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DEL.ICIO.USAre you planning a family-friendly spring break trip?
Tell us where you’re taking the kids.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The weather’s turn for the better earlier this week was a reminder that spring break really isn’t that far away. Most metro school districts will send their students packing no later than April 6 - a mere six weeks from now. That may seem like a lifetime to our children and their teachers, but for parents who haven’t made plans to get away for the break, those six weeks will fly.
If you have the spring break bug and want to plan a last-minute, family-friendly trip, where can you go? Fortunately, we live in a region with lots of options. Many travelers seek southeastern destinations at spring break because our weather in March and April is generally mild.
If you don’t want a major week-long adventure, you can save on airfare, take a short drive, stay a few days, and still enjoy downtime at home before school starts again. Our spring break getaways are often only three to five days, including travel time.
Here are a few ideas I have had for possible breaks this spring…
Beach-bound - Let’s face it, spring break is usually your first chance each year to get out and enjoy the sand, surf and sun. Water temps may not be as warm as you might prefer for sea bathing, but you can usually wade in a little by early April. It’s also nice to sit on the beach and build your sand castles without that sweltering summer heat. It difficult to list all of the great family-friendly beaches within Atlantans’ easy reach, but check out Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, Ala. or Myrtle Beach, SC (even though it also attracts college students) as options with plenty of family activities on and off the beach.
Indoor water parks - If you really want to break in your new swimsuit this spring break without freezing your behind in chilly ocean waters, head to the mountains of eastern Tennessee, where you’ll find resorts with huge indoor water parks to entertain you and the kids over spring break. Check out these deals at Wild Bear Falls Resort in Gatlinburg and Wilderness at the Smokies in Sevierville as possibilities.
City exploration - I have always enjoyed exploring big and small cities, and spring break is a good time to check out some of our neighboring metropolitan areas. A couple of examples…
A short drive up I-75 takes you to Chattanooga, Tenn. and its many family-friendly attractions - Rock City and Ruby Falls on Lookout Mountain; the Tennessee Aquarium; the Chattanooga Choo-Choo; and a very pleasant and walk-able riverfront district. Depending on when your break occurs, you could also enjoy a minor league baseball game in early spring at the AA Chattanooga Lookouts’ stadium.
Even if you don’t have tickets to the Masters Golf Tournament, you can check out the tournament’s home city of Augusta, Ga. While the city goes ga ga for golf during the first full week of April, visitors can enjoy the shops, restaurants,historic sites and museums along the Riverwalk at any time.
If you want to go further, you may find a deal on air travel, as spring break fares are reported to be down by about nine percent over last year. Tickets from Atlanta to domestic, Mexican and Caribbean destinations are averaging $249 instead of 2008’s $273.
Where are you headed for spring break? Do you go for the entire week or just a few days? Does your idea for a spring getaway mesh with your kids’ expectations for the break? Have you found any great deals for this spring break? Where did you go on your favorite family spring break?
And, once you’re there, we want to know about your trip! Send your spring break photos
Permalink | Comments (18) | Post your comment | Categories: Southeast travel
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By Jinya
February 18, 2009 8:50 AM | Link to this
Every spring break my 4 or 5 girlfriends take our combined 10 to 12 kids on a 4 or 5 day Spring Break trip. The first year, we went to Myrtle Beach and stayed in highrise condo on the beach with an indoor waterpark for the kids. Last year, we went to Orlando and rented a house with a pool and went to the new water park in Orlando and went to Daytona to the beach one day. This year, we are going to Pananma City and staying in condo on the beach similiar to the one in Myrtle Beach. We have alot of funs. The mama’s cook and enjoy adult beverages and the kids have fun spending time with thier closest friends. We caravan in our SUV’s and roll out!!!
By Jeff
February 18, 2009 9:07 AM | Link to this
You can get cruises as short as 3 days as well…
By Mayretter local
February 18, 2009 9:48 AM | Link to this
good times on the panhandle again for us, tucked away from all the crowds and booming bass. try the West end of PCB instead of Thomas Drive and the overcrowded Destin and all that. or South Walton County / 30A area.
and for all the complainers, you just don’t know where to stay on our slice of heaven that is the Emerald Coast.
