The best spring break destinations for families in the U.S.

When the winter vacation feels like a lifetime ago, and your kids need a break from school and activities to finish up the year strong, a spring break can be just the trick. From historical cities to amusement park destinations to beachy vacations, you can plan a vacation that works for your family. Discover your next spring break with our guide to the top destinations in the U.S.

After Mardi Gras dies down, many families flock to New Orleans in the spring. With nationally recognized museums, a unique cuisine, and a European flair, a trip to New Orleans is one of the best warm spring break destinations for families.

Why families fall for New Orleans 

New Orleans blends family-friendly attractions with its unique history and culture that the whole family will want to experience. Some popular attractions include:

• Top-ranked museums and zoos that are accessible on the historic streetcars
• Cajun and Creole food, like beignets for breakfast and po’ boys for lunch
• The French Quarter, the oldest area with a European vibe, is easy to explore on foot

For nature-loving families, the Audubon Aquarium is one of the best aquariums in the U.S., with a focus on the region’s wildlife and marine life. Families will find alligators, cownose rays, and penguins, just a few of 3,600 animals from over 250 species. The 60-foot touch tank is a hit with kids, as is the 30-foot Caribbean reef tunnel you can walk through. 

The Audubon Insectarium shares a roof with the aquarium and is home to a butterfly garden. The live insect displays are another hit with families, such as a honey bee colony, praying mantis, and the kids’ favorite: hissing cockroaches. 

The Audubon Zoo is home to over 2,000 animals with exhibits featuring species from the Louisiana Swamp, plus Africa and Asia. It's located nearby in the 350-acre Audubon Park in the Uptown neighborhood. 

Top tip: You can purchase a combo admission ticket for the aquarium and insectarium. 

Other top New Orleans attractions for families 

New Orleans features attractions that appeal to multi-generational family groups and those traveling with older children, including:

• The Mississippi Riverboat Cruise, which chugs up and down the Mississippi River with a guided tour on the waterway
• The National WWII Museum, which spans six acres and features immersive, interactive exhibits that explain the war
• The hop-on, hop-off tour of New Orleans, serving as a means of transportation between top attractions, plus a guided tour

Food to sample while in New Orleans 

New Orleans features a unique cuisine that blends local ingredients with the food heritage of France, Spain, West Africa, and Native America. During your vacation, you can sample several Cajun and Creole classics, including:

• Beignets are deep-fried square donuts with a heaping scoop of icing sugar. Cafe du Monde is an icon in the French Quarter, but it only accepts cash. 
• Po' Boys are sandwiches with an assortment of toppings, like fried shrimp or pot roast on freshly baked French bread, topped with shredded lettuce, tomato, and a dressing. Johnny’s Po-Boys in the French Quarter is a top choice. 
• Gumbo is a rich soup with ingredients such as seafood, chicken and andouille sausage. Best of all, gumbo is widely available in New Orleans.

Where to visit in New Orleans

The French Quarter, the oldest district in New Orleans, features architectural style with narrow, walkable streets. Known also as the Vieux Carre, families can visit its museums or dine at its numerous restaurants and cafes. 

• Jackson Square is a lively area with street performers and artists, plus top sites, such as St. Louis Cathedral and Cafe du Monde
• The French Market dates back to 1813 and is home to an open-air shopping, perfect for finding souvenirs
• A French Quarter walking ghost tour, based on colorful characters of the past, is fun with older children and teenagers

Top tip: Bourbon Street is home to nightclubs, but Royal Street is a block away with a quieter vibe, perfect for families. 

Family-friendly properties in New Orleans 

Family-friendly properties in New Orleans offer easy access to the walkable French Quarter and Central Business District (CBD), with historic cable cars for getting around:

• Omni Royal Orleans Hotel is centrally located and features a rooftop pool in the French Quarter 
• Sheraton New Orleans Hotel is located on the Canal Street streetcar line at the edge of the French Quarter and the Central Business District

Jutting west off its mainland, the Florida Keys is a coral cay archipelago with over 1,700 islands. It's one of the best spring break beach destinations for families, with a top-ranked U.S. beach along the way. But no need to rush to Key West, you can slow down and stop in several keys along the route. 

