The holidays are over, cold weather and shorter days have set in, and my kids are counting the weeks until Spring break. If you’re like me and have a teen at home, what are you going to do to help them have fun and relax, while also keeping them out of their room and off of their screens for an entire week?
With some thinking ahead and planning together, you can help your older kids have a fun spring break. That’s why we’re sharing 43 Spring break ideas for teens. Happy planning!
What are the best spring break ideas for teens?
We have 43 spring break ideas to help you make the most of your teen’s time off from school. You’re sure to find something that will appeal to your kid, your schedule, and your budget!
Go on a road trip
Pick a destination, pack up the car, and hit the road with your family or friends. Plan a day trip, overnighter, or enjoy the whole week as a family vacay away. Our suggestion when choosing a destination is to make sure the local school’s there are NOT on Spring break, so you can enjoy your trip without crazy crowds.
Visit a theme park
Spring is a perfect time to visit a theme park. And thrill-seeking teens will have a blast hanging with their friends while they ride roller coasters all day.
Head to the beach
The weather is finally getting warmer, which means it’s the perfect chance to soak up the sun at the beach. Whether you’re into surfing, snorkeling, swimming, or just lounging on the sand, the beach is a classic spring break destination.
Go on a hiking or camping trip
If your teen is an outdoorsy type, they might love taking a hiking or camping trip during spring break. It’s a great way to disconnect from screens and soak up some nature together.
Take a trip abroad
f you have the money and the time, consider taking a trip abroad during your spring break. Visiting another country and culture is a life-changing experience for everyone. Your teen will never forget it.
Volunteer
Help your teen give back to their community by volunteering during spring break. Many honors societies and colleges expect volunteer hours, so this will benefit your teen, as well. Some volunteer ideas are animal shelters, local charities, churches and food banks, or the YMCA.
Take a cooking class
Local cooking schools and grocery stores, such as Central Market, offer all kinds of cooking classes. Whether your child is a novice in the kitchen or a budding chef, a cooking class would be a unique experience during the break.
Take an art class
From directed painting to pottery to glass blowing, there are tons of art classes available. This can be a really fun experience for your teen and their friends.
Go on a ski or snowboarding trip
It might be warm where you live, but spring break is actually a great time to hit the slopes for some skiing or snowboarding! Take a family trip or coordinate a group trip with your teen’s friends and rent a cabin together for the week.
Plan a game day
Let your teen invite their friends over for a day (or night) of gaming, whether that be video games or board games. Provide their favorite snacks and they’ll never want to leave.
Have a movie marathon
Download or stream your favorite movies, stockpile the snacks and spend a day or weekend having a movie marathon with your teen. This would be perfect for them to do with their friends, as well.
Attend a concert or festival
Check out what concerts or festivals are happening in your area during spring break and enjoy some live music or entertainment. Or make it a road trip and find a concert in another town.
Plan a sports day
If your teen is the athletic type, make it a sports day. They could gather some friends and hit the football field, batting cages, golf course, tennis courts, ice skating rink, etc. Being active while having fun is super important for your teen.
Visit a national or state park
Plan a trip to explore a national or state park you’ve never visited. From hiking to fishing to kayaking, to sitting and enjoying the view, there are plenty of activities.
Get active together
Go to the gym, take a yoga class or get out and run or walk. You can reward yourselves afterward with a smoothie or some froyo.
Try a new hobby
Find a local class or watch a YouTube video from home to learn a new skill or hobby. It might just turn into something you’re teen will love.
Cook a meal together
Spend some time in the kitchen cooking a meal together. Whether you use a meal delivery service or enjoy shopping together, let your teen pick out the recipe and have fun cooking (and eating!) together.
Go on a photo scavenger hunt
If you want to be a fun parent, create a photo scavenger hunt for your teen and their friends. Make a list of things to find or photograph and set out to see who can find them all first. Reward them with food, and you’ll endear them to you forever.
