we went to the Tampa area and Sanibel. Sanibel was nice. We took a side trip to the Everglades (another jr. ranger badge) and did a kayak tour. On the way back we went to Marco for the day and found lots of nice shells at Tigertail. The kids said Tigertail beach was the best part of the trip.
.. we've taken "outdoorsy and active" trips...
Our favorite place is the Outer Banks. Every summer - just can't get enough of the waves. We've been there every season except Spring Break.
Places I'd like to go for Spring Break in the US but haven't been:
1. Moab
2. San Diego
3. Texas (San Antonio)
4. Great Smoky Mountains (rent a cabin, do some day hikes)
5. Asheville NC, bike riding, hiking,
6. Hawaii
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