On the Move: How to Spring Break with Kids

1. DESTINATION GPS

An active spring break is location-dependent. So if adventure is what gets your little ones revved, then where you choose to journey is paramount. Favorite active family destinations include the Kohala Coast in Hawaii, Mexico’s Real del Mar, and Costa Rica's Peninsula Papagayo, among others. While in Costa Rica, kiddos may spy howler monkeys and gigantic iguanas meandering down the road, while zip-lining atop nearby jungle canopies is a must. There’s no better active destination for older kids than Kohala Coast, which offers surf lessons, hiking, sailing, snorkeling, and resort scuba certification. Children of all ages will enjoy Real del Mar’s Banderas Bay, where whale watching or a boat trip to the hidden Marietas Islands beach awaits.

2. PLAY WITH A PRO

If wanting to keep the kids on the move, work with your Club Ambassador to learn from the best in the business. Whether your kids will benefit from tennis, surf, or golf lessons, professional instruction is more fun and, most likely, more successful. Many top spring break destinations partner with local athletes to help showcase the area.

3. ELEVATED KIDS CLUBS

Gone are the days of cookie-cutter kids’ clubs. Now when traveling with the family, spring break “camp” has been seriously up-leveled. High-end hotels offer customized and unique family experiences. As an example, at the Montage Laguna Beach, guests 5-12 years of age enjoy adventure and creativity via Paintbox, an activities-based children’s program, while “Montage Merit Badges” are awarded for riding the local Laguna Beach trolley, catching a wave, building a sandcastle, and more.

4. URBAN REMEDY

If a cultural city fix is on the travel calendar, seek out top family attractions. You may be hard-pressed to leave The Club resort or community, but top spring break cities such as San Diego showcase some of the finest aquariums and zoos in the U.S. Even Las Vegas has evolved into a more family-friendly destination, with only-in-Vegas activities like Marvel’s Avengers Station or Shark Reef Aquarium & Beach at Mandalay Bay.

5. KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

Being “active” doesn’t always have to mean sport or outdoor adventure. If the weather calls for a day indoors, or if curious young travelers are aspiring gourmands, many of The Club's locations offer in-residence programs with local chefs. The entire family can learn how to make yummy guacamole, sushi, or pasta, while kiddos are educated on regional ingredients and traditional cooking customs specific to the area. 

6. SKI SCENE

While many families seek out sun and surf for spring break, others are ready to tackle the slopes. The Club’s alpine properties are located in areas with the best ski schools in the country. Group and private lessons offer options for all-level skiers, while many resorts, such as Snowmass in Colorado, also feature nighttime activities catered to kids, like the Snowmass Mountain Collective and themed ice-skating rink parties.  

7. ­­TWEEN SPA DAY

Being a pampered parent on vacation is always in order, yet why not treat your favorite teen, too? Top spas are adding robust and creative treatment menus, including spa programs specific to young travelers.

8. MENTAL FITNESS

Staying physically active when traveling is always a positive, yet mental challenges will keep kids engaged, too. While homework may get a ubiquitous eye roll, surprise your children with The Five Minute Journal. It will only take a few minutes (hence the name) but helps kids understand the power of gratitude, perspective, and reflection — travel’s constant companions.

9. FRAME IT

Sometimes the simplest of gifts can keep kids entertained. Buy the latest Polaroid camera, and send them on a photo scavenger hunt to capture their point of view of your favorite spring break activities. And though being unplugged may take top priority, fun iPhone apps (try My Postcard app) can teach kids how to capture creative photos of favorite travel memories.

10. HAPPY FEET

One of the best ways to keep kids on the move, but also bond in tandem? Simple: walk! Whether hiking along a mountain trail, traversing a scenic coastline, or tackling the golf course, you’ll be reminded why Henry David Thoreau stated: “We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance, in the spirit of undying adventure.”