Anyone else ready for spring break? Winter is starting to feel really long after the cold numbing Polar Vortex, ice, and dirty snow. The good news is that spring is coming soon which means you should start planning your family spring break! Sharing a roundup of ideas for your family spring break vacation
Clearwater Beach, Florida
If beautiful sandy beaches & fun in the sun are on your vacation must list, then consider Clearwater Beach in Florida. Clearwater Beach was named the best beach in the US by Trip Advisor in 2018. This is because it boasts a beautiful white sand beach stretching 2.5 miles and offers so much to do and great restaurants. Clearwater Beach is 20 miles from the Tampa International Airport. Orlando is also about 2 hours away if you want to spend a few days at Walt Disney World.
TIPS: Check out our guide to Clearwater Beach for helpful tips. // Stay at either the Hyatt Regency Clearwater or Sheraton SandKey. // Say ‘hi’ to Winter & Hope at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. // Get up early to reserve a cabana or umbrella & chairs on the beach.
Visit a Big City, New York & Washington DC
by Megan Lynch
Visit our Nation’s capital that is rich in history and offers much to see. Consider a Hop On Hop Off bus tour to see the monuments, many significant buildings and points of interest. All 19 of the Smithsonian Museums offer adults and children of all ages an unforgettable experience.
Take a ~3+ hour train ride from DC to New York City. NYC is a giant playground for kids with world-class museums, famous zoos, a huge park, exciting theater, celebrity restaurants
TIPS: Plan ahead! Submit a request to tour the White House with your congressman early as spaces are limited // Tour the Monuments by Moonlight // International Spy Museum // buy tickets to this Hop On Hop Off tour .
Hawaii
Hawaii is without a doubt my favorite family vacation destination. We love the sheer natural beauty, the abundance of activities, the gorgeous hotels, all of the beautiful beaches, the friendly people, that its part of the U.S. (no passport, US dollar). The only cons are the distance (the flight home is tough) and the cost (things are $$ on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean)
We’re headed to Maui and Kauai for our spring break 2019 and I cannot wait to return to this tropical paradise. We planned our 2017 spring break to Oahu & Maui in less than two months and booked on miles & points. Recommend that you diligently check award travel and be flexible with your travel dates.
TIPS: Look for our upcoming Hawaii travel guide. Hawaii is a great value to redeem airline miles & hotel points. //Make your dinner reservations early especially if you want sunset dining. //Our two fave restaurants are Mama’s Fish House (Maui) and Beach House (Kauai).
Mount Rushmore
by Sean Cahill
If you want to see some Americana and experience the outdoors, a trip to South Dakota is for you. It takes 13 hours to drive from Chicago, and admittedly there isn’t much to see between Chicago and The Badlands, but The Badlands provide a nature and hiking experience like no other. Then visit Wall Drug, which is only a short drive away in Wall, South Dakota. Besides great donuts and coffee, you can buy cowboy boots and a Christmas ornament! For dinner, try Firehouse Brewing Company, located in, you guessed it, an old firehouse in Rapid City!
TIPS: A great place to stay is Custer State Park at the State Game Lodge. Try to one of the new private cabins. From there, you can take short day trips to Mount Rushmore and Sylvan Lake, a manmade lake with incredible hiking. Driving there can be scary, as you may opt to drive through the famous “eye of the needle.” You should get breakfast at Baker’s Bakery and Cafe and dinner at Black Hills Burger and Bun Co. or the Sage Creek Grill. Custer State Park is well known for it’s wildlife loop, where you’ll see plenty of bison and
Have a blast in South Dakota!
Roadtrip to Mall of America, Minnesota
The Mall of America (MOA) is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the United States. There are more than 520 stores, 60 restaurants, Nickelodeon Universe (a 7-acre indoor amusement park), SEA LIFE Aquarium, a comedy club, world-class gaming and entertainment centers, the LEGO Store, mini-golf and tons of other family attractions and nightlife options. MOA is a ~
TIP: Bring an extra empty suitcase to take advantage of the tax free shopping!
Relaxation in Punta Mita, Mexico
by Tracy Ryan
If you are looking for a laid-back beach vacation with guaranteed 80-degree weather and a sense of security, consider Punta Mita. After a 45-minute transfer from Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) and a check-in at the security gate, you enter Punta Mita, a luxury vacation community nestled on a small peninsula on Banderas Bay along Mexico’s Pacific coast. Punta Mita is the home of two five-star resorts, The Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita and The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, as well as villas and private homes you can rent through VRBO or vacation property sites.
Punta Mita is known for small enclaves of sandy beaches not a long stretch of sand. Some of the
TIPS
If you are traveling during high season (Christmas, New Year’s or Spring Break) be sure to rent your golf cart a few months in advance with Mita Carts. They will deliver your golf cart to your villa, house or hotel.
Mita Adventures, located in the nearby El Anclote, is a great place to book a snorkeling trip or surfing lesson. Their boats leave from the nearby marina – no need to shuttle to the larger marina for excursions.
If you want to snorkel or sail to the Marieta Islands (the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the area) be sure to book with a company that has a license to enter the area. Vallarta Adventures is the largest excursion company in the area and offers not only sailing and snorkeling tours, but zip-lining, swimming with dolphins and eco-tours.
During high season it is important to book dinner reservations in advance. Here are some of our favorites:
- There are several restaurants in the luxury hotels but our favorite within the gated community and not affiliated with a hotel is Restaurant Sufi, a luxury dining experience on the beach.
- Another option is to take your golf cart outside the gate (very safe) to El Anclote beach where you have your choice of many fine restaurants and wine bars. Our favorites are Casa Teresa, Rosa Mexicana, Tuna Blanca
and the Blue Shrimp.Tuna Blanca is located on the first floor of a private condo building and there is a public rooftop bar upstairs if you want an afterdinner-drink . - If there is an avid sports fan in your family that doesn’t want to miss an important American televised sporting event, the best spot to watch is at The Sea Breeze Bar at the St. Regis resort. It’s an outdoor thatch-covered square bar with television screens on each side with views of the Pacific and access to a full menu, delicious margaritas
and coldcerveza .
Family Fun in Hilton Head, South Carolina
Hilton Head, SC is always at the top of our list when we’re looking for a budget spring break. First, it is within driving distance (~15 hours from Chicago) which saves money on airfare and eases packing limitations. Second, you can redeem SPG points at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa or book a 2 bedroom condo. However, we have opted to visit Hilton Head in the summer rather than spring break because the weather can be iffy.
If you do visit Hilton Head, you’ll find 12 miles of pristine beaches, golf courses, tennis courts and much more family fun on the island. Plan to rent bikes, go for walks on the beach and enjoy quality family time.
TIPS: Rent bikes for the family. //Try an aerial adventure. //Stock up at Target on Hilton Head Island. / Play cardio tennis at Palmetto Dunes.
Hope you are inspired to plan your next family spring break vacation. Click here for travel tips to book flights and award travel.
All of these sound line great ideas! The pics of your little cuties at Clearwater give me hope that maybe next year (or the next!) we can take our kids to somewhere other than Wisconsin. Love the blog!