With the school year now in full swing, we’re dishing out a little dose of inspo for the upcoming holiday breaks.
Our best advice: skip the most hyped-up hotspots and well-trodden locales, and go slightly off-season and off-the-beaten-path to find fewer crowds, lower prices, and more fun-filled adventures!
For December Break
Going into panic mode while searching for flights to FLL or MIA during the festive season? Close that window and open yourself up to an incredible holiday season on the other side of the pond! Here are our top picks for an epic European adventure:
Christmas Markets and Culture in Vienna
Waltz over to Vienna for the world-renowned holiday markets, Christmassy carriage rides, and whimsical winter activities. Stay for the sausages, raclette, and the famous Sacher torte. If you have a few more days to spare, head to the Austrian Alps for skiing and elevated adventures!
Sunshine and History in Portugal
Touch down in Lisbon, squeeze in a day trip to Sintra, and venture to the Alentejo wine region where balmy temps, family-friendly hotels, and incredible activities like horseback riding, pottery making, and stargazing (not to mention lots of egg tarts) await!
Acropolis and Adventures in Greece
Why swelter in Athens in the summer heat when you can enjoy an easy, breezy, food-, wine-, and history-filled sojourn in December? A combination of Athens and Thessaloniki is perfect for the festive season, with activities ranging from cooking classes to neighborhood food tours to archaeological visits. Not to mention mezze platters, moussaka, and baklava calling your name!
For February Break
While it’s perfectly understandable that everyone wants to ditch those down jackets and lay on a dreamy stretch of Caribbean beach come February, we think you can find sunshine and fun times in other destinations with a little creativity.
Sun, Moon, and Stars in Los Angeles
Dine beachside, stroll the promenades, visit your favorite movie sets, and indulge in plenty of tacos and fresh, healthy eats in LA. Add in a little jaunt to Disney and Universal if you wish. If you have a few days to spare, follow LA with beachy bliss in Santa Barbara or cool desert vibes in Palm Springs.
Paris Is Always a Good Idea!
While summer in Paris is filled with gorgeous blooms, we recommend getting your arts, culture, and croissant fix with a side of deeply discounted airfare and hotel pricing in the winter and early spring. In this city, family activities abound—from sidecar tours to pastry classes to spy games through the Louvre!
Fly South to Argentina and Uruguay
Harvest grapes while soaking in the sunshine and stunning vistas in the Mendoza wine region before zipping down to Punta del Este for surfing, art gallery hopping, polo lessons, and horseback riding on the sand.
For Spring Break
Say goodbye to pricey plane tickets and hello to the open road! With the whole East Coast starting to bloom, a driving trip for spring break could be just the perfect getaway.
Or, if you’re itching to go farther afield, how about spring skiing in Canada or Utah?
Jaunt up to Cape Cod
An easy and beautiful drive from Ridgefield, take advantage of low-season pricing on the Cape—or even Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket. Many hotels open and heat their pools in time for spring break, and it’s a perfect time for bike rides, marine life viewing, and cozy strolls on the beach.
Southern Road Trip (or Short Hop Flight!)
If your family loves road trips, we recommend driving down to Washington, DC to check out the cherry blossoms during spring break. If you’ve got the stamina, continue from there to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia or even Charleston, South Carolina, where there are gorgeous resorts with amazing activities for the whole family. On the way home, make a stop in Baltimore for a baseball game or a visit to the National Aquarium before rolling back into Ridgefield with smiles all around.
Hit the Slopes at High Altitude
Spring Break, Easter, and Passover are all very early next year, which means it’s the ideal time for a ski trip with plenty of snow, warmer temps, and lower prices. Take your little bunnies to mountains set at high altitude—like Whistler in Canada, Mammoth in California, or Park City in Utah—for the perfect spring ski sojourn.
Happy travels!
Kelly Berlin began her career at Travel + Leisure magazine in New York and followed her passion for travel to Hong Kong, where she co-founded groundbreaking startup media company Dim Sum & Then Some. While in Hong Kong, Kelly also served as the Editor in Chief of AWARE Magazine, and has worked as a copywriter for hotels, restaurants, and member’s clubs for over a decade. Kelly is now based in Ridgefield, Connecticut, with her husband and two daughters, and is a Luxury Travel Agent with SmartFlyer, specializing in multi-generational trips, family travel, and honeymoons. For more travel inspiration, follow her on Instagram @jetsetinspire.