Spring break is prime family vacation time, and I, along with some of my favorite family travel bloggers, offer suggestions for fun and memorable family spring break destinations.

Stephanie and Allison La Mom Paris
The Louvre

Pick an expo or wing to visit as a family and bring paper and pens for the kids so they can recreate the art they’ve seen and are inspired by. Find a corner in the museum for the kids to sit down with their art supplies and let their inner Picassos come out.
Musee D’Orsay
We really like the Musee d’Orsay’s atelier program for kids 5 and above. Kids tour parts of the museum for one hour according to a theme, and then there is a 1 hour painting workshop with a snack provided.
Parc Monceau
We love this historic park in the 8th arrondissement. Not only are the gardens and grassy knolls beautifully manicured and spread out, kids can ride ponies, ride the merry-go-round, feed the ducks, play in the sandbox and playground, families can play ball on the lucious green grass, picnic, ride their bikes or scooters together. On the weekends, there’s great people watching:  Paul McCartney, Jennifer Lopez, and David Guetta are some of the celebs that have been spied at this chic park.
Musee de la Chasse et de la Nature
This museum, in the 3rd arrondissement, celebrates hunting and nature preservation. Kids can get up close and personal with boars, bears, foxes,  wolves (and their poop). What’s really nice is that the first weekend of each month is free.
Monique An Unstoppable Journey
While European cities Paris, London and Rome are always favorites, I think Spain is also a great destination for families.
Barcelona’s whimsical Park Guell with its awesome buildings, stunning tile structures, and wonderful panoramic view of the city and the Magical Fountain of Montjuic that performs a dance of color, light and music, are just two of the city’s attractions that provide enjoyment for the entire family.

Valencia offers Europe’s largest leisure-culture complex, the futuristic Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts & Sciences). Comprised of 6 different cultural and entertainment destinations, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias includes L’Hemisferic, which houses the IMAX Dome, Science Museum Principe Felipe, full of interactive and educational exhibitions and L’Oceanografic, Europe’s largest aquarium. In the center of Valencia is Bioparc.  This open-air zoo employs the “zoo-immersion” concept, surrounding visitors in the recreated habitats of the animals.

Lisa Goodmurphy Gone With The Family
City breaks in North America offer great family vacations with plenty of indoor diversions if the weather doesn’t cooperate. Chicago and New York City are favorites of my daughters who love to visit museums and famous landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, attend Broadway shows, and indulge in some girlie shopping and dining at either American Girl Place location.
Action-packed vacations are also popular with kids. At a resort such as Quebec‘s Chateau Montebello in February or March your family can try cross-country skiing, curling, ice-skating, dog-sledding, and tubing. The kids will be exhausted and love every minute of it.
Take your family to Hershey, PA and satisfy your sweet tooth at the world-famous amusement park, exclusive resorts and attractions in  “the sweetest place on earth”.  Combine a visit to Hersheypark with a trip to the chocolate factory and museum to get the full Hershey experience.  Visit April 6-8 or 14-15 for Springtime in the Park to get a sneak-peak of upcoming summer fun.  Hersheypark hours are limited until Memorial Day, so be sure to check the website before you go.
 
If you feel that you need to practice a little temperance after gorging yourself on chocolate, make your way to Amish Country, just 30 minutes away in Lancaster, PA.
Woodland Resorts in Farmington, PA has absolutely everything! From safari tours to spa to hiking and fishing and a shooting academy, there’s something to satisfy every member of the family.
If you are in Europe for spring break with young children, why not visit the seaside town of Blankenberge, Belgium, which is an absolute playground for kids.  There you will find a wide, sandy beach for the whole family to enjoy, but there’s also the Kinderautodroom, Kid Carting, beach pedal cars and the Lustige Velodroom – all of these are go-cart or bike-pedaling fun for even the youngest member of your family.
Herrenchiemsee Castle Photo Credit: Bavarian Palace Department
Another option if you are in Europe is the Herrenchiemsee Castle, one of King Ludwig’s majestic Bavarian castles in Germany.  Half the fun is getting there, since it’s located on an island in the middle of a lake and children will be delighted in the boat ride.  The castle itself is large and impressive, but Ludwig only managed to finish twenty rooms inside, which are available to tour.  The palace gardens are exquisite and perfect for a family picnic.
How about a jaunt to Salzburg, easily accessible by rail from almost any city in Europe?  Take a Sound of Music excursion with your family while there – they are offered by several tour companies in town. Half-day tours will hit the highlights, such as the Nonnberg Abbey, St. Peter Cemetery, the massive Roman rock arena where the music festival took place, and the Mirabell Palace Gardens where Maria and the children danced to “Do-Re-Mi.”  Full day 8-hour tours include the city highlights, but add the The Sound of Music gazebo at Hellbrunn Castle, the Leopoldskron Castle which was the von Trapp family home in the film, and the Mondsee Cathedral where the movie’s famous wedding scenes were filmed.
Where are your picks for great family spring break destination?