By Kids stink
February 18, 2009 10:20 AM | Link to this
Why not leave the rug rats at home? Kids always ruin everything anywhere they go anyhow. Kids shouldn’t be seen or heard!
By Diane
February 18, 2009 10:22 AM | Link to this
Don’t forget Noah’s Ark, just 35 miles south of Atlanta - no admission, just donations - and over 1,000 animals including monkeys, tigers, wolves, lions, bears, etc.
By Carol Weaver
February 18, 2009 1:51 PM | Link to this
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are good family choices. The zoo is very kid-friendly. The mini golf and the water park are fun for the tweens. Fort Morgan is fun to explore. And a short drive to Mobile lets you tour the USS Alabama battleship; or a drive to Pensacola for the Navy Museum - the guys love the military stuff. And Foley is nearby for the mandatory vacation shopping.
By Resa
February 18, 2009 6:24 PM | Link to this
My kids will have the joy of staying home due to all the union contracts expiring for my company on April 4th. Managers are you stay..so my kids stay.
By KHG
February 19, 2009 7:30 AM | Link to this
HOW ABOUT STAYING HOME AND SPEND SPRING BREAK DOING SPRING CLEANING. KIDS DO NOT HAVE TO BE ENTERTAINED WHENEVER THEY ARE NOT IN SCHOOL. TEACH SOME RESPONSIBILITY.
By KJP
February 19, 2009 10:57 AM | Link to this
Resa right there with you! I really hope a deal happens so my kids can have a spring break.
By SAS
February 19, 2009 11:39 AM | Link to this
KHG I agree with you! They get enough breaks why should it cost me anything?
By Dewaine
February 19, 2009 12:38 PM | Link to this
I always took my kids out to Florida to go to Disney or Universal when they were kids since they have an absentee mother. Someone had to be there for them.
By ninga
February 20, 2009 8:46 PM | Link to this
We usually pick a state park and camp or stay in a cottage. We take our bikes and our softball/baseball equipment. We have a low cost vacation and we get our exercise in as well.
By Don
February 21, 2009 8:21 AM | Link to this
Every spring break, my college-age son comes from Georgia to see me in Seattle. While all his friends are partying at the beach and chasing bikinis, we take a week-long trip into the Cascades backcountry climbing. We spend our time together where people are scarce. I save all year to fly him out here. We drive an hour and a half, then backpack in a couple of days, so most of the week is spent under human power. Who needs all that other stuff?
By JuJu B
February 21, 2009 9:23 AM | Link to this
How could I forget! Having kids is “terrible”! We should lock them in a closet until they can get a corporate job, pay taxes and start contributing to society! “Look, we made cute little yuppies!”
If you aren’t planning a family-friendly vacation, go back to work and sit in your cube!
YUPPPIES should not be seen or heard!
By Brenda
February 21, 2009 9:55 AM | Link to this
Every year since she’s been living w/us, my stepdaughter has gone on spring break. This year will be different. Her dad and I are getting married in March, her Spring Break falls in April and she will be staying home while we go on our honeymoon. I guess you can say she will have one, here, away from us! :)
By FCM
February 21, 2009 10:45 AM | Link to this
Spring Break will be spent in Camp. I would rather take the kids out of school for a vacation when the other families are at home. NO LINES, NO CROWDS, and it can be more relaxing and focused on just US.
By catlady
February 21, 2009 12:21 PM | Link to this
I recommend letting your kids volunteer their time during Spring Break. Mine did yard work for elderly neighbors and helped deliver meals on wheels. They got a lot more (long term) out of using their time like that than being self-indulgent. To each his own, however.
By Sarah M
February 24, 2009 5:19 PM | Link to this
I am a mother of two teenage kids. Since 1999 we have traveled to Hilton Head Island for a quick spring break trip, however this year when I was searching online for packages I stumbled across an offer for a summer retreat in Hilton Head for families looking for a healthy vacation. In reading about it, we decided to hold off on the annual spring trip to Hilton Head and plan on taking a family vacation there for the week of 4th of July. The vacation package is not the typical eat lots food, fun in the sun at the beach. But having two teenagers with weight issues, I decided it is best to take a healthy family vacation and work together to improve the quality of our lives. I have yet to break the news- we’ll see how it goes…