A lot of expectations get bundled into a family vacation, especially spring break. It can be a challenge not only to find a destination that satisfies everyone, but also to wedge that trip within the particular week that children have off from school.
“Spring break needs to feel good by day one, not day three,” said Kristin Diehl of Kristin Diehl Travel, an affiliate of the luxury travel agency SmartFlyer, and a mother of two.
With those kinds of expectations, lounging by the pool goes only so far. There needs to be a payoff for kids and adults — and those in between. “Teenagers are a special class of their own and require an added layer of entertainment,” said Maria Diego, a mother of three, including a teenager, and founder of Diego Travel, part of the Virtuoso network.
From dolphin watching to zip-lining to teens-only clubs, here are five warm-weather destinations with plenty of adventure for everyone in the family, whatever your family wants.
We Want a City Break: San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio has a lot going for it when it comes to families, starting with the River Walk, which meanders along the San Antonio River for about 15 miles. The downtown stretch is flanked by 100-year-old cypress trees, restaurants and shops, and you can take a narrated boat ride ($15.50; children 5 and under, $9.50) to learn some local history and ease tired feet.
The southern reach of the River Walk leads to the Alamo, a critical site during the Texas Revolution (free entry to the church; tours and experiences are available), and four other preserved missions.
Other fun spots include the DoSeum ($18 entrance), where math and science meet crafts and playtime in 90,000 square feet of interactive galleries and outdoor space (plus a “Calm Corner” for anyone needing a moment). A more mature, but still family-friendly experience is Hopscotch ($24 adults; $15 kids age 4 to 15), which features interactive installations created by artists.
If your family is seeking visual stimulation come nighttime, head to the San Fernando Cathedral for “The Saga,” a free light show, Tuesdays through Sundays.
For science buffs, visit the dinosaur exhibits, deep sea creatures and geological artifacts at the Witte Museum ($17 adults; $16 teens; $11 children age 4 to 12), or explore the city’s cave system at Natural Bridge Caverns (from $28.75 for adults; $18.75 for children). If the underground formations don’t impress enough, the aboveground ropes course and zip rails will ($27; $9 for children under four feet).
Street-style tacos and some of the city’s favorite margaritas can be found at La Gloria, and the artsy Pearl District’s Pullman Market has burgers, ice cream and more. Fairfield Inn & Suites Alamo Plaza (from $87) has a free breakfast buffet, and there’s a rooftop pool at the all-suites Hotel Contessa (from $227).
Give Us Art, and the Beach: Laguna Beach, Calif.
The artistic legacy of Laguna Beach can still be felt in its compact downtown, with more than 100 galleries and California’s oldest museum, the Laguna Art Museum (adults $15; children free). The Museum of Make Believe offers a whimsical journey through a storybook created by local artists ($15 adults; $10 children age 12 and under). Public art, mostly sculptures and murals, abounds along a half-mile path through Heisler Park, overlooking the ocean. If you’re in town on the first Thursday of the month, explore the free Art Walk, which has a trolley linking some 40 galleries.
Along the shore, play in the tidal pools at Crystal Cove, a three-mile-long state park in next-door Newport Beach. You can get close to the huge dolphin population off Laguna on a kayak tour ($90 per person) or go whale-watching (from $36 adults; $28 age 12 and under). The coast can even be enjoyed inland. Drive the winding Park Avenue to Alta Laguna Park, which has views from the Top of the World lookout point and hiking trail.
Grab burgers at AhbA, tacos at Bear Flag Fish Co., fish and chips and watermelon juice at the Lost Pier Café on the beach, and get a “Parent Trap” ice cream bar at South Swell.
You’ll find surfer vibes and nightly milk and cookies at Laguna Beach House (from $259 per night) and video games at 14 West (from $102 per night) add extra fun.
We Need an Island to Explore: St. Lucia
St. Lucia may be known as a honeymooner’s destination, but there are plenty of activities that appeal to all ages. The unique landscape can help guide you.
Take the one-kilometer Tet Paul Nature Trail ($10 entry fee) for stunning views of the two volcanic peaks called the Pitons. Pigeon Island ($10 adults; $3 children), off the northern shore, offers another easy hike with relics from an old fort, along with two beaches and a waterside restaurant.
