Close to Home or Hit the Road: Family-Friendly Spring Break Plans
Emily Buckley
Editor in Cheif
February is the perfect time to think about spring break. The holiday rush is over, the kids are counting days, teachers are tired, and parents are somewhere between wanting a getaway and wondering if it’s worth the effort. The good news? Spring break doesn’t have to mean expensive flights, packed theme parks, or a week that leaves you more exhausted than when you started.
Some of the best family spring breaks are built around simple plans, realistic expectations, and destinations close enough that travel doesn’t take over the whole week. Whether you’re staying close to home or dreaming a little bigger, now is the perfect time to plan.
First Things First: A Few Planning Tips That Save Everyone’s Sanity
Before choosing a destination, a few small decisions can make a big difference:
Anchor your days with one main activity. Consider anything beyond that a bonus.
Build in rest time. Kids don’t need wall-to-wall excitement to feel like they’ve had a great break.
Let each child choose one thing. Even small input goes a long way toward buy-in.
Remember memories matter more than perfection. Something will go wrong — and that’s OK.
Close to Home: Salt Lake City Staycation
Sometimes the best spring break is one where you can pack lightly and still feel like you’re somewhere new. Salt Lake City has plenty of family-friendly options that let you enjoy a change of scenery without a long drive or flight.
Where to stay:
When we want to feel like we are on vacation in Salt Lake City we stay at the Little America Hotel in Downtown. Make sure you get a tower room to feel a little luxury without a huge price tag or going far away. We love the indoor-outdoor pool for the kids, the coffee shop diner, and the great location for exploring downtown or to take the TRAX.
What to do in Salt Lake City:
Utah Jazz Game: The energy of a live sporting event, even for kids who aren’t big sports fans is just fun! Even the cheap seats near the top let you experience the action. The Delta Center has lots of fun concession options to add to the vibe.
Park City and the Olympic Park: Spend a day in Park City: Take the fare-free hop-on, hop-off trolley along historic Main Street. Then head over to the Utah Olympic Park to watch ski jumpers soar, try the alpine slide, or explore the interactive exhibits at the Olympic Museum. Even our teens got into testing the balance and agility courses (a hilarious family competition!).
Natural History Museum of Utah: If you have dino lovers in your family, spend some time at the Natural History Museum for hands-on exhibits, giant dinosaur skeletons, and enough curiosity to keep kids engaged for hours.
Clark Planetarium: You and your kids can feel like astronauts for the day! The Planetarium features over 10,000 square feet of free, hands-on exhibit space, as well as the breathtaking Hansen full-dome and Northrop Grumman IMAX theatres. They have some great under-the-sea films scheduled for this spring.
Spring skiing: Spring skiing in Salt Lake means t-shirt weather on the slopes — my favorite kind of ski day! Salt Lake City’s four resorts, Alta, Brighton, Snowbird, and Solitude, offer varying levels of family-friendly perks — many offering free skiing for young children.
Take a hike: There are hikes for all levels from the paved Jordan River Trail or the Porter Rockwell Trail in Sugar House that both work great if you have kids still in strollers to the 2.5 mile Living Room Hike near the University of Utah that offers spectacular views of the Valley or the more challenging Bells Canyon Trail with a 1,515 elevation gain and a waterfall reward.
Staying local doesn’t have to feel ordinary. Sleep in, enjoy leisurely breakfasts, explore a few sites, and take a break from the usual routine — your family will return home refreshed, not frazzled.
Bigger Adventures: Family Road Trips
If you’re looking for adventure, flexibility, and a chance to make memories that last, a road trip is hard to beat. Two years ago, we rented a Sprinter travel van and drove to the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington state. It remains one of our favorite family trips.
The van was spacious enough for three teenagers, two elementary school kids, two parents, luggage for a week, and quite a few emergency snacks and road-side lunches. Our time in the Pacific Northwest was unexpectedly highlighted by a day at Sea Glass Beach, which in and of itself was a hidden gem, where we spent our time hunting for smooth, colorful stones. It was secluded and we felt like we were racing the tide to make it out and back. We found bowls full of sea glass treasure that we now have in our home to remind us of that favorite day in our family history. We also visited two quaint village towns. Gig Harbor is a charming maritime village with scenic views of nearby Mount Rainier. We loved seeing the sailboats on the water and exploring the enchanting downtown. Poulsbo, known as Washington’s “Little Norway” gave us another fun afternoon. Though small, their downtown is decorated with Viking Ships and full of darling shops and restaurants that seem like you traveled back in time.
On the same trip we went to a minor league baseball game to cheer for the Tacoma Rainiers and took the ferry to Seattle another day to explore Pike Place Market, the waterfront, ride the Big Wheel, and visit the Space Needle. It was a trip balanced of both city and nature experiences.
Tips for making road trips tolerable, fun, and memorable:
Pick one “big activity” per day and leave space for spontaneity. The kids picking a lunch spot or short side trip can make them feel part of the adventure.
Mix short and long drives. Scenic stops, playground breaks, or quirky roadside attractions keep the journey lively. On our Washington trip we loved looking for Thomas Dambo’s trolls — giant, whimsical wooden sculptures created by Danish artist and "recycle art activist" Thomas Dambo. Each troll has a unique name, personality, and a story, often part of a larger folk tale written by the artist, which invites visitors on a treasure hunt to find them all.
Bring entertainment for the car: Audiobooks, podcasts, playlists, or classic road-trip games keep everyone from boredom that leads to irritability.
Pack food thoughtfully: Favorite snacks, picnic lunches, and treats reduce stress and keep everyone happy.
Document the trip: Encourage kids to take photos, make a shared playlist of songs that remind them of the trip, and keep tickets and mementos. My kids love to junk journal after a trip. It seems to help solidify the memory.
Prioritize comfort: Blankets, pillows, and a little extra legroom go a long way, especially for teen passengers.
Seek local flavor: Stop at diners, bakeries, or regional specialties. I try not to eat at too many chain restaurants when traveling somewhere new — the little discoveries often become the most memorable parts of the trip.
Road trips aren’t just about destinations, they’re about the stories, good conversation, laughter, and quiet moments together. The adventure begins the moment you hit the road.
One Last Thought
Spring break doesn’t need to be flashy to be memorable. Some of the trips our kids talk about the most aren’t the biggest or most expensive ones, they’re the ones where we had time, laughed a lot, and weren’t rushing to the next thing.
Whether you’re staying close to Cache Valley for a staycation or hitting the road for an adventure, a thoughtfully planned spring break can be just what your family needs to reset before the busy push to the end of the school year.
Sometimes, the best souvenir you bring home is simply the feeling of having been together — unrushed, unplugged, and making memories that last longer than the break itself.
