Has spring break ever caught you off guard? You’ve had the dates on your calendar since school started, but life got busy, and planning kept getting pushed aside. Now the week is almost here (or IS here!), and you’re scrambling for spring break ideas that don’t involve everyone glued to a screen for seven straight days.
We’ve pulled together 21 spring break ideas that work for every family, whether you’re working all week, staying close to home, or wanting to head out of town. Scroll on. You’re bound to find at least a few ideas your kids will still be talking about when school starts again. These 21 spring break ideas will make your week feel special without overthinking it.
Memory-Making Spring Break Ideas
1. Create your family tree.
Use our free Family Tree printable to help your kids connect the dots between family members. As you put together your tree, share family stories or FaceTime the grandparents so they can tell a
few of their own.
2. Find the weird but wonderful.
Most families have some kind of oddball attraction within driving distance. Look for a niche museum or farm, or a “world’s oldest” or “world’s largest” tourist attraction.
3. Host a throwback day.
Choose a decade from your childhood and recreate it for a day. Dig out old clothes or thrift store finds, make classic snacks like bagel bites or Gushers, play video games or backyard games you loved as a kid, and watch movies from way back when.
4. Serve together.
According to research shared by Feeding America, “Volunteering during adolescence has been linked to some major positive effects such as improved grades, reduced drug usage, and increased self-esteem.” You’ll have the time, so go make a difference. Kids of all ages can sort donations at a food bank, pick up trash at a local park, or even pet the kittens at an animal shelter.
Ideas for the Adventurous Family
5. Try (mostly) primitive camping.
If you are usually the glamping type, try roughing it with just the essentials. Cook over the fire at night and bring our printable Camping Scavenger Hunt for fun during the day.
6. Go on a culinary adventure.
Hit up that Pho restaurant you’ve been curious about or try the new Indian spot across town. Bonus points if your kids have to use chopsticks or eat with their hands. The unfamiliar menu is half the fun, and you might just discover your family’s new favorite meal.
7. Get sporty.
Try a sport you’ve never tackled! Pickleball, frisbee golf, a driving range … Whatever you try, remember that you’re not supposed to be good at it. Just have fun cheering one another on.
8. Take on a physical challenge.
Set a family goal for the week: Hike to the highest point in your county, bike 20 miles total, do 1,000 jumping jacks as a family (spread across the week), or complete a 5K together. Track your progress and celebrate at the end of the week.
Spring Break Ideas for Working Parents
9. Open your “I’m bored” jar.
Need your kids to entertain themselves while you work from home? Fill a jar with activity slips
they can draw from when boredom hits. Try our “I’m Bored” Jar. Some of the ideas are fun—a nature hunt or an obstacle course—and others will make your children think a bit more.
10. Schedule friend time.Â
You don’t have to do spring break solo. Trade playdates with other trusted families. Let your kids spend a day with friends while you work, then return the favor on the weekend with a fun outing or backyard hangout. Your kids get social time, you get peace of mind, and everyone’s spring break gets better.
11. Host a weekend movie night in the backyard.
After work, grab a sheet and project a family-friendly movie in your backyard. Invite friends and neighbors and make it a potluck dessert night for extra sugary fun! Or weather-proof the night by moving the festivities indoors instead.
12. Have a picnic dinner.
Spring can be the perfect time for a picnic, but it’s hard when you have to be at work. Grab sub sandwiches on the way home and throw a blanket on the ground for a cool dinner outside.
13. Plan a “choose your own adventure” day.
Give your kids a budget (say $20-30) and let them plan one day of spring break. They research free activities, plan meals, and create the schedule. You approve it, then they execute. It teaches planning skills and keeps them engaged for days before and during.
Spring Break Ideas to Get Everyone Outside
14. Have some backyard fun.
Let everyone pick one outdoor activity for a backyard Olympics day. Younger kids might choose water balloons or sidewalk chalk, while teens could set up spikeball or a basketball tournament. Everyone participates in every activity.
15. Become grill masters.
Summer might be grilling season, but spring is when the grills first get lit. See what foods you can take to the grill and let the kids learn how to use one safely.
16. Tackle a project.
Plant a vegetable garden, build a birdhouse, paint the deck, or create a nature pathway with stepping stones and a fairy house or two.Â
17. Go geocaching.
It’s like a modern-day treasure hunt. Download the Geocaching app, pick a nearby location, and let your kids lead the way to find the hidden containers. Bring along a little trinket to exchange.
18. Plan a progressive outdoor day.
Hit three different outdoor spots in one day. Start with donuts at a park, have lunch on a hiking trail or nature center, and have a picnic dinner somewhere near water. It’s like a road trip without the long drive.
Ideas for the Family That Wants to Stay Inside
19. Try an indoor sport.
When the weather won’t cooperate, try indoor rock climbing, a trampoline park, roller skating, or even an escape room for older kids. Look for spring break deals at local gyms and activity centers. Many offer discounted rates during school breaks.
20. Camp in the living room.Â
Camping inside is one of those spring break ideas you’ve got to do at least once! Grab your sleeping bags, pillows, and s’mores and head to the living room. Here are some fun ways to make indoor camping your family’s new favorite activity.
21. Have a cooking competition.
Channel your inner MasterChef. Give everyone the same ingredients and 30 minutes to create a dish. Parents judge the kids’ creations one night, kids judge the parents’ the next. Bonus: You get dinner out of it.
What spring break ideas do you think your family will love?