At Sulphur Springs Park, near the town of Soufriere on the southwestern coast, you can drive up to the bubbling mud pools and fumaroles of the island’s dormant volcano. The main attraction is the hot springs ($12, adults; $6, children), where you can rub the mineral-rich mud all over your body — providing relaxation for the adults and playtime for the kids.
The Rabot Estate offers a one-hour tour of its working cacao farm ($69 adults; $34.50 children age 8 to 11), where you can make your own chocolate bar. Several outfitters offer horseback-riding on the beach, kite-surfing lessons and zip-lining. For edible adventures, stop by the roadside bakery Plas Kassav in Canaries, for bread made from cassava, or Creole dishes at Claudia’s Kitchen, which also has cooking classes available.
Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa (from $1,000) on the west coast has access to the Splash Island Water Park, a giant floating obstacle course, and an all-inclusive option. The Landings Resort and Spa has a club for children and special programming for teenagers (from $914).
An Enormous Water Park Sounds Good: Atlantis, the Bahamas
Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island is so big that it’s practically its own village, with five hotels, 40 restaurants and bars, five miles of beaches, a casino, a 141-acre water park and more. The Coral offers the most budget- and family-friendly rooms, starting at $389.
The epic Aquaventure includes high-speed water slides, lazy-river rides and 14 pools. Dolphin Cay offers opportunities to view and interact with dolphins, stingrays and other marine life (starting at $75). There’s a mini-golf course ($40 adults; $20 children age 5 to 12) and a teen club with air hockey, gaming consoles and D.J.s (entry from $18.75). For younger kids, Atlantis Kids Adventure brings together crafts and water activities (from $65). For adults? Maybe a respite in the 2,000-volume library.
Dining options at Atlantis also offer something for everyone, including Italian at Paranza, seafood at Fish by José Andrés and coffee and cocktails at the Dilly Club.
Beyond the resort, you can rent paddle boats, water bikes, kayaks and snorkeling gear, and get a taste of local culture at the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas ($10 adults; under 12, free). The Queen’s Staircase and Fort Charlotte offer history lessons, and you can see flamingos and parrots at Ardastra Gardens & Wildlife Conservation Center ($35, adults; $25, children 4 to 12). While you’re out, try some local flavors, like jerk at Junior’s Jerk Pit ($18 for the chicken and pork combo) in Straw Market and conch fritters at Drifters at Da’Fry ($4, small; $8, large).
Beach or Jungle, We Can’t Decide: Costa Rica
If there’s a divide in the family between jungle or beach, you’re in luck: Costa Rica is small enough to do both.
Start in the Alajuela Province, northwest of San José, where the 5,437-foot Arenal Volcano dominates. Between traversing lava trails, hot springs, zip-lines and hanging bridges, and going white-water rafting or horseback riding, there’s an embarrassment of enticing activities. You can book a tour guide through companies like Anywhere Travel Agency and My Costa Rica.
From Arenal, head south along the coast on Route 34 to the central Pacific Coast and pull over at the Tárcoles Bridge to see crocodiles sunbathing below. Manuel Antonio ($16; $5, children 2 to 12), a national park about 50 miles farther south, is home to sloths, squirrel monkeys and other wildlife. You can also take surfing lessons (starting at $50 for 90 minutes).
To fuel up for these adventures, there’s a children’s menu at Mira Olas, or you can climb into the cockpit of an old C-123 and catch the ocean views while eating garlic shrimp or veggie fajitas at El Avion.
About an hour farther still is Marino Ballena National Park in Uvita ($6). Besides beaches and wildlife, the great attraction is Cola de Ballena, a giant whale-tail-shaped sandbar formed by converging ocean currents.
Uvita and the nearby towns Ojochal and Domincal have sweeping beaches, and plenty of surf schools, backed up against rolling green mountains. Stay at the Villas Rio Mar (from $227, including breakfast) or Lamangata Luxury Surf Resort (starting at $695 per night for three people; $1,299 for the all-inclusive option).
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