Try an escape room
Take your teen and some friends to an escape room. They’ll have so much fun that they won’t realize how much it is stretching their problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration skills in the process!
Go axe throwing
Axe throwing has become a popular activity in recent years. It’s unique and something your teenager and friends can do together to get out some energy and destress.
Go jet skiing
Enjoy the sunshine on the water by going jet-skiing. It’s seriously one of the most fun activities for older kids and adults alike. You can rent them locally if you don’t own your own.
Go horseback riding
Horseback riding has a host of benefits for the rider, such as improved mental health, stress relief, increased balance and coordination, and a connection with nature. If these are things that your teenager can benefit from (can’t we all?), horseback riding could be an amazing spring break activity.
Go rock climbing
Depending upon where you live and your experience level, either indoor or outdoor rock climbing could be a lot of fun during the break. It’s an incredible workout and helps teach patience and problem-solving skills, while also improving coordination and strength.
Visit Washington D.C.
There is something for the whole family in our nation’s capital. And plenty of free activities, too! There are tons of national monuments, museums, parks, and dining options to keep you busy for days. And if you’re lucky to have a spring break in late March to early April, you’ll even get a chance to see the gorgeous cherry blossoms bloom, making a fabulous photo op.
Go to Disney World
Disney is not just for littles. During my freshman year of college, I had a season pass to Disney World, and it was the best thing ever. Take a spring break. vacation to Disney World or Disney Land and awaken everyone’s inner child.
Watch a show at the theater
From local theater to Broadway performances, take some time to enjoy the arts. If your child is already interested in theater arts, music, or dance, this will offer them some inspiration and entertainment.
Go sky diving…indoors
If your child is an adventure seeker, they might enjoy indoor sky diving. It will give them a taste of the real thing, without causing you a heart attack.
Fly a drone
Whether it’s capturing aerial footage or performing tricks and stunts, operating a drone can provide hours of creativity and footage for TikTok vids. Just make sure your child follows local laws before operating their drone.
Visit an arcade
Arcades are seeing a resurgence in popularity. There are local arcade bars popping up all over where we live. The kids can game while the adults enjoy craft brews and gourmet food during family-friendly hours. It’s a win for everyone.
Give them a room makeover
Is your older kid’s room still looking a little childish? Give their bedroom a makeover. Pinterest can provide tons of inspiration!
Have a spa day
Your son or daughter would love a spa day! Have pedicures, a massage, or a facial, and enjoy being pampered. For those older kids who are feeling serious academic pressure, this is a great way to treat them and help them relax over the break.
Visit an art museum
I remember visiting an art museum for the first time during my senior year of high school. It awakened a love for art that I had no idea existed. From ancient to modern art, exposing your child to history and culture is a huge benefit. It can also awaken creativity in them.
Go geo-caching
Geocaching is a fun activity the whole family will enjoy. You can download a Geocaching app to locate hidden containers, called “geocaches,” that are hidden in various places. It’s a unique way to explore new areas around you and stay active.
Walk around the farmer’s market
My daughter and I love to wander around the farmer’s market. The local vendors always have delicious treats and drinks to try and we usually pick some local produce to enjoy at home later. It’s relaxing and a great way to support local farmers and businesses.
Go bowling
I recently realized my almost 14-year-old has never been bowling. How crazy is that?! Bowling is one of those things you’ve got to try at least once. If you’re like me, you’ll be laughing at yourself. But who knows, maybe you’ll have some serious bowling skills!
Find an indoor waterpark
While the outdoor waterparks are probably still closed, once spring break hits, I am ready to hit the water. An indoor waterpark is a great option for both older and younger children both. There are options for everyone. You can stay and enjoy the water all day.
Go zip-lining
Adventurous teens will likely love going zip-lining during spring break. Do an internet search for local adventure parks or zip line excursions in your state.
