I did a quick survey of airfare to various places, and you're right - it's pretty steep, no doubt a result of last-minute bookings combined with the impact of cruise season and spring break pushing prices throughout the southeast. What's affordable? Even relatively short hops along the east coast - up to DC, New York or even closer like Raleigh/Durham are all $500+ for a week's round trip.

So out of the box, and maybe entirely a non-starter... what about a cruise out of Miami? For example, there's a one-week cruise departing Miami on Norwegian that goes to Roatan, Cozumel, and an island or two, that is going for $599 per person in a balcony cabin. That's inclusive of food and entertainment, so in all likelihood potentially considerably cheaper than a comparable period counting airfare, lodging, rental car and food. For sure, it's a cruise, but there are umpteen options for shore activities, and as long as one keeps away from the casino and the bars, they can be surprisingly cost-effective. It's pretty much a no-brainer as far as planning's concerned, of course.

If the $500+ airfare option is on the table, then I'd probably look at flying to San Francisco or San Jose and take a week around the Monterey Bay and Big Sur coast. You can visit redwoods near Santa Cruz, hike and see wildlife in glorious Point Lobos, visit the old Spanish mission and twee shops in Carmel, visit the Monterey aquarium, drive down Hwy 1 to the Hearst Castle and see the big elephant seal colony at Piedras Blancas... lots of options.

Mexico City - roundtrip, non-stop flights for under $300. Temps in the upper 70s/low 80s in the day, upper 40s to low 50s at night.

Charleston?
Asheville and the mountains around there.

I know Mexico sounds scary but the tourist areas on the coast seem not to figure too much. Cozumel or Belize? Our kids went to Belize in the fall.

St Croix? The Buccaneer Resort there is great for families: https://www.thebuccaneer.com/about/

Crime is increasing in a lot of Mexico as well as other problems, but aside from that, you can't get there cheap during Spring Break anyway, so what's the attraction. Airfare is over $1000 to CUN from MIA.

The problem is there just isn't hardly anywhere you going to be able to get to cheaply by air at the last minute, hardly ever. But put Spring Break time on top of that, and it's almost impossible.

The cheapest nonstop airfares I could find Sat from MIA were actually to DEN (not that I think that's a great choice in late March), Houston (ugh), and surprisingly SFO or San Francisco. Also Montreal, it was less than $500 At least SFO was less than $800 and not much else is, worth going to.

I'd go to Montreal or SFO. San Francisco is expensive but you could easily rent a car there and just go elswhere, like the coast, Monterey, etc. I don't know that I'd want to spend a week in Montreal, but it is a cool city and language isn't a problem.

Except it's under $250 to Mexico City. Do you even read other replies? Lol

Mexico is a big country. I don't understand the OP or anyone writing off an entire country because of some awful articles, but to each their own. I wouldn't avoid Miami or LA because of gang violence in their crappy neighborhoods, I would just avoid the crappy neighborhoods, I wouldn't skip an entire country because some areas have crime problems. .

Too many awful articles about Mexico tourism these days

I have not read anything "awful" about going to Mexico City. I agree 100% with the post above.

Of course don't go to a country that does not interest you, but to write off all the states of Mexico off because of "awful articles" in a couple heavily touristed areas is unfortunate.

>>Or visit a cool city that we haven’t been ( we have traveled a lot.)

You've described our weather today in Tucson, AZ. But getting flights will be difficult as it's "high season."

Having no idea where you have been, how about the west coast: San Francisco, San Diego, Portland, Seattle
Somewhere in New England like Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine

What about a road trip? My mom and brother did a road trip of the deep South. They think it's an undervalued, interesting part of our country. Additionally, I went to Nashville last fall and really liked it there. Nashville is certainly country but it's every kind of music too these days. I would also suggest you drive up the coast, but my guess is those lodgings are more apt to be full?

Civil rights exhibits? A concert? An amusement park?

From our dear friend Google maps:
10 hours to Atlanta
11.5 to Chattanooga
13.5 to Nashville

https://www.exploregeorgia.org/list/...at-theme-parks

https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/...-sites-georgia

https://www.atlantatrails.com/trails-georgia/


Another thought: If you were planning to fly anywhere--that frees up some money for entertainment or a nicer hotel to relax in. If you were in Atlanta and you enjoy basketball, the Hawks are playing Tuesday 3/26 and Friday 3/29, for example.

It's unclear if you could go to the Great Smoky Mountains--their website said roads were closed while trees were being cleared. You should probably call the park or the tourism office in that area if that's of interest.

https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm

I was going to suggest Tucson, but I see HappyTrvlr already did. If nothing else, the scenery and hiking are great, as is the weather.

WOW! Glad you found something. (I would have never thought of to suggest that in a million years!)

Well now I'm jealous. Costa Rica is my favorite country by far.