Many schools -- especially in Canada-- have a 10-day (or longer) March Break: a terrific time of year for a getaway, because the ski slopes beckon just as much as the tropical beaches.
Book Early for March Break!
When November rolls around, it's time to start thinking about your March Break family getaway, especially if you want to stay at a popular resort, or need lodging for a family-of-five.
Note to US citizens: you and your kids all need passports now, if you want to fly to the Caribbean, Canada or Mexico -- (Read more.)
March Break Ideas
- Florida Beach Resorts: so many areas to chose from. Disney's Vero Beach Resort, on the Treasure Coast; Amelia Island, in the northeast; Sandestin, in the northwest; and lots more.
- Orlando: Mardi Gras Weekends at Universal Studios: every year, the Universal Studios Florida theme park celebrates Mardi Gras on multiple weekends, with spectacular parade, elaborate floats from New Orleans, street performers, live bands... Cost is included in regular park admission.
- Washington DC: National Cherry Blossom Festival Family Day: look for this event in late March
- Maple Sugar Season in Vermont: the sap starts running, typically in early March; visit a sugarhouse, and sample the syrup; stay at a family-friendly B&B and enjoy skiing, snow-shoeing, sleigh rides...
- Hawaii - Festivals: if your timing's right, March Break in Hawaii may mean special festivities. Honolulu Festival has a "Waikiki Beach Walk", Mar. 10 and 11 2007, with free entertainment, and a Grand Parade. Also in March is the Oahu Kite Festival; and on Kauai, "Prince Kuhio Day" is a week-long festival.
- St. Patrick's Day. The phrase "Everyone's Irish on March 17" is an invitation to celebrate: most famously, at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City, but many other places have St. Paddy's festivities too. Even some ski resorts go all out, with bagpipers, Irish fair, live music, torchlight parade, bonfires, fireworks.
- Resorts with Indoor Water Parks: more and more are springing up, and make great "drive-to" getaways. For example, Great Wolf Lodge, in the last year or two, has opened waterpark resorts in the Poconos, Niagara Falls, Sandusky Ohio, Kansas City, and more.
- Ski Resorts: spring skiing is super at many destinations, with warmer weather and longer daylight hours
- New York City With Teens: what a great city to visit with teens. (And many New York schools have already had their week-long break before March, during "President's Week".)
