Spring break travelers have their pick: Preview summer somewhere warm where the pools are open and amusement park rides are running, or extend wintertime fun by heading to the mountains, where snow still remains in the forecast at ski resorts. Throw in sunny beaches, national park adventures, and big-city attractions, and you’ve got plenty of springtime destinations to consider for an unforgettable getaway.
From the slopes of Park City to the sandy shores of Kauai, below, you’ll find 10 of the very best spots to spend spring break, including the best spring break destinations for families, plus where to stay and what to do with all of that precious PTO.
Denver, Colorado
Where to stay:
Book one of the 13 themed suites at The Curtis Hotel, a color-drenched downtown hotel that could double as a selfie museum. Each floor boasts its own motif, and suite options range from a video game den to a slime green “Ghostbusters” room, to one that celebrates the still-going-strong “Barbie” craze. The hotel is located in the theater district, which is your cue to grab tickets to a touring Broadway show or a play at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.
What to do:
Powderhounds can make a day trip to ski, tube, and ice skate at Winter Park Ski Resort, which gets pounded with snow in the spring and has some of the closest slopes to the Mile High City. In and around the city, visit the flamingos named after rockstars (the flockstars, that is) at the Denver Zoo, see fossilized dinosaur bones at Dinosaur Ridge and tack on a hike at the nearby Red Rocks Amphitheater. Teen Spring Breakers will have fun roaming through the other dimensions at Meow Wolf, a fantastical sci-fi-meets-art museum. Located in a pink palace, the newly revived Casa Bonita is a storied Mexican restaurant with indoor cliff diving performances, but plan ahead, because reservations are hotter than the fresh-from-the-fryer sopapillas. Holey Moley Golf Club is another fun eater-tainment spot, complete with an indoor putt-putt course.
Phoenix, Arizona
Where to stay:
At the Sonoran Desert at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, rooms come with wristbands to the on-site AquaRidge Waterpark, which boasts a lazy river, pools, and a trio of water slides. Pickleball courts, golf courses, a spa, and an adults-only pool area on its own island are popular perks for parents.
What to do:
Get a head start on summer in Phoenix, where average highs are in the mid-70s to mid-80s during March and April. Catch a spring training game while you’re in town: 15 Major League Baseball teams flock to sunny Phoenix to warm up for the season at 10 ballparks throughout the metro area. Or, check out one of the area’s museums, like the Arizona Science Center that has 300 hands-on exhibits and the Phoenix Art Museum, where the Fireflies Infinity Mirror Room bursts with colorful LED lights. In nearby Chandler, kids can color cartoon selfies and make melted wax spin art at the Crayola Experience.
Park City, Utah
Where to stay:
With its location in Canyons Village, spring break skiers can be among the first in the lift lines with a stay at Pendry Park City, which offers ski-in, ski-out access to Park City Mountain Ski Resort. (The hotel’s partnership with Compass Sports makes it easy to book ski gear and equipment.) The resort also has a heated rooftop pool, the Paintbox Kids Club, and, for those traveling in groups, the suites and residences range from two to four bedrooms and are outfitted with large terraces to take in the fresh mountain air, plus bunk rooms and full kitchens perfect for après-ski fondue.
What to do:
Extend winter with a spring break ski trip to Utah, a state that has such spectacular powder, it’s trademarked “The Greatest Snow on Earth.” Park City Mountain Resort (which is on the Epic pass) is a winter playground with skiing, snowboarding, a toboggan-style mountain coaster, and ski tours that explore historic silver mines. Break up your ski days with a visit to Olympic Park, which was built for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Ride a bobsled with speeds topping 60 miles per hour and visit the free Alf Engen Ski Museum, which has skiing history exhibits and a ski jump simulator. At Woodward Park City, zip down snow tubing lanes, which are served by a conveyor lift so you don’t have to huff it up the hill.
San Diego, California
Where to stay:
Wide sand beaches and gentle waves makes Coronado an ideal beach retreat for San Diego-bound spring breakers. Stay at Hotel Del Coronado, a beachfront hotel located across the bay from downtown San Diego — the ferry ride commute is part of the fun. Here, kids can take surf lessons, build sandcastles in the sparkly, mica-rich gold sand and toast s’mores at sunset on the beach.
What to do:
Highlights on kid-friendly itineraries in and around San Diego include visiting the giant pandas at the San Diego Zoo, going on thrill rides and Lego factory tours at Legoland California Resort, tackling the inflatable obstacle course at Plunge San Diego, an indoor pool in Mission Beach, and hanging with Sesame Street pals at Sesame Place San Diego. Spend a day at Balboa Park, which is home to 18 museums (in addition to the zoo) including a superhero-centric one devoted to all things Comic-Con. When it’s time for dinner, One Door North has a camp theme with s’mores platters, and you can even reserve a tent to dine in.
Kauai, Hawaii
Where to stay:
Set on Poʻipū Beach, the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa’s saltwater lagoon is the perfect spot to wade, though the adjoining beach has plenty of raucous waves to surf. Soak up the sun at the hotel’s pool complex, which features a lazy river, a waterslide and a spacious hot tub. Add on an experience like lei making, ukulele lessons, a luau, or a thrownet fishing lesson.