Using the historic Overseas Highway, this route travels for 113 miles with a 45 mph limit to keep passengers in the moment. You're often surrounded by turquoise blue water on both sides as you cross 42 bridges.

Top reasons to visit the Florida Keys 

As you depart the mainland, time slows down and residents live on island time. Top highlights include:

• Water-based activities, from beach combing to ocean kayaking to fishing excursions 
• A laid-back road trip on U.S. Route 1, an All-American Road, the highest designation in the National Scenic Byways Programme
• Stunning white sand beaches and turquoise water of the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico

Where to visit in the Florida Keys

The largest island, Key Largo, is just off the mainland. It's home to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first underwater park in the U.S. The Everglades National Park is close by. 

Families visit Key Largo for its water sports, from snorkeling to jet skis and ocean kayaking. Boat excursions are another popular water activity, such as guided fishing trips or a sunset cruise. 

Another popular spot is Key West, an end-of-the-road destination that has attracted songwriters and authors over the centuries. Names include Ernest Hemingway, whose former house is now open for visitors to tour. Discover his gardens, writing desk, and the famous six-toed cats that still roam there. Music fans can also walk through Jimmy Buffett’s Key West on a tour – flip-flops and tropical shirts encouraged!

Duval Street and Mallory Square are hubs for dining and entertainment. Another top site to see is the Southernmost Point Buoy, either on foot or on a bike tour. A sunset cruise can round out your itinerary. 

Top tip: Bahia Honda State Park is one of the prettiest beaches in the U.S., about 35 miles from Key West.

Day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park 

Located 70 miles off Key West, one of the most popular day trips from Key West is Dry Tortugas National Park, a retired military fort. Touring the fort is the top activity outside of the water. Families spend their time snorkeling, diving, or on a guided boat excursion.

Top tip: Families can take a boat or a seaplane to Dry Tortugas, but reservations are essential for this popular excursion.

Family-friendly properties in the Florida Keys 

As a beachy destination, you can find resort-style properties across the Keys: 

• Playa Largo Resort & Spa sits on over 14 acres in Key Largo, with a resort-style pool
• Oceans Edge Key West is the largest hotel on the island with ocean-front views, plus six swimming pools

South of Los Angeles, San Diego’s weather, with its endless blue skies and ocean breezes, makes it one of the best beach spring break destinations for families. Pair that with its endless supply of family-friendly entertainment, such as amusement parks, and families flock to San Diego. It's also home to a premier zoo, rockpooling, and seasonal whale tours for the animal-loving families. 

Best of San Diego for families 

Beach-loving families will find miles of beaches, such as Coronado Island, home to wide beaches and anchored by the historic Hotel del Coronado.

The rocky section of San Diego’s coastline is teeming with seal rookeries and rock pools. La Jolla Cove is a favorite with sea lions and seals. Whale migration is another top activity with guided boat cruises from autumn to spring. 

For animal lovers, the San Diego Zoo is a 100-acre wildlife park that pioneered cageless, naturalistic habitats with over 12,000 rare animals, such as the Giant Pandas and koalas. The zoo is also an accredited botanical garden and arboretum. Located in Balboa Park, it's a 1,200-acre urban park with more than 17 museums. 

A sister location to the zoo, the San Diego Wildlife Safari is located in Escondido. Families can explore this 1,800-acre wildlife sanctuary with over 3,000 animals from more than 300 species in free-roaming savanna habitats. It caters to animals from arid African and Asian environments, like rhinos, camels, giraffes, and lions, and families can take the 30-minute Africa Tram to tour the wildlife safari. 

