Spring break is very popular time for family travel. With kids in school, it’s often one of the few opportunities that families have to squeeze a holiday into a long winter schedule of activities. The challenge can be deciding whether your family wants a sun or snow spring break holiday for your week(s) away. Given the cruel winters that many of us endure, a sunny destination may be the preferred option over a snow-based vacay. Whatever your fancy, we have some great spring break travel tips for families to help you choose the right destination for your spring breakers.
Favorite spring break destinations for families
Whether you’re choosing from a sun, sand and surf getaway down south or a snowy ski-forward spring break vacation in Canada or beyond, we’ve got some great suggestions and articles to help you choose a great family spring break holiday.
Sunny spring break destinations
If you’re craving sun, sand and warm weather, you can never go wrong in choosing Hawaii. The Islands are a magical place to relax, hang loose, and {safely} work on your tan. We love the Garden Isle of Kauai for its authentic Island feel. Kauai also has great beaches, canyon hikes, shave ice, and wide variety of things to see and do.
Oahu has the allure of big-city Honolulu and sophisticated Waikiki Beach. As well as great sites like Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head and the Honolulu Zoo. There’s great food, shopping, beaches, and ABC stores on every corner – it’s a good thing.
On the Baja Peninsula is the low-key village of Loreto, Mexico. This lovely fishing haven is a pueblo magico – ‘magical town’ – on the gorgeous Sea of Cortez, a protected marine habitat. White beaches, mission history, and incredible food combine for an authentic Mexican experience, well removed from uber-glitz-resort-style.
Orange County offers big theme park thrills along with loads of kid-friendly activities, including wonderful beaches, parks, missions and shopping opportunities. All warmly bundled into a consistently sunny destination.
Snowy spring break destinations
Whistler is the ‘full meal deal’ resort – Canada’s biggest and best full-service ski resort. Family-friendly hills and lessons, restaurants, fun activities for older kids, pools and hotels, and a great pedestrian-only village make this destination one of the most popular winter resorts in the world.
The Okanagan features three superb ski resorts that each offer fantastic champagne powder, sunny skies and lots of ski runs for every skiing ability. Silver Star in Vernon also has extensive cross-country ski trails, and quaint, colorful accommodations surrounding the village.
Sun Peaks is Canada’s second largest ski resort, with three mountains offering miles of amazing and varied ski terrain for every level. There’s several terrain parks, kids fun park, snow tubing and a great Euro-style pedestrian village.
It’s all about the snow and so much more at Big White near Kelowna. It’s a great ski resort for families, and activities include; a 60-foot ice tower, skating rink, tubing, sleigh rides, and great dining choices.
For more information on Alberta’s and British Columbia’s great family-friendly ski resorts, visit our article about great ski resorts in Western Canada.
Photo Credits: C. Laroye
Have you planned your spring break yet? Did you choose a sun or snow holiday? Share your comments below.
Now, I have my choice for vacation time. Thank you for the ideas you’ve shared:)
We’re not traveling this year for spring break. But if we were, we probably wouldn’t be heading to a beach-y place (not our scene). I don’t ski but we love the outdoors and the mountains so that’s where we’d go!
Great choices, Francesca. There’s still so much to do at ski resorts that don’t involve careening down the slopes!
We just booked San Diego for our spring break holiday! What gr at suggestions!
Fabulous! I hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday Terumi!
We’ve just had a trip to Norway and fallen in love with the skiing there so that would be my recommendation! 🙂
That’s a great choice, Nichola. That’s for suggestion Norway!
We don’t travel during Spring Break–too crowded! It’s “staycation” time for us. But that Ice Tower at Big White looks so exhilarating! I want to try that with my daughter when she’s a little older!
Yes, that is the downside of spring break travel – the crowds! I hope you do visit Big White and climb the ice tower, Beth. I’m sure you’d both love it!
We didn’t choose either snow or sun for spring break this year. We’re going to Ireland so it will likely be rain!!
Well, rain’s just fine! What an exciting trip for your family, Lisa. I will look forward to seeing some wonderful, green photographs of the Emerald Isle.
As much as I love Mexico (and its sunny breaks) I really, really, *really* want to come back to Canada and go skiing in Whistler!!
I’m sure you shall one day soon, Katja!
I love posts like this which help brainstorm where to go! Excellent ideas, though the one that sounds most appealing to me right now is Loreto!
Glad you enjoyed the post! Loreto is enchanting. I fell in love with it and would go back in an instant.