Well, I have done spring break trips to all of those places. Let's start with budget--unless you have airline points, I don't see HI as possible due to plane tickets over spring break time. (maybe it is, I am assuming not)

I nix duty--those people can come to you. Seriously. For us, it is cheaper to pay for MIL to come to us than for us to go see her. So nix that.

CA--I love it for Spring break, I am in Utah and CA is sunny and relatively warm even in March. We did San Fran and Monterey this year--had a blast. Did Los Angeles, Universal, and a day at Disney last year (loved Universal, otherwise just shoot me). We have done San Diego several times and like that. Santa Barbara could be an option if you do a VRBO. We went to Palm Springs several years and Joshua Tree NP and had fun.

What about Tucson? OMG--we loved it. I have been several times pre-kids but with kids was really fun. Or even Phoenix.

I have been to DC many times and have relatives in DE, lived in Philly. And no, I would not do that. I would take CA or AZ. That's my story and I'm sticking to it :-)

Is this about us, or what's best for the OP?

Tickets for the East Coast are booked. Now, I need a NYC hotel recommendation. Off to better bidding.com

Keep in mind that Priceline only guarantees a bed for two people. If you want to be sure you have two beds, use Hotwire and specify 3 people in the room.

sf7307, thanks! I used Hotwire and got Park South Hotel. It looks wonderful. Although, later, I spotted a thread with a Hilton Times Square reference and wished I would have just booked that hotel outright: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re..._New_York.html.

Hawaii, hands down for a week-long special trip.

Visit the family over a long weekend.