Romantic Valentine Getaways

Spring Break is a wildly popular time of year for families to go on vacation, and for good reason. The air has started to warm up, the sun is shining, and the kids are out of school for an entire week. There is no better time of year to enjoy a fun family vacation!

When the kids are out of school for the week of Spring Break, which is usually in early to mid April, take it as an opportunity to go someplace fun and spend some time together. The beaches are calling this time of year, and there are plenty of places that you can take the family to enjoy fun activities, rolling ocean waves, warm sunshine, and beautiful sights. Here are a few ideas that will hopefully get you started in planning your family’s Spring Break adventure!

The first destination that likely comes to mind when you are in the planning stages of a family Spring Break vacation is Orlando, Florida. It remains the number one family vacation destination in the world, and this honor is well deserved. Not only does Orlando boast the granddaddy of all family destinations, the Walt Disney World Resort, but there is also Universal Orlando, featuring 2 theme parks, as well as Sea World, Gatorland, and a whole host of fun and unique activities and attractions. While not technically a beach destination, it is about an hour’s drive away from Cocoa Beach, so you aren’t too far away from the ocean!

But Florida has much more to offer than just Orlando. Consider some of these destinations as well:
     • Sanibel Island - located on the west coast of southern Florida, this
     gem is home to white sugar sand Gulf of Mexico beaches. There is
     plenty of swimming, fishing, snorkeling, sailing, and nature exploration
     to be undertaken here!
     • Pensacola Beach – another Gulf of Mexico beach, Pensacola and Gulf
     Breeze are located in the Panhandle of north Florida. There are
     beautiful beaches, the Gulf Islands National Seashore to explore, and
     other area attractions that will make for a fun and relaxing Spring
     Break.
     • Clearwater/St. Petersburg – Yet another Gulf beach on the west
     coast of central Florida, this popular destination is teeming with
     beautiful beaches and activities. To name a few: Busch Gardens and
     Adventure Island Water Park in Tampa, The Salvador Dali Museum, a
     children’s museum, The Tampa Museum of Art, the Florida
     International Museum, the Florida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo (voted
     the nation’s best family zoo last year!) in Tampa, and much more.
     While Clearwater Beach tends to be a little crowded, there are many
     other beaches in the area to explore, including Egmont Key, Shell Key,
     Treasure Island, and Caladesi Island.

Looking for a beach destination that isn’t in Florida? You can take your family to Gulf Shores, Alabama. The beaches there are white and sandy, and the water is blue and inviting. Enjoy fishing, swimming, or snorkeling, and visit the local attractions. Or, head over to the Atlantic coast, where you can enjoy the beaches of the outer banks and barrier islands of North Carolina, where you can explore the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and swim, surf, and snorkel the week away. Or visit Maryland, and enjoy Ocean City or the famous Chesapeake Bay.

California is another excellent destination for Spring Breaking families. There are plenty of places to visit, and lots of things to learn and experience, including:
     • Anaheim- this destination is home to Disneyland and Disney’s
     California Adventure theme park. You can never go wrong with Disney!
     • Carlsbad – this is home of LEGOLAND, the only theme park of its kind
     in the country. Just one hour south of Anaheim, and a short drive from
     San Diego, this unique theme park will thoroughly delight the kids with
     its imaginative LEGO rides and sculptures.
     • San Diego – This is an excellent family destination, because it is
     clean, safe, and filled with amazing things to see and do. There are
     great beaches, the world-famous San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Balboa
     Park; there are free concerts, and lots of museums as well!
     • San Francisco – Not your typical beach destination, but a great
     Spring Break spot nonetheless! Visit Golden Gate Park, the aquarium,
     museum, planetarium, the San Francisco Zoo, and the Exploratorium.
     Nearby Monterey Bay has great beaches, where you and the kids can
     swim, sea kayak, and whale watch. There is also Fisherman’s Wharf,
     where you can spot seals, sea lions, and otters along the docks, and
     the great Monterey Bay Aquarium.

A great Spring Break family beach vacation is closer than you think. Couple a wonderful destination with a convenient and affordable vacation rental house or condo, and you have the makings of the perfect vacation for your family!