Easy last minute spring break destinations?

[AnnieW625]

Probably depends a bit on where you are coming from but I would pick Phoenix/Scottsdale or San Diego as last minute trips. My kids loved both for different reasons.

I have not been to Phoenix, but for us because it is a 6 hour drive it would be an option for us.

If you like the desert I would look at the Las Vegas suburbs as well as airfare might be cheap and you can stay in Henderson at a place like Green Valley Ranch or the JW Marriott in Summerlin and not have to go to the strip if you don’t want to. We like to lounge around at the pool, sleep late, and just overall relax while on vacation. The Hoover Dam, and Red Rock park is also a fun non strip vacation.


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[georgiegirl]

Phoenix/Scottsdale. We went over thanksgiving and has a blast. We spent the mornings hiking or going to the botanical garden or parks, and every afternoon the kids swam. (They also have a good zoo and various kid friendly museums, but we didn’t go.). It was a super low key vacation but lots of fun. Very easy and not stressful at all. We stayed in Scottsdale.

We did Vegas for Thanksgiving the year before and we liked it, but we enjoyed Phoenix more because it was less stressful.


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[TwinFoxes]

If you don't need a beach, Vegas, baby! The hotels have great pools, there's lots of great hiking, kid-friendly shows, and the food is a-mazing.

I've never been to Palm Springs with kids, but that's an option.

[TwinFoxes]

New Orleans is our favorite spring break destination with kids. We've gone several times over the years, including with toddlers.

Not to hijack, but can you recommend some good NOLA hotels for families, and your favorite activities? I've never been with kids.

[SnuggleBuggles]

If you don't need a beach, Vegas, baby! The hotels have great pools, there's lots of great hiking, kid-friendly shows, and the food is a-mazing.

I've never been to Palm Springs with kids, but that's an option.

I was thinking Vegas too. Only didn’t say it just because I was going for super easy with a 3yo in tow.


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[mikala]

Thank you for all of the ideas! This is a great research starting off point. I need to do some airfare searches and try to persuade DH.

I thought of Vegas initially but nixed it for the walking through smoky casinos on the way to everything and people handing out stripper cards on every corner factors. My older two can read and there are so many things I'm not ready to explain to them yet

Has it improved over the past few years or is there an area off the strip I should consider? I last visited Vegas about ten years ago.

[SnuggleBuggles]

We stayed at Vdara- a no casino, no smoking hotel. The Mandarin is another no casino hotel and I remember a trip report on here for a family that sounded like a pretty good vacation. No one handed us stripper cards but they were around.


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[georgiegirl]

We stayed at Vdara- a no casino, no smoking hotel. The Mandarin is another no casino hotel and I remember a trip report on here for a family that sounded like a pretty good vacation. No one handed us stripper cards but they were around.


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We stayed at the Vdara too! I think you just need to be off the strip by 9 to avoid the sketchiness. My kids were fine. They didn’t think there was anything inappropriate going on. Worst girls looked like the NFL cheerleaders in terms of sluttiness. My kids liked the High Roller, Belaggio Fountain shows, M&M and Hershey stores. Valley of Fire (an hour away) is amazing!

[sariana]

San Diego! It likely will be too cold for the beach during Spring Break, but the museums in Balboa Park, the USS Midway, and tons of other things make it a great trip. The airport is ideally located, too.

[mikala]

San Diego! It likely will be too cold for the beach during Spring Break, but the museums in Balboa Park, the USS Midway, and tons of other things make it a great trip. The airport is ideally located, too.

San Diego is definitely on our list too! How is transportation? Is it pretty much a rental car type of trip for the types of things you'd recommend?