San Diego’s family-friendly amusement parks 

Amusement parks are top attractions for families and San Diego offers several:

• Sesame Place San Diego is a place for the youngest travelers, centered around the favorite characters like Elmo, Big Bird, and Bert and Ernie. It features a seasonal water park, best for toddlers and preschoolers.
• Belmont Park is a historic amusement park on the sand with a wooden roller coaster.  

San Diego’s historical and cultural attractions

You can add a couple of historical or cultural stops to your itinerary while in San Diego:

• Cabillo National Monument includes an interpretive area detailing the early European exploration of North America. You’ll also find a lighthouse, seasonal whale watching, and tide pools. 
• U.S.S Midway Museum, the longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century, is located at Navy Pier and open for tours.
• Old Town San Diego State Historic Park preserves adobe buildings from the 1820s to the 1870s and includes living history demonstrations. 

Top tip: If visiting several attractions, you can consider bundling your tickets with one of several excursion passes.

Family-friendly properties in San Diego 

 You can book a beachfront property during your visit, like one of these:

• Kona Kai Resort & Spa, a Noble House Resort, is located on Shelter Island with an outdoor pool and a private beach, plus it’s close to the airport
• Loews Coronado Bay Resort is on Coronado Island, with three pools, and is within walking distance to the beach

Spring is the ideal time to visit San Antonio with its mild weather and warm hospitality. San Antonio offers a mix of historic sites, such as The Alamo, amusement parks and the River Walk, where families can dine while watching colorful river barges float by. With its pleasant weather and mix of family-friendly activities, it's one of the best U.S. spring break destinations for families.

If you're visiting after Easter, you might be in town for its annual 10-day city-wide celebration: Fiesta San Antonio. There will be several parades and cascarones, or colorful confetti-filled eggs, which you crack over loved ones’ heads. 

Top places to visit in San Antonio 

San Antonio’s history dates back over 300 years and you can visit historic sites close to downtown:

• The Alamo tells the story of Texas Independence through historical tours discussing the Battle of the Alamo
• The River Walk is a pedestrian walkway one level below the street level, lined with tropical plants as it horseshoes through Downtown San Antonio
• The San Antonio Missions, a group of five Spanish Missions including the Alamo, were built in the 1700s and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Top tip: You can consider a CityPASS if you want to visit several top spots. 

San Antonio’s amusement parks

San Antonio is the amusement capital of Texas, with several parks located northwest of downtown, flanked by resort-style properties:

• Six Flags Fiesta Texas is a 200-acre theme park with 12 world-class roller coasters and it also offers rides for younger children. Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, a seasonal water park, is located next door.
• Morgan’s Wonderland is an inclusive amusement park with 25 accessible rides and sensory-friendly experiences. There is an accessible seasonal water park too. 

Top tip: Water parks usually open in late April for weekends only, transitioning to daily in late May through early September. 

Food to sample while in San Antonio

San Antonio is the epicenter of Tex-Mex, which blends the culinary heritage of the Tejano people, Spanish influences and local ingredients. Top dishes are tacos made with beef, chicken, or pork on flour tortillas, nachos, and chili con carne. 

• The River Walk is lined with restaurants, but the iconic Casa Rio, with its bright-colored umbrellas, has served Tex-Mex since 1946.
• The Pearl is anchored by the Culinary Institute of America’s San Antonio campus and Hotel Emma at Pearl on the Riverwalk, and La Gloria is a favorite for Tex-Mex. 
• Historic Market Square is the largest Mexican market in the U.S. La Margarita offers outdoor dining and Mi Terra Cafe and Panaderia is a Tex-Mex icon from 1941.

Family-friendly properties in San Antonio

Families will find larger resort properties north of downtown, close to the amusement parks:

• Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa offers five pools, including a family pool with slides and two 18-hole golf courses on its property
• Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas features a 4-acre water park and three pools with a 27-hole golf course on its grounds

A spring break trip can give your family a well-deserved vacation that everyone can enjoy. After all, spring is an excellent time to spend time together, enjoying a new destination.