Aerial ropes course
Many adventure parks also offer aerial ropes courses, with varying levels of difficulty. For beginners, they will show you how to use the equipment on the ground, and then you’ll be able to go at your own pace. Plan to spend the day there with your teen if they’re under 18, as most places require an adult to be present.
Find a convention
Is your teenager big into comics, anime, gaming, sci-fi, or fantasy? Check the calendars and see if there are any conventions scheduled during spring break.
Go on a food crawl
Much like a bar crawl, ahem, a food crawl is a family-friendly way to sample some local restaurants. You’ll start at one restaurant and make your way to four or five other restaurants, sampling some of their most popular items. Let the servers know what you’re doing, so they can make some recommendations. And be sure and tip really well.
Go on a local tour
A fun way to explore your local town or city is to take a tour. You and your teenager can discover some hidden gems, learn about local history, meet locals, support local businesses, and learn about your hometown together.
Head to the lake
Nothing feels much more nostalgic to me than a day at the lake. Pack a picnic, pull out the beach loungers, and enjoy a day hanging out at the lake. If you’re able, rent a boat for the day and enjoy the water.
Make some $$$
During the school year, many teenagers are swamped with homework, sports or band practice, and other activities that give them little time to get a job. The break is a great time for them to earn some extra money. Whether it’s babysitting, yard work, or coming up with their own business idea, your older child will enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from earning their own money.
What are the benefits of planning activities for my teen during spring break?
There are many mental, emotional, and physical benefits to planning activities for your teenager.
Provides a sense of structure and purpose
When you plan activities you’re providing some structure and purpose. It helps them feel like they have a plan and something to look forward to.
While some kids enjoy having the downtime to rest, some feel lonely and off-balance without their friends and their usual routine.
Encourages socialization
Planning activities that involve their friends or family is important for socialization. While it can be a tendency for kids to close down and hide in their rooms during the days at home, planning activities with others will make sure they are getting some real-life socialization.
The Mayo Clinic reports, “Socializing not only staves off feelings of loneliness, but also it helps sharpen memory and cognitive skills, increases your sense of happiness and well-being, and may even help you live longer.”
What parent doesn’t want those benefits for their child?
Helps build independence and decision-making skills
When you let your teenager help plan and make decisions about what to do, you are helping them build independence and decision-making skills. As easy as it is to create plans ourselves, giving up some control and making them part of the planning is integral to them really enjoying the break.
When we planned our trip abroad last summer, my teenager played a huge role in the planning. I asked her to research one of the cities and figure out what she wanted to do. It ended up being the best decision. She learned a lot on her own about the history and culture there and felt ownership in the success of the trip through her decision-making.
Promotes creativity and problem-solving skills
Planning activities that require creativity and problem-solving skills can help stimulate the brain and promote these important skills. Give them some parameters, such as budget, time constraints, and the number of people involved, and see what fun activities they can come up with.
Increases physical activity
Planning activities that involve physical activity will boost mood and improve well-being. As much as your teenager might disagree, walking back and forth from their room to the refrigerator does not count as physical activity.
Even walking around Target with some Starbucks is much better than them sitting at home all day on their screens. Be creative with physical activity, and they might not even realize they’re getting it.
Provides an opportunity for bonding
If there’s one thing every good parent wants, it’s to feel close to their child. This can feel like a challenge when your kids are older teens.
Planning activities together can be a great opportunity for bonding and building relationships with our teenage kids. When we spend time together doing things they want to do, while also allowing them to have their own time alone or with their friends, we are helping to grow the parent/child relationship while also giving them the autonomy they need and want.
Wrap-Up
We hope that many of these Spring Break ideas will help as you plan spring break with your teenager. It’s so beneficial to make plans during the break, and your plans can be as elaborate or simple as needed.
Let us know what spring break ideas appealed to you or what your teen has enjoyed in the past. We’d love for you to share with the community.
And if you have any questions, reach out to Meredith here!
For ideas on what to do with your family during other school holiday breaks, check out our list of 101 ideas here.
