Family Spring Break Ideas, Spring Break with Kids

This is the first of a series of posts we’ll publish around Spring Break ideas. The trend these days is that families — like other travelers — tend to book vacation plans last minute, i.e. the time is right for deciding where to go.

Our friends at Trekaroo have a network of Moms across the country that review family-friendly destinations — a fantastic resource for Spring Break ideas!

Can you believe that Spring will be here in just a few short months? I know it’s hard to imagine when most of the country is experiencing severe cold weather. However, what better way to keep warm than by planning your Spring Break vacation now? Here are some recommendations from four moms in the Trekaroo community.

A splashing good time in Hawaii

By Kailani, a Trekaroo and the mom behind An Island Life.

Spring is the perfect time to visit Hawaii. The temperatures are usually in the lower 80s which is perfect beach weather. One of our favorite family beaches is the Ko Olina Beach Park on the leeward coast of Oahu. This man-made beach with outer reef is perfect for kids because the water is always calm and clear. Looking for more exciting water fun? Check out the Wet n Wild Hawaii Water Park in Kapolei. Here you’ll find tons of great rides for all ages including a simulated surfing experience! Now what’s a trip to Hawaii without a little surfing?

And while you’re here, don’t forget to taste all the different flavors of Hawaiian cuisine . . . lau lau, kalua pig, poi, haupia, lomi salmon, sweet potato. The best way to do this is by visiting a luau. One of the best ones on the island is at Paradise Cove where you’ll get an authentic experience of different Polynesian cultures, activities and ono (delicious) food!

A hui hou e malama pono (until we meet again, take care)

More activities for kids in Oahu, Hawaii.

Legoland in Mall of America. Photo Credit TwisterMC on Flickr

BIG fun in Minnesota

By Minnemom, a Trekaroo and the mom behind Travels with Children.

When you live in Minnesota, it seems that all of the fun and warm spring break possibilities are far, far away. Not all of us can travel far and wide (and warm) during Spring Break, so we Minnesotans sometimes do the next best thing and head to Mall of America. With an indoor amusement park that includes roller coasters and a flume ride as well as other thrills, you can get a taste of the fun of summer without going outside.

Got an extra day? Just down the road, Waterpark of America in the Radisson hotel is billed as America’s largest indoor waterpark. It has areas for toddlers on up to surfers, a lazy river, and of course, some pretty great waterslides. For spring break, you don’t have to head south to find fun. An adventure inMinnesota might just fit the bill.

More activities in the Twin Cities, Minnesota with kids.

Loads of free things to do in Washington DC

By Beth, a Trekaroo and the mom behind Life in the Bat Cave.

Whether you travel by foot, by bike, by car, by train, or by plane, a must-see spring break destination is our nation’s capital. Why you ask? Simply, because there is so much to do and most of it is free of cost. The fact the kids might actually learn something while on break from school doesn’t hurt either!

Our children ages 8, 7 and 5 at the time of our visit last year, loved it and have declared it their favorite vacation spot. They have frequently asked when we can return.

The weather was beautiful, perfect for walking around town. If you time it right, you will be treated to the cherry blossoms in full bloom. We walked to several of the memorials, our favorite of which was the Lincoln Memorial. If you plan ahead, you can get tickets for the Washington Monument here.

The museums we visited were the Museum of American History, the Air and Space Museum, and the National Museum of the American Indian. None of these were overly crowded and admission is free. We took the metro to Arlington Cemetery which was an amazing experience. I definitely recommend taking the tour. We also took a tour of the Capital building and you can get tickets from your local Representative in Congress. We have already begun compiling a list of places to see the next time we visit!

More activities for Kids in DC.

Photo Credit Nancy Solomon

A quintessential Spring Break in San Diego

By Sharlene, a Trekaroo and the mom behind Double the Adventure.

Warm weather, beautiful beaches, and lots of fun. This is what comes mind when I think about Spring Break. Zoos, dinosaurs, and sandcastles — this is what my kids request whenever we make plans for a vacation. Luckily, San Diego provides all of the above in a family friendly atmosphere.

San Diego specializes in wildlife. From its’ world famous zoo to the Wild Animal Park to Sea World, San Diego provides plenty of opportunities to hang with animals. If you are looking for creatures in their natural environment, check out the fabulous tide pools at Cabrillo National Monument or pelicans scooping fish out of the sea at Torrey Pines State Beach. If extinct animals are more your thing, than head on over to Balboa Park and visit the San Diego Natural History Museum. While you are in the park you may also want to check out the Ruben H. Fleet Science Center, the San Diego Museum of Man or even the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. With its abundance of activities and beautiful weather, San Diego is the perfect family Spring Break destination.

Trekaroo is a reviews website dedicated to helping parents explore and travel with kids.

Relevant links on Ciao Bambino:

Hawaii

Maui with kids

Best Hawaii family hotels

Washington DC

Washington DC with kids – favorite online resources

Washington DC with kids – favorite attractions

Best Washington DC family hotels

San Diego

San Diego with kids

San Diego surf camp

Best San Diego family hotels

Museums Theme Parks Spring Break Trekaroo

Written By
By Amie O’Shaughnessy

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1 Comments

debi9kids says:

14 years ago at 9:17 pm

Great reviews! I am looking to take all of my kids to DC again, so i was really happy to see it listed here 🙂
As always, Sharlene, LOVE your reviews. If you say i should go there, I will 🙂

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