Last-Minute Spring Break Destinations for Families
March 12, 2020
With many overseas vacations and cruises being canceled due to coronavirus, many families are now stuck making last-minute spring break plans. Stay stateside this spring break and enjoy thrilling theme parks, blooming gardens, snowy slopes, and sandy beaches. Here are four fun last-minute spring break destinations for families
Silver Dollar City and Branson, Missouri
Nestled in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, Branson, Missouri offers plenty of spring break fun for families. Silver Dollar City, a 1880s-style theme park, opens for its “Spring Ride Days” on March 17. Beginning April 8 and continuing through April 26, the park’s annual Festival of Wonder is a three-week entertainment experience that features larger-than-life dance, music, and art performances. The excitement will continue later this spring when Silver Dollar City makes a historic splash by debuting Mystic River Falls, the tallest raft ride in the Western Hemisphere.
Also in Branson, the Shepherd of the Hills Adventure Park features zip lines, a ropes course, ATV adventure and canopy zipline tours, in addition to a new on-site restaurant. Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa & Convention Center is offering a “Suite Family Deal” through April 20. The package includes 25% off an Ambassador Suite, nightly movies in the on-site movie theater, access to the pool and up to two children under five can eat free with a paying adult.
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama is a slice of paradise located right on the Gulf Coast. 32 miles of sugar-white sandy beaches, coupled with the clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico, make it the perfect destination for families looking to relax this spring break.
Visitors can take a break from school but still learn with a lemur during an animal encounter at the brand-new location of the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, expected to open in March. The zoo’s new location offers a much larger home to 500 animals representing 118 different animal species, 22 of which are critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, or near-threatened species.
Stay at the family-friendly Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, an independently owned hotel that has no resort fees and offers free Wi-Fi, free valet or self-parking, free access to the on-site fitness center, a large pool, on-site water sport rentals, and three incredible restaurants.
Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Dolly Parton’s theme park in Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains celebrates family every day of the year. This spring ushers in the park’s Festival of Nations festivities, which begin March 14 and continue through April 20, offering guests a journey around the globe through traditional music, dance, food, and art from a variety of countries.
Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, which is located next door to Dollywood, offers family-friendly amenities and spectacular mountain views. Families can also select from a variety of luxurious Smoky Mountain Cabins with an option to add the “Length of Stay Pass” that includes unlimited visits to Dollywood during the entire cabin stay.
Beaver Creek, Colorado
Overlooking the scenic Beaver Creek Mountain, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek is a luxury mountain Colorado Resort and Spa where you can live out an incredible spring break experience with the whole family. From bluebird day skiing and snowboarding to sleigh rides, ice skating, and snowshoeing, spring is the ideal time to escape to Colorado.
In addition to outdoor adventures or a family dip in the heated pool and fireside s’mores and signature hot cocoa, Park Hyatt’s family offerings include the “Ivy League of Ski Schools”: Children can learn to ski with the Beaver Creek Children’s Ski School as young as 3 years old. In between hitting the slopes, families can also enjoy dog sledding, sleigh rides to on-mountain dinners, and children’s programs at the Vilar Performing Arts Center.
Beaver Creek Extraordinaire presents Bloom transforms the charming village into a snowy spring garden with beautiful flower displays, pop-up sock hops, fresh-picked food events, and interactive movie showings that will delight the whole family from 3 PM – 6 PM, so you can ski off the mountain and into this enchanting spring celebration.
