Travel Inspiration: Five Spring Break Family Travel Ideas

Is the rain and the snow and the darkness getting to you? One of the things I do to get out of a funk is to plan my next family vacation (Ok full disclosure, I am always planning my next vacation or family trip). I love talking travel and helping others plan vacations. So here we go, here are 5 ideas to help inspire your spring break getaway.

Hawaii Aloha
Hawaii is one of our favourite family getaways. From the west coast, it is a nice direct flight, and on arrival it is instant relaxation. From the open air airport, to the welcoming nature of those who make the Hawaiian Islands their home, it is an oasis for all visitors. Hawaii is a good introduction to the exotic, without having to stray from the United States. English is spoken by all, renting a car and driving the island is no different from renting a car in Canada or other US States and if you forgot anything at home, chances are you can find it at Costco, or the many grocery and drug stores. Hawaii is great for children of all ages, from newborns to teens. While newborns are happy to hang out in mom or dad’s arms as they lounge in the sand, teenagers can snorkel, swim and surf in the year-round warm water.

Disneyland The Happiest Place on Earth
Do you wonder if your child is too young for Disney? Well, in my opinion, the answer is No! Different aged children make for different types of trips. While babies are happy most of the day in a carrier or stroller, parents can take turns with rider-swap so they both can enjoy the thrill rides. If you have a busy toddler, there are lots of places where you can find some room to let them run around. While line-ups were my biggest concern having a 2 year old at Disney, he did amazingly well. Disney knows how to move people, and with the line almost always moving, we didn't go crazy! And the characters! See the faces of your preschoolers and young children as they see the smiling ace of their favourite character waving in front of them! (and hey, your teenager might want a hug from a childhood favourite too!) For some, the characters make the trip, so check out the Disneyland App and schedule your day around some character appearances. If you are travelling with school aged children, Disneyland is their playground. Whether it is thrill seeking rides, or parades or taking in the magic of the evening fireworks, there is something for everyone to do. Disneyland is also offering discounted tickets to Canadians until February, making it a little easier on the wallet!

London and Beyond
With so many schools having two weeks for spring break it is the perfect time to fly over to Europe. With direct flights from many airports in North America, it is not as scary as it sounds to fly across the pond! London is a great starting place for your European travels, it is an English speaking start, yet you can get yourself to Paris in only 2.5 hours by train! While the weather is not yet ideal in much of Europe, there are less crowds than in the peak summer months, so you can get on the front seat of a double decker bus, or get to the front of the room to see the Mona Lisa in the Louvre in Paris. There are so many itinerary options in Europe, with little ones, I suggest only visiting a few cities, so you can have more of a home base to travel from. We love renting a flat and getting to know a local neighbourhood as we explore for a week or so than chasing hotel rooms each night.

Jordan The Rose City
You may wonder why I am suggesting you visit the Middle East despite the instability in some of Jordan’s neighbouring countries. But I will tell you, Jordan is NOT at ALL what you may think it is. A progressively Muslim country, it is safe, friendly and has some amazing history to share with your children. I visited with my 5 and 3-year-old last fall and we had the trip of a lifetime. While a 7-day tour was a little too rushed for the little guys, you can see so much of the diverse country in a week. From the ancient roman ruins in Jerash, the second most well preserved site outside of Rome, to covering yourself in mud and floating in the Dead Sea, to Petra, well, visiting Petra is out of this world! Spring is a good time to visit weather wise, where in the summer months, the heat can be excruciating.

Mexico Cheers to You
Known for its all-inclusive options, and variety of activities to keep everyone entertained all day and night, Mexican resorts are popular Spring Break vacation destinations! For the little ones, there are kid’s clubs, the pool, the beach, and many resorts have play grounds and water parks. For older kids and teens, the freedom to wander the resort, lounge by the pool listening to music or swim in the ocean will occupy them. Moms and Dads can take advantage of the all-inclusive drink menu and know that once they arrive, all costs have been taken care of!

Feeling overwhelmed? It can be stressful to book your first holiday. Consider popping into a travel agent and have them take care of everything for you. I am also happy to share any travel advice or answer any questions, feel free to contact me anytime! I am always happy to talk travel.

Lindsay is a freelance writer, photographer, lifetime traveller and a lover of learning. She resides in Langley with her husband and two sons and you will likely find her on the soccer field she she is not jet setting abroad. Follow her family travel adventures at www.carpediemourway.com