5 Uncommon Spring Break Trips for Adventurous Families

Let’s face it—spring break gets a bad wrap these days. Maybe it was MTV’s doing. Maybe it was Disney Land. Maybe it’s just a logistical reality and the ease that comes from renting a beach house and piling the kids into the minivan for seven straight days of the same old tan-and-swim routine. The fact is, about 57% of Americans plan to travel during spring break. More than 40% of U.S. adults are traveling with three generations of family members. And 5 of the top 10 most popular domestic spring break destinations are cities in Florida.

Translation: lots of families do the exact same thing.

If you’re looking to break the mold—whether spring skiing or sand dune surfing—then you’ve come to the right place. Here are 5 uncommon spring break trip ideas for road trip lovin’, powder stash chasin’, backpack trudgin’, sandstone scalin’, whitewater raftin’ families that want to get off the beaten path this spring break.

Sandboard the Great Sand Dunes

If you want to ditch the beach but stick with sand, then Southern Colorado’s got your back. Nestled in the shadow of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Great Sand Dunes National Park(Se abre en una nueva ventana) is a place where wind, water, sediment, and thousands of years of geologic time have slammed against each other in the slowest, most beautiful collision ever. The tallest dunes in North America, these shapeshifting giants of tiny granular beads reach heights of 700+ feet. Pair that with 14,000-foot snowcaps in the distance and you’ve got yourself a recipe for a dang pretty postcard. 

But vistas and views aren't what draw people here. It’s the choose-your-own adventure that the dunes provide—for all ages! There aren’t any designated trails to the top of Star Dune (though there are footprint suggestions). No rules against (on-leash) dogs like many other national parks. You can huff and puff your way up for sixty minutes, then sprint down in sixty seconds. You can sandboard and sled. Or, if you really can’t shake the feeling that “spring break” and “beach” are synonymous, then you can roll up with a beach chair and lounge next to Medano Creek and the “beach” formed at the base of the dunes. Whatever you choose, Great Sand Dunes is one of those family trips that anyone, but especially young impressionable kids, will remember forever.

Road Trip Through the PNW

The Pacific Northwest is ridiculous. The geographic diversity, the multi-sport variety, the sheer friggin’ beauty. For families wanting a full-send experience, Oregon and Washington and Northern California deliver the most epic adventure sampler of all time. Where else can you experience misty sea stacks, lush rainforests, snowy volcanoes, and a veritable corridor of showstopping waterfalls(Se abre en una nueva ventana)? 

And the best way to experience this region for families is by road. We’re not talking about one of those “are we there yet” type of road trips. We’re talking an action-packed tour of the PNW’s most breathtaking outdoor destinations. From north to south, key can’t-miss highlights include: Olympic National Park, Seattle, and Mount Rainier National Park in Washington; the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood, and Crater Lake in Oregon; and Redwood National Park(Se abre en una nueva ventana) in California. 

Spring Skiing at a Nostalgic Resort

Forget the crowded winter holidays. Skip the long lift lines of long weekends in January and February. Spring skiing is where it’s really at. Especially when you opt for a resort with old-school vibes(Se abre en una nueva ventana), cheaper lift tickets, and plenty of late-season snow. 

The best part for families? Your offspring—from elementary school mini-shredders to college aged mini-adults who’ve flown the coop and you haven’t seen all semester—will typically get an entire week off at some point in March or April. Which means the slopes are practically begging you to make a family trip of it. 

Backpack a Section of the Appalachian Trail

If you want to introduce your kids to the joys (and challenges) of overnight backpacking, there are few places in the world better suited to it than the Appalachian Trail. The A.T. is especially appealing for a couple of reasons: 1) It’s seasonally forgiving in springtime, and 2) It’s topographically forgiving, too—especially for families with young-ish kids. With elevations never reaching above 7,000 ft and rarely over 5,000 ft, you won’t have to worry about things like altitude perils or the weather that comes with it. 

Another perk of the A.T. is its stellar backcountry shelter system. There are about 250 shelters located along the 2,200 mile trail, which are spaced out on average by about 8 miles (aka, a perfect distance for adventure tykes). Finally, the scenic and geographic diversity of the Appalachian Trail means you’ve got near-lifetime access to a new section each time—whether it’s the misty old-growth rainforests of the Smokies or the guaranteed black bear sightings of the Shenandoah or even the rocky ridges of Pennsylvania. If your family really wants to forge something unique and memorable, you can even commit to becoming full-fledged section hikers over the years, hiking a new section each year until you’ve completed the entire trail. (That might be a lot of spring break trips though!)

Multi-Day Canoe Camping Trip

If your family is ready to swap routine for rivers and screens for scenery, a spring break canoe trip is the ultimate call to the wild. A multi-day canoe camping trip(Se abre en una nueva ventana) offers adventurous families an unparalleled spring break experience, immersing them in an adventure that requires equal parts teamwork, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the environment. 

A few bucket list spring break river trips include:

Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia

The scenery here is breathtaking, both cypress forests and open prairies. Families can navigate the serene waterways, marvel at the diverse wildlife, and spend nights at stilted dock shelters, which you can book up to two months in advance. It's an exceptional way to experience the swamp's breathtaking scenery and its inhabitants up close.

Buffalo River, Arkansas

Floating the Buffalo is one of the finest paddling adventures in the country, with numerous sections to choose from along its 151-mile long slither through the Ozarks. Arguably the best stretch is the 24-mile section from Ponca to Pruitt, which packs in the Buffalo’s iconic blue waters and bluffs and views of the epic Hemmed-In Hollow waterfall.

Greenbrier River, West Virginia

An annual tradition for many, the Greenbrier River trip offers 70 miles of nearly untouched natural beauty. From March to June, the river's gentle class 2 and 3 rapids provide just enough excitement for a memorable adventure. Surrounded by Watoga State Park and the Greenbrier River Trail, families can enjoy free camping, exceptional fishing, and sightings of eagles, all without much need for portage. 

Final Word

So, there you have it—five off-the-beaten-path spring break trips that laugh in the face of the typical. From sandboarding in Colorado to road tripping in the PNW, here’s to getting your hands dirty, your feet wet, and your spirit shaken from its slumber. Happy travels!