13 Family-Friendly Spring Break Destinations

School’s out of session for a week, and spring is a great time for the family to catch a spring breeze away from home before summer hits. Recoup and recharge on a refreshing trip to one of these family-friendly spring break destinations. Each is a kid-friendly travel option known for its variety of local sites and activities, including beaches!

1. San Diego, California

Kids and adults love San Diego for its temperate weather, clean streets, and loads of things to do. These include spending days on any one of the city’s beaches that make up its 70 miles of sun-drenched coastline. If the kids tire of the beach, there’s plenty going on in and around San Diego.

San Diego is also home to a number of thrilling water and amusement parks. LEGOLAND, SeaWorld, and Six Flags Magic Mountain are all nearby. Balboa Park is home to museums, gardens, shops, and, most importantly, the San Diego Zoo. The San Diego Zoo has rare and endangered species, interactive exhibits, and educational activities. The recently-opened Wildlife Explorers Basecamp experience boasts a 3.2-acre, multi-ecosystem park set on the site of the old Children’s Zoo.

2. Yosemite National Park, California

Almost any national park makes a great family spring break destination. There are accommodations nearby for any budget, including lodges with heated pools, historic inns, cabins and campgrounds, and chain hotels with family-friendly amenities. Yosemite National Park offers families easy hikes, gentle rivers, a Junior Ranger program, and lots of wildlife.

3. Outer Banks, North Carolina

The Outer Banks is a good alternative to Myrtle Beach, especially during spring break. Kids will love the North Carolina Aquarium, Children at Play Museum, and seeing the exact place where the Wright Brothers flew for the first time at the Wright Brothers National Park. There are also quiet beaches, mini golf courses, and lighthouses to explore during your vacation. Consider renting a house with a pool, as the rough surf and jellyfish can keep kids from the ocean.

4. Cocoa Beach, Florida

The laid-back coastal surf town of Cocoa Beach is ideal for families looking for a fairly inexpensive spring break family vacation. Spend your trip boogie boarding on the beach, exploring incredible wildlife, and enjoying outdoor dining on the waterfront! Cocoa Beach also offers plenty of family-oriented sightseeing attractions, including the Kennedy Space Center, the Brevard Zoo, the Historic Cocoa Village, and more.

5. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Beach is a time-honored beach tradition for families nationwide! This laid-back oceanside city is known for its exciting educational activities designed for young children and adolescents. Possibilities include the Virginia Marine Aquarium and Science Center, Red Wing Park, and the famed Mount Trashmore set a top of a reclaimed landfill!

Virginia Beach is an affordable, safe, and slower-paced vacation. Enjoy all-day fun at the oceanfront beach and Boardwalk. Kids will be wowed by the aquatic-themed statues lining side streets. Go shopping, get some exercise, or just lounge around in the warm Virginia sun! Grab a coffee or a smoothie to recharge in the afternoon. The restaurants and shops nearby ensure everything you and your family need for a perfect day is within reach.

6. Honolulu, Hawaii

For a spring break vacation you and your family will always remember, head to Honolulu, Hawaii. With its modern and stylish resorts, vibrant culture, and heavenly beaches, Honolulu is a paradise like nowhere else. It’s a top spring break destination with a mix of attractions for visitors of all ages.

For adults, Honolulu boasts an invigorating nightlife of bars, dance clubs, and fine restaurants. There’s something for every taste, including tiki bars, posh lounges, and plenty of live music.

Kids will love Honolulu’s wide selection of indoor and outdoor activities. In the event of inclement weather, the local virtual reality arcade or Children’s Discovery Center will keep your little ones occupied. On sunny days, they will love swimming with dolphins or scuba diving among rare coral reefs!

7. Stowe, Vermont

Enjoy a family ski vacation in Vermont’s Green Mountains. Stowe is home to multiple ski resorts, as well as a picturesque town and family-friendly activities. Take advantage of discounts on lift tickets outside of peak ski season or take in the view from the comfort of a gondola.

Spring in Vermont means fresh maple syrup. Kids can join in the fun of sugaring season at local farms. The whole family can also fish, hike, and see wildlife together. In fact, early spring is the best time to spot moose!

8. Hilton Head, South Carolina

Among spring break ideas for families, Hilton Head offers some of the most swimmable beaches and countless scenic trails for you and your family to explore! Enjoy kid-friendly outdoor activities like family golf lessons, kayaking, paddle boarding, dolphin tours, parasailing, and horseback riding. Hilton Head also offers attractions for kids, including The Sandbox, an interactive children’s museum, the Coastal Discovery Museum, and so much more.

9. Sedona, Arizona

Sedona makes a great family spring break destination for adventurous families with beautiful weather, incredible scenery, and endless outdoor recreational activities. Surrounded by two million acres of pristine national forest, Sedona is a beautiful oasis with a small-town feel and plenty going on. Explore its colorful red rock formations by foot, bike, helicopter, hot air balloon, or zipline!

10. Orlando, Florida

One of the best family spring break destinations, Orlando is home to a huge variety of attractions made for kids: Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and LEGOLAND Florida. There are also other, less expensive, ways to spend a family spring break trip in Orlando. Try the Crayola Experience, Chocolate Museum, or just hang out at the hotel pool and enjoy the warm weather!

11. Steamboat Springs, Colorado

The city of Steamboat Springs, located just outside a national forest 150 miles northwest of Denver, is home to ski resorts, hot springs, planned kids’ activities, and an old-fashioned soda fountain. What’s not to love?

Ski resorts are often just as luxurious as beachfront all-inclusives, but without any of the college students you’ll find lounging on the sand; Steamboat is no exception. There are slopes for all levels of skiers, as well as tubing, cross-country, and snowshoeing trails; dog sledding; and ice skating.

12. Washington, D.C.

One of the best parts about Washington, D.C. is the free admission to the museums, galleries, and zoo that make up the Smithsonian Institution. Try the Air and Space Museum, Botanic Garden, and National Zoo. You can also tour the Capitol building, White House, Supreme Court, and Library of Congress or see the monuments celebrating Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, and King. Even if you miss the National Cherry Blossom Festival, you’ll see blooms during a spring break family vacation.

13. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina

Scenic drives and short hikes make it easy to take in beautiful views without carrying little ones up a mountain. There are log cabins, churches, and mills dotting the Park, some of which are still used. Just like other national parks, your kids can become Junior Rangers here.

Located along the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, you could easily divide your vacation between the Park and the city of Nashville (3.5-hour drive), Asheville (50-minute drive), or Charlotte (2.75-hour drive). Even if the majority of your family vacation is spent in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, take a day to explore Dollywood.