Who doesn’t love spring break? The very name of this beloved week speaks to everything that is good in life — the first glimpse of gorgeous weather after a long (never ending, long, dreary — did we say long?) winter and the chance to get away from the everyday routines of work and school.
And perhaps the best part about this particular type of vacation? There are as many ways to plan a spring break trip as there are families.
How will you spend your spring break vacation? (Photo Credit: @sou.good)
Here are some tips for making your spring break not just fun, but a memorable trip for all.
Make it “Opposite Week”
A great way to switch things up is to look around and imagine what the most dramatic change of scenery would be. Are you landlocked? Think about an escape to Vero Beach in Florida. Live where it’s sunny all the time? Plan a ski trip to the idyllic town of Manchester, Vermont for the tail-end of the season — before all of the summer tourists arrive.
Blue-sky days after a grey-sky winter? Yes, please. (Photo Credit: @happyevieafter)
In Vero Beach, the kids can spend all day building sand castles. (Photo Credit: @firegirl897)
A trip like this may mean that you need gear that you don’t necessarily own or can bring with you — grab one of the bicycles available at Kimpton Vero Beach to explore the sunny city from a new perspective. And at Kimpton Taconic Hotel in Manchester, the kids can hop on custom Micro Kickboard scooters and tire themselves out while you lounge by the pool. (Sounds pretty great, right?)
When you arrive, remember to ask the front desk to see what they can hook you up with.
Where to stay: Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa and Kimpton Taconic Hotel
Short Can Be Sweet
A week away can be a big undertaking for a family, especially when you’ve got younger kids. If you can’t quite swing the full week, don’t underestimate the truly restorative powers of a long weekend away.
Even a weekend away can be perfectly restorative. (Photo Credit: @notummymommy)
Say hello to Grand Cayman. (Photo Credit: @courtneyfhill)
A shorter trip might also mean that you feel like you can splurge a little more on your accommodations and book a larger room. Kimpton Seafire Resort in Grand Cayman offers roomy, family-friendly bungalows — many with full kitchens — and all within a frisbee’s throw of the turquoise-blue waters and white-sand beaches and pools.
In the bungalows, bunk beds made for climbing and cozy reading nooks made for relaxing are hard to resist — you may not see your children for the entire weekend as they play and explore.
Where to stay: Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa
Don’t Forget to Relax
When you’re considering your spring break destination, think about down time. It’s great if there are lots of attractions and things to do, but in order for everyone to feel restored and refreshed when you return home, you’ll want to be sure you’ve got opportunities for some rest and relaxation.
Rest easy in the rooftop pool at Kimpton Rowan in Palm Springs. (Photo Credit: @rowanpalmsprings)
The kiddos will love exploring the desert landscape. (Photo Credit: @rowanpalmsprings)
Welcome to Palm Springs, California. (Photo Credit: @rowanpalmsprings)
This might mean booking a hotel that has a rooftop pool (Kimpton Rowan has a gorgeous pool amidst the ethereal desert setting of Palm Springs) or a comfy lobby where you can simply hang out and play games with the kids (Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland has a particularly fantastic game lounge that the kids will love).
Or make sure you’re close enough to the beach or the slopes to easily get back to your room for a quick midday snack and power nap. (Because vacation naps are the best naps.) No matter where you spend your spring break, a little smart planning will help make sure it’s truly a vacation for both your kids and for you.
Where to stay: Kimpton Rowan Hotel and Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland
Hop in the Car
You don’t have to get on a plane to enjoy a fun spring break. Think about drive-to destinations that you’ve always wanted to visit — maybe you’ve dreamed of driving the length of the California coast?
If driving the PCH, you can stay with Kimpton all along the way. (Photo Credit: @briannatraynor)
Embrace the waves in Huntington Beach, California. (Photo Credit: @shorebreakresort)
Drive the PCH and stop at all of the best coastal California towns (and Kimptons) along the way, including Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara, Kimpton Hotel Palomar Los Angeles, and Kimpton Shorebreak Resort in Huntington Beach.
You’ll enjoy the feeling of getting away without hours of travel time or the cost and hassle of plane tickets. And who doesn’t love a classic road trip with the family? It’s a vacation you and your kids will remember for life.
Where to stay: Kimpton Canary Hotel, Kimpton Hotel Palomar Los Angeles, and Kimpton Shorebreak Resort
Let the Learning Continue
While you know you love museums, your kids only think they don’t. Here’s a stealth way to get them interested — when you’re choosing a spring break destination, think about what they’ve been learning about in school.
Don’t forget about the fur babies — they deserve a spring break, too. (Photo Credit: @maciethebt)
If in Chicago, take the kids to the Field Museum for an educational experience like no other. (Photo Credit: Chris Nguyen)
Have they been studying colonial American history? Boston or Philadelphia both offer a chance to see American history in action. If biodiversity has been on the syllabus, San Francisco is home to the California Academy of Sciences, located in the heart of Golden Gate Park and home to an actual, living rainforest. In Chicago, the Field Museum is home to one of the best natural history museums in the country — complete with giant dinosaurs, of course.
And there is an added bonus in going the educational route — we bet their teachers will be highly impressed when your kids write those What I Did on Spring Break essays.
Where to stay: Kimpton Marlowe Hotel in Cambridge; Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia or Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia in Philadelphia; Kimpton Gray Hotel in Chicago; Kimpton Alton Hotel or Kimpton Hotel Enso in San Francisco