What to do:
Nicknamed the “Garden Isle” because it’s so lush, Kauai is a picture-perfect spring break destination for outdoorsy families who can hike to waterfalls along a route like Ho’oip’i Falls Trail or go on a movie tour to see filming locations from blockbusters like “Jurassic Park” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” The crescent-shaped Poʻipū Beach Park is a scenic spot for snorkeling and possibly spotting turtles and migrating whales. Book a trip with Kauai Backcountry to go mountain tubing through canals and tunnels or zip lining with scenic waterfalls in the backdrop. (Pro tip: Spring break overlaps with the rainy season, so pack rain jackets and enjoy those famous rainbows).
Orlando, Florida
Where to stay:
Next to Walt Disney World, Evermore Resort is a new luxury vacation rental resort that was built with large families and group travelers in mind. The resort’s collection includes flats, villas, and houses (some up to 11 bedrooms!) in addition to a luxury hotel, the Conrad Orlando. When you’re not hanging with Mickey Mouse and company, laze at the resort’s 20-acre beach that encircles the Crystal Lagoons. There, resort guests can swim, lounge in hammocks, paddleboard and kayak — plus, there’s a rope swing to monkey around on and a giant slide.
What to do:
Orlando is known as the world’s theme park capital. At Universal Studios, you can hang with minions in the relatively new MinionLand, explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, board a flying bike with E.T., and more. Over at Disney World, take a galactic trip on Space Mountain, ride the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster set to Aerosmith tunes, and meet Woody, Buzz, and Jessie at Toy Story Land. Spring Break syncs up with the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, which is when you can “ooh” and “ahh” at elaborate topiary sculptures of Disney characters, try garden-inspired eats at outdoor kitchens, and enjoy live music.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Where to stay:
The Eliza Jane is a stylish hotel with a dreamy courtyard that’s housed in a former 19th-century warehouse complex that was once home to the Daily Picayune. The hotel’s name is a nod to Eliza Jane Nicholson, who was the first woman in the United States to own a major newspaper, though she wrote under the pen name Pearl Rivers. You’ll find gems throughout the hotel like antiques, typewriters and black-and-white movies playing, as well as kid-approved, powder sugar-dusted pain perdu for breakfast.
What to do:
Catch an acoustic jazz concert at the intimate Preservation Hall and learn about the history and culture of New Orleans through the interactive displays at Vue Orleans and take in views of the Mississippi River and French Quarter from the observation deck. Visit the World War II Museum, which, in 2023 added the Liberation Pavilion that tells powerful stories exploring the end of World War II. Make at least one stop at Cafe Du Monde for beignets. For families with young kids, City Park has a storybook-themed playground and an amusement park with a historic carousel.
Boston, Massachusetts
Where to stay:
The Verb Hotel is a colorful mid-century, rock n’ roll-inspired boutique near Boston’s iconic Fenway Park. For a unique stay, book one of the ten Backstage trailers that are inspired by the tour buses of music legends and come equipped with Victrola record players.
What to do:
Kid-friendly outings include the Lego Discovery Center that has a stash of 2 million bricks to play with, and the Boston Museum of Science, where kids can explore interactive exhibits that cover everything from dinosaurs to space exploration. Those visiting during baseball season can catch a Red Sox baseball game at Fenway Park. (Baseball fans can also book a stadium tour). City Experiences has a number of fun Boston tours, and those visiting in late spring can book a whale watching tour with the New England Aquarium that ventures out to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, a hangout for humpbacks and finbacks.
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Where to stay:
Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa is a family-friendly resort with indoor and outdoor pools, trolley service to Dolly parks, a playground, yard games, and kids activities like s’mores, story times and family movie nights. Spring break travelers can book rooms and suites with bunk beds or, for a special stay, reserve the Dolly Suite 1986 Tour Bus Experience, which is Dolly Parton’s motorcoach that’s parked at the resort.
What to do:
Combine an amusement park vacation with a national park getaway in one trip. Pigeon Forge is on the front porch of the Great Smoky Mountains, a fun spot to hike among wildflowers in the spring and take scenic drives. The Tennessee vacation destination is also home to Dollywood Theme Park, which has more than 50 rides, including thrilling roller coasters, rides for little kids, and a 20-minute train ride that ventures into the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Other local attractions include the Titanic Museum that’s stocked with 400 artifacts, as well as dinner theater shows, miniature golf courses, and escape rooms.
Key West, Florida
Where to stay:
Hang out on the beach or at one of the palm-fringed pools at Southernmost Beach Resort, a charming coastal hotel located on the quieter side of Duval Street. The hotel keeps a busy social calendar with yoga classes, games, trivia nights, and it also plays host to community events. Borrow a cruiser bike on property to explore the neighborhood in full.
What to do:
Spring is the perfect time to visit the country’s southernmost city—the temperatures are in the 70s and 80s, and it’s not too humid or crowded with tourists. Take part in the sunset ceremonies at Mallory Square. These nightly gatherings feature stunt performers, musicians, and comedians. Other fun itinerary additions for families include a visit to the Key West Shipwreck Museum, kayaking through mangroves with an outfitter like Lazy Dog, and embarking on a catamaran for a sunset sail. Stop into one of Kermit’s Key Lime Shops for lime-flavored treats, and be sure to snap a photo in front of the colorful, oversized “Southernmost Point” buoy.
