7 Spring Trip Ideas for Adventurous Families

By Debbie Hanson

Apr 20, 2022

Spring trip ideas for adventurous families who want to explore, learn about new eco-systems while staying active, making lasting vacation memories
 

If your family loves exploring in the outdoors, there are spring break trip ideas that will introduce them to new eco-systems while leaving them with lasting vacation memories.

Although, before you start planning a trip, you need get the answers to a few questions. When is spring break 2022? When does spring break start exactly? How long is spring break? The answers will be different, depending on which school your kids go to, but spring break trips generally take place in March or April.

Check out these adventurous spring break trip ideas that are ideal for this time of year:

1. Visit Shell Island or Spot Dolphins in Panama City

Panama City Beach, Florida has long been one of the most popular spring break destinations due to its white-sand beaches and emerald-colored waters. Shell Island, located right off Panama City Beach, is a great spot to watch dolphins jumping and feeding in the waters nearby. You can easily find a local charter boat that offers family-friendly dolphin watching tours or eco-tours to Shell Island.

2. Explore the Mayakoba, Mexico Canals by Kayak

Mayakoba is a resort development that is located approximately 35 minutes south of Cancun in the city of Playa del Carmen. The Caribbean Sea borders one side of Mayakoba, while a series of lagoons and canals wind through mangrove forests on the other side. Visit Mayakoba Mexico for a small, secluded spring break trip that includes kayaking through the serene lagoons and canals.

3. Hike Through Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is the perfect destination in spring to visit and hike before the heat of summer sets in. Skull Rock Nature Loop, Cholla Cactus Nature Trail, and Barker Dam Trail are three easy hikes within Joshua Tree National Park that are family friendly and less than two miles in distance. Spend spring break 2022 learning about the many plants and animals that thrive in this desert environment.

4. Go Horseback Riding Near Madrid, Spain

Madrid is the perfect destination for a spring vacation of the international kind since the temperatures this time of year are balmy and comfortable. Take a horseback riding tour through the National Park of the Sierra de Guadarrama, where you can take in mountain views and learn about the park from expert guides of equestrian tourism. If you’re considering spring break trips out of the country, put Madrid on your short list.

5. Book a Family Fishing Trip Near Key Largo

In springtime, the Florida Keys are at their best. Key Largo is only an hour's drive from South Florida's two major airports (Fort Lauderdale or Miami) and offers some of the state’s best saltwater fishing during the months from April to June. Whether you want to chase bonefish in the backcountry or head out to the reefs to catch a few yellowtail snapper for dinner, Key Largo tops the list of fun spring break trips for families who love fishing and boating.

6. Bike through Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon is the ideal spring break getaway for bikers and hikers. The Hermit Road Greenway Trail, between Monument Creek Vista and Hermits Rest, provides a 2.8-mile bicycle path away from the road and, in a few places, along the rim of Grand Canyon. If you want to do something different from a beach trip, the Grand Canyon is one of the best places to visit on spring break if you enjoy the outdoors.

7. Take a Whale Watching Trip in Monterey Bay

Spring is a beautiful time to visit Monterey, California, and there's no better place for whale watching than Monterey Bay. Whale watching spring break trips might not be the norm, but it is the time of year when many whale species migrate along the California coast. The Monterey Submarine Canyon provides a perfect deep-water habitat for species like humpbacks, killer whales, blue whales, and gray whales.

If your family loves to plan new outdoor adventures, hopefully these spring break trip ideas gave you a few more options to consider for this year or the future.

Debbie Hanson
Debbie Hanson
Debbie Hanson is an award-winning outdoor writer, women’s sport fishing advocate, IGFA world record holder, and freshwater guide living in Southwest Florida. Hanson’s written work has appeared in publications such as Florida Game & Fish Magazine, BoatUS Magazine, and USA Today Hunt & Fish. To learn more about her work, visit shefishes2.com or follow her on Instagram @shefishes2.