Spring Break Family Vacations - Top Destinations

Spring Break may be a rite of passage for college students and young adults but it is also a time when families get to take their vacations together. Winter is just ending and a Spring Break Family Vacation is just what is in order to shake off the cobwebs and get back to what is really important; quality family time.

Below is a list of top destinations that are family friendly. They may not be completely devoid of college age debauchery, but they are certainly not the destinations that are frequently attributed in Girls Gone Wild videos.

Orlando, FL is the number one travel destination in the world. It is also one of the most affordable places to travel in the United States. There are lush Disney Resorts and off the beaten path hotels just outside of Orlando and only a few miles from all of the attractions. T

Things to do:

• Disney World - With 6 theme parks to choose from(Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Typhoon Lagoon, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Blizzard Beach), tickets range from $24 to $74 directly from Disney online or you can try and find some good deals on Disney tickets on Ebay. My sister and her family purchased tickets with a non expiration date; one at a time from a local Disney store location, and it was a good way to prepare for their vacation.

• Universal Studios - There are 2 theme parks (Universal Studios and Island Adventures) with prices ranging from $73 for a 1 day 1 park ticket to $99 for a 2 day 2 park tickets (of course this is the better deal). You can get their tickets online at the Universal Orlando website.

• Sea World Adventure Park - There are 3 theme parks to choose from (Sea Word, Discovery Cove, and Aquatics). Ticket prices range from $78 for a 1 day 1 park ticket to $279 for an Orlando Flex Ticket Plus that will get you 14 days to explore 6 theme parks (Island Adventures, Aquatica, Sea World, Busch Gardents, Universal Studios, and Wet-n-Wild). The Discovery Cove tickets are not included in this package. Check out their ticket packages online here.

Tips:

• Stay at a hotel that offers free transportation to and from the parks because all of the parks charge a parking fee.

• Choose a hotel that has a kitchenette because there will be nights, or days, where you just want to stay in.

• Try not to cram too many parks in one day. Certainly there will be occasions for return visitors that just want to visit just a few attractions within a park and it’s a good idea for those people to purchase a hopper pass.

• Plan you trip well in advance, there are so many things to do and see in Orlando, it’s almost impossible to see and do them all in a one week vacation.

• Remember, vacations are supposed to be relaxing, so have a good time.

Just an hour’s drive east of Orlando, Cocoa Beach is an affordable recreation and leisure getaway.  The beach is long, clean and family friendly.  The waves are gentle and perfect for learning how to surf.

Just south of Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach is a great place to relax before or after going on a cruise.  Or, if fishing is your thing, there are dozens of charter boats offering partial and full day excursions. 

Want something more land based? Try out one of the area’s 24 golf courses, 5 driving ranges, or even the dozens of miniature golf courses.  Try the Andretti Thrill Park in Melbourne, just a couple miles south and enjoy some go-kart racing, batting cages, bumper boats, laser tag, and the area’s largest arcade with over 200 video game stations.

The pride and joy of Cocoa Beach can be found at the Kennedy Space Center.  If you visit the area you have to visit the Space Center and check out where NASA prepares and launches the space shuttle.  Enjoy the museum qualities of the Space Center and try out the Space Shuttle motion ride or the IMAX movies.  There are several different ticket packages to choose from starting at about $38 and if you are up to it try out the Astronaut Training Experience.

Los Angeles is another one of those places where you can’t expect to do and see everything on the first visit.  As much as you try and as much as you prepare, you are bound to miss some very exciting opportunities.   

Los Angeles is a cross culture of the entire USA and has just about everything a tourist is looking for in a vacation.  Every type of cuisine possible can be found in and around this city and you’ll need plenty of food to fuel your adventure.  Hollywood is what Los Angeles is famous for so be prepared to take a tour of Hollywood Boulevard and the see first hand the stars on the Walk of Fame.  Then take a tour of Universal Studios to get your fill of movie making at its best.

While you are in Hollywood, try to avoid the expensive tours of the stars homes and don’t purchase a “map” of the stars homes, they are mostly bogus.  Instead, try taking the Beverly Hills Trolley and get a discreet historical tour.  When you finish the tour, check out the famous Hollywood Wax Museum and also the La Brea Tar Pits 

Visiting the nation’s capitol has been one of my greatest experiences. I was fortunate enough to take a Spring Break vacation here with 3 of my nephews a few years back and it has been one of our most memorable trips together.

Being an Army Veteran and a history major in college, the trip to D.C. meant more to me than I could ever explain to the boys. We spent five days in the heart of downtown and my personal vehicle only left the hotel parking garage one time on our first night there to visit a pizzeria in Georgetown. You see, D.C. has a great public transportation and a subway station was only one block from our Marriott hotel.

My favorite points of interest were the Smithsonian, the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, the Korean War Veteran’s Memorial, and walking tour of the Arlington National Cemetery and the Changing of the Guard.

My nephews and I both enjoyed the Lincoln Memorial, walking the National Mall and touring the Washington Monument. They especially liked the grounds just outside the White House. There was a huge crowd and one gentleman protester was very much against the Iraq War. He called out to ask “who was the worst president we have ever had?” And my 11 year old nephew yelled back, “George Bush.” The man gave him a button for his shirt and I moved us along. Being the playful uncle that I am, I told them that we needed to be real careful now because the Secret Service was watching us as they watch all the people that were against the president. I would point out guys wearing dark suits and sunglasses and say “SEE?” Well that night I had the best sleep of the whole trip because the boys were too scared to act up... LOL I know, mean, but you gotta do what you gotta do to get some sleep when you have 3 nephews on a vacation.

When people travel to the Twin Cities, Minneapolis/St. Paul, they are in for more fun than expected.  There are many venues for live entertainment, including dinner theaters and sporting events but the biggest draw to the area by far is the Mall of America.

Besides having hundreds of stores and restaurants, the Mall of America has it’s own indoor theme park.  Nickelodeon Universe is located inside the mall and features roller coasters and rides for kids of all ages.  And don’t forget the many opportunities for picture taking with all the Nick Characters. 

When you finish with the rides then go check out the Underwater Adventures Aquarium in the mall and come face to face with over 4,500 sea creatures in the glass tunnel which is 14 feet below the surface.  Watch out for the killer sharks.

When you’re done with the mall, take a little trip the Minnesota Zoo, it’s one of our nation’s largest zoos.  And while you are there don’t forget to check out the IMAX Theater.  Or, if you prefer, go to the Science Museum and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. 

No matter what your itinerary is, you are bound to have fun in Minnesota.