Sping Break is approaching us ….. It is a great time to get the entire family together for a FUN vacation!! Here are some great family vacation ideas for Spring Break :-)
10. Galveston, Texas
Moody Gardens offers one-stop family fun—hotel, aquarium, discovery museum, paddle wheeler, and rain forest (with bat cave and two-toed sloths). Through March and April there are one-day kids' camps with various themes. The resort also has a kids' club, Texas-size pool, a spa, and Schlitterbahn Water Park right next door. In town explore Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum—a real oil rig—and see The Great Storm multimedia presentation about the infamous storm of 1900. Moody Gardens' Earth Day & Oleander Festival, in late April, has crafts, gardening, floral design for kids, a puppet show, and more.
9. Naples, Florida
Go to Naples to experience nature front and center. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has daily nature walks and wildlife sightseeing cruises March and April; sailing adventures run on Fridays. Families can book kayak and canoe tours, too. The Conservancy runs Naples Nature Center with wooded trails and Briggs Nature Center with its butterfly garden, boardwalk, birds, canoeing, and kayaking. See another side of nature at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. Best bets: Alligator Bay (don't miss the feedings), Leopard Rock, and Primate Expedition Cruises, which sail past islands of spider monkeys, lemurs, and siamangs. A family stroll on historic Naples Fishing Pier is required; you might see leaping dolphins.
8. Palm Springs, California
As high season winds down, book the season's last Starry Safariweekend overnight for families at The Living Desert. Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up to a cool—literally—8,516 feet; you might see snow so wear layers. Mix nature and native culture on a two-mile loop trail to the falls at Tahquitz Canyon. Fearless? Zip down seven-story water slides at Knott's Soak City USA, opening for the season in mid-March. Visit the famed San Andreas Fault or nearby Joshua Tree National Park with Desert Adventures' Jeep Eco-Tours or Elite Land Tours' Hummer adventures. Both have age/height restrictions on certain tours.
7. Barbados
From diving the artificial reef formed by a sunken ship at Folkestone Marine Park to surfing power waves at Soup Bowl on the Atlantic, Barbados especially appeals to water sports enthusiasts. If you'd prefer to stay dry, discover the sea by riding Atlantis Submarines (kids must be at least three feet tall). Amazing stalactites, stalagmites, and waterfalls make Harrison's Cave Barbados's most popular attraction; however, Flower Forest, home to giant tropical blooms, monkeys, and birds rivals it for natural beauty. Families can watch polo or potters at work (check out Earthworks Pottery mid-island), and swim with protected sea turtles on commercial snorkel tours.
6. Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo lie four miles apart on Mexico's sunny Pacific Coast. Ixtapa, built for vacationers on a crescent of pristine beach, has bike paths (several miles through a nature reserve), golfing, kayaking, and snorkeling. Dolphin encounters at Delfiniti Hotel are great for kids and parents. In Zihuatanejo, families can watch fishing boats come and go or hop a water taxi to Las Gatas Beach, where even little kids can snorkel in the calm water (gear rentals are available). Both towns have excellent restaurants and shopping. Just to the south, the nature sanctuary at Barra de Potosi makes a memorable day trip.
5. St. Lucia
This is paradise for active families with older kids, and spring offers the ideal weather, before tropical storms brew in June. Hikers and cyclists have miles of trails: Millet Bird Sanctuary Trail, 1,000 feet above the sea, is moderately challenging, while Forestierre Rainforest Trail is gentler. Cas en Bas and Vieux Fort beckon experienced windsurfers, and equestrians should contact Gros Islet's International Riding Stables with rides for all levels. Any visit should include exquisite Marigot Bay (where Dr. Doolittle was filmed), and 100-year-old Castries market with crafts, spices, and tropical foods. History and nature abound on Pigeon Island, a 40-acre park with ruins, trails, and a museum/interpretive center.
4. Lafayette, Louisiana
Spring in Lafayette is packed with family activities and events. Learn about Cajun culture at Vermillionville, where interpreters and craft demonstrators bring Cajun life and history alive. Watch for ‘gators on an Atchafalaya Basin Swamp Tour at McGee's Landing. Take factory tours at Avery Island, the only place in the world that makes Tabasco sauce. The island also has amazing gardens, wildlife, and bayous. Dance like a local at Randol's Restaurant and Cajun Dancehall, and check out Lafayette's family-oriented concerts and festivals, including Downtown Alive, most Fridays in March and April, and Pyromania XIII, an arts weekend of artisan demonstrations and hands-on instruction for the public, in early April.
3. San Diego, California
San Diego is a no-brainer for a family spring fling. Among the many reasons: Surf's up! The San Diego Surfing Academy has year-round lessons for all ages. Balboa Park, with 1,000-plus acres, 15 museums, and the city's stellar zoo is a must-visit. Ride the ferry to Coronado and bike miles of paths, or glide through waterways on a real gondola (singing optional). Old Town Trolley Tours offers laid-back sightseeing for families with young children; those with older kids should check out GoCar Tours' mini "talking" cars that combine vehicle and tour guide. Rent a kayak in La Jolla and explore coastal sea caves.
2. Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Often times, March is Colorado's snowiest month, so think powder. And think Snowsaver Packages—ten percent off lifts and lodging until March 30; 20 percent off from March 31 to April 6. Buy a five-day adult lift ticket and kids 12 and under ski free. Steamboat has five kids-only lifts, a kids terrain park, plus childcare for kids ages six months to six years. And, unlike the dead of winter, spring break is a great time for kids to hit the slopes, as temperatures are warmer and the sun shines longer. Oh, and did we mention tubing, Gondola Adventure Zone trampoline, Gyro Chair, and sleigh rides? For something totally different, ages 16 and up can get "20 tons of fun" test-driving bulldozers and other big equipment at Dig This! Have a family blast at the March 17 St. Patrick's Day Torchlight & Fireworks, or simply relax at Old Town or Strawberry Park hot springs.
1. Riviera Maya, Mexico
Akumal, south of Cancun, is a Caribbean haven with postcard-perfect waters. One favorite snorkeling spot rife with marine life is Yal-ku Lagoon (bring your own gear). Xcaret, a Disney-esque "Eco Maya" theme park, features snorkeling, butterflies, cultural activities, and more, and Xel-Ha, another park, also has excellent snorkeling. One of Mexico's most kid-friendly Mayan ruins is compact Tulum, the only ruins on the water. Families with older kids should book tours to Coba to climb the 122 vertigo-inducing stone steps of Nohoc Mul pyramid, and to UNESCO's Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. If you wish to thank a Mayan along the way, say "Yuutbuotik."
