USA: Heartland, Spring Break Family Vacation Ideas. Getaway ideas to cure spring fever may be found through the Heartland States. From Minnesota and Illinois to Indiana and Ohio, we have ideas that spell fun. Whatever your family’s passion, we have spring break vacation ideas to fit the quest. Need to feel warm sunshine and the crunch of snow underfoot? Want the excitement of splashing the kids at a state-of-the-art waterpark? How about riding the trails before breakfast or star gazing with the kids? Take in a show; shop ‘til you drop; discover a museum. The good stuff awaits – take a break. Have we missed something? Our Vacation Directory has at least 101 more ideas for the perfect spring break.  

Illinois: Chicago, Spring in the city with a VIK. City experiences can be very rewarding for families. Discoveries appear around every corner and overload is part of the plan. To make a visit to Chicago both memorable and exceptional Swissôtel has created a new comfort level for family guests with young children. The "Very Important Kid” (VIK) Check-In makes arrival special for the youngest guests and ensures nothing but smiles. Children are greeted with a welcome goodie pack - complete with a Shedd Aquarium activity book, crayons, and fun things to do in Chicago. To add to the excitement, Swissôtel Chicago and Shedd Aquarium have set up a cool check-in area, where VIKs can color with crayons, play with puzzles, read books, draw with chalk, and simply be themselves. This child-sized Chicago hotel special includes: welcome pack of goodies upon arrival; special check-in area, designed just for kids; deluxe accommodations, perfect for families. (Swissôtel 323 East Wacker Drive Chicago, 60601-9722 USA 1(312)565-0565 or www.SwissotelChicago.com)

Minnesota: Brooklyn Park, Splish splash it’s a blast. Grand Rios Indoor Water Park Hotel has plenty of warm water, tropical music and bubbles for guests.  In addition to a pleasant sleeping place not far from Minneapolis, the resort has a 45,000 sq. ft. indoor waterpark. The excitement includes a water ride dubbed The Hurricane Plunge; a four-story water tower with body and tube slides; two whirlpool spas; Coconut Island interactive play area with dumping bucket and a 535-foot lazy river. This is one of the largest resort waterparks in Minnesota and where the action is for tens and even preteens. Need to know. The resort offers several vacation packages that include the water fun. The Family Package includes 100 game tokens ($25 value), one in-room movie, one large one topping pizza and four sodas. (Grand Rios Indoor Water Park Hotel 6900 Lakeland Ave Brooklyn Park, 55428. 1(763)566-8855 or www.grandrios.com)

Iowa: Port of Dubuque, Mississippi meets the tropics. Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark combines a sleepover with water fun and the result is almost no effort to make fun happen that is if getting wet sounds like fun. The park capitalizes on a Mississippi River theme. With 25,000 square feet reserved for water, the Grand Harbor is a medium-sized indoor water park. It doesn't have the water coasters, wave pools, and other bells and whistles of larger parks, but it does offer a decent assortment of attractions and ways to get wet including the water play structure called the "Huck Finn II," with a tipping bucket which dumps a load of water every few minutes. Need to know. The resort also includes a restaurant, an arcade, a conference center, and nearly 200 guest rooms, many with fireplaces and family suite configurations. The Grand Discovery package includes: deluxe room accommodations; waterpark tickets for each registered guest; complimentary dinner buffet for each registered guest; complimentary breakfast buffet for each registered guest. Rates begin at $166.00 and are based on two adults/two children. Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark (350 Bell Street Dubuque, 52001. 1(563)690-4000 or 1-866-690-4006 or www.GrandHarborResort.com)

Indiana: Indianapolis, Take the kids splashing on the prairie. Caribbean Cove Indoor Water Park at Holiday Inn Select North has an indoor tropical island full of surprises, splashes, squirts, sprays, slides and waterfalls. One of the main attractions is Kastaway Kidz Island featuring a 700-gallon bucket dumping station that soaks guests every 6-8 minutes. The dumping bucket sets high atop a highly interactive shipwrecked boat playscape designed for little tykes. Catch a ride on a raft and drift lazily around Caribbean Cove in our leisure river. Afterwards, relax in one of two spas. Then hold on tight for the ride of your life on two 40-feet tall by more than 267-feet long aqua whiz tube slides. Need to know. “Splash and Discover” package includes overnight accommodations; admission to Caribbean Cove Indoor Water Park; four tickets to The Children's Museum of Indianapolis; kids, 12 and younger, eat free at the hotel. Rates range from 169-$279 depending on dates and needs. Caribbean Cove Indoor Water Park Holiday Inn Select North at the Pyramids (3850 DePauw Boulevard, 46268. 1-317-872-9790 or www.caribbeancovewaterpark.com) 

Michigan: Sterling Heights, take the long slide. Water, water everywhere even with snow outside, that’s the first impression at the Best Western Sterling Inn. Not a typical hotel by any means but part of a new breed of hoteliers combining water fun and sleeping places. Not just a larger pool with a longer slide, at this location the indoor waterpark spans 32,000 sq. ft. and includes a large, zero-entry swimming pool, three-story waterslide, lazy river, and 2,300 sq. ft. interactive Splash Play Park for tiny tykes. Bonus points: Additional features include poolside free wireless Internet access, indoor running track, and video game arcade. From time to time they offer a “Sleep, slide and splash” package which includes: two nights for four people; four wrist bands per day for the waterpark; continental breakfast; one large pizza each day poolside and four souvenir cups for free refills. Rates for the package when available begin at $290.00. (The Best Western Sterling Inn 34911 Van Dyke Avenue, 48312. 1-800-953-1400 or 1(586)979-1400 or www.sterlinginn.com)

More Vacation Ideas

USA: Northeast, Spring Break Family Vacation Ideas. Get away for the fun of it. Looking for one more escape to the snow country before it melts? Whatever your family’s passion, we have spring break vacation ideas to fit the quest. Think ski school at Smugg’s in Vermont; maple sugaring in New Hampshire. Try shopping in New York City; consider a family field trip to Boston; celebrate with Ben Franklin in Philadelphia; tumble down a waterslide. The fun stuff is waiting.  More

USA: Southeast, Spring Break Family Vacation Ideas. Need to feel warm sunshine and a soft sea breeze? Want to enjoy sweatshirt weather biking along the coast? Looking for one more escape to the snow country before it melts? Whatever your family’s passion, we have spring break vacation ideas to fit the quest. Airboard before the West Virginia snow melts; ride the trolley in Pigeon Forge; groom your own horse in Arkansas. Try whale watching off Virginia Beach; kayaking off Myrtle Beach. More

USA: West, Spring Break Family Vacation Ideas. Getaway ideas to cure spring fever may be found from Texas and New Mexico to California and Oregon. Whatever your family’s passion, we have a spring break vacation idea to fit your quest. Need to feel warm sunshine and a soft sea breeze? Want to enjoy sweatshirt weather biking along the coast? Looking for one more escape to the snow country before it melts? Try hiking near Santa Barbara; snowboarding in the High Sierras; Shopping in Dallas; hiking in New Mexico. More

Content researched and created by Travel Communications Inc. Updated 01/2008, Copyright 2008.