Where to Have a Family-Friendly Spring Break

By Michele Shapiro

Spring break: school's out and the temperature's rising. Spring is an ideal time for you and the clan to go exploring. So, pile into the minivan to visit a nearby city, or fly somewhere on your collective bucket list. Like it hot? Hit the beach! Cold? Many ski slopes still have great conditions. You can even use the hiatus to lend a helping hand. Whatever your interest might be, these ideas will help you score an A+ in vacation planning from the entire family.



Go Free in D.C.

The vibrant blossoms of the cherry trees lining the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. make spring an especially magical time to visit. The appearance of the gorgeous pink flowers varies each year, depending on the weather conditions, but the flowers tend to begin blooming between late March and early April and last as long as a couple of weeks. And, of course, the city abounds in other free activities, like visits to the Lincoln Memorial and the fascinating Smithsonian museums.

Get Sandy

It may still be chilly up north, but it's not too early to hit the beaches of the southern states. While some towns traditionally attract party-hearty college students, plenty of others—like Jupiter, Florida and Gulf Shores, Alabama—come tailor-made for families.

Hint: Pick a resort with a robust kids' program. You'll have more time for yourself.

Help Out

A great way to bond as a family is to get behind a cause together. One option is to sign up with a group like The Sierra Club, the nation's largest grassroots environmental organization. The Sierra Club lets you volunteer to do things like maintaining hiking trails or creating animal habitats.

Bring History to Life

Learn about the past (without school books) by visiting historic buildings and battlefields. Natchez, Mississippi, for example, boasts more preserved antebellum structures than any other city in the South. You can also tour Civil War sites in places like Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and Manassas, Virginia or walk Boston's Freedom Trail, where you and the kids can learn about Paul Revere's ride.

Visit a National Park

With pleasant temperatures and thinner crowds than in summer, spring is an ideal time to commune with nature at a national park. (Bonus: The parks offer one day of complimentary entry during National Park Week in April.) Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, has 187,000 acres of old-growth forest. You also can't beat the views from Shenandoah National Park's Skyline Drive in Virginia. Out west, explore the rocky canyons of New Mexico's Bandelier National Monument or Utah's Zion National Park.

Hit the Slopes

Grab your board or skis. From east coast to west, spring skiing can be great, and many lifts continue to hum through mid-April or even later. (Oregon's Mount Hood is skiable virtually year-round.) Need a refresher? Take a lesson. And keep an eye out for resorts offering family packages, which may include discounts on lodging and even free skiing for the little ones.

Feel at Home on the Range

At a dude ranch, you and the family can ride the trails together or horse around. From Texas to Montana, flex your thigh muscles with a horseback ride through meadows awakening with flowers. Stay at a working ranch, and you can experience the cowboy life. Help out with a cattle drive, or watch ranchers rope and brand cattle.

Hit Up a Theme Park

Sure, you may have to brave some serious crowds, but theme parks offer memorable fun for the whole family. Thrill rides, parades, festivals, and plenty of food make them a great option whether you're heading to Orlando, Anaheim, or any of the parks throughout the country.

Before you hit the road, give yourself some peace of mind with an auto policy or RV insurance from Geico.com.

This article was originally published by GEICO.

Opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of WITI.