SUN & SEA
If you're ready to kiss winter goodbye, consider these warm spots for their mix of accessibility, eco-adventures, and culture for all ages.
La Jolla, California
Easy to reach via San Diego, the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club offers kayaking, surfing, golf, and tennis, as well as snorkeling on the 600-acre underwater ecological reserve off the hotel's beach. Watch seals cavort at the cove, explore magical sea caves, or visit nearby Balboa Park (site of the fantastic San Diego Zoo), the Birch Aquarium, or the original Sea World. A Sunday stop at the farmers' market for snacks and live music, followed by a seaside lunch of shrimp tacos at Brockton Villa is pure SoCal fun.
Boca Grande, Florida
This part of Florida remains free from the spring-break party scene and is all about white-sand beaches and the crystalline waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The newly expanded Anchor Inn offers affordable units with kitchens that are perfect for families, while the old-school Gasparilla Inn (think grand porches and planter's punch) has a Family Spring Break & Easter Getaway package on offer through April 13. Kids will love exploring the island by golf cart or bike, and Boca Grande is the place to learn the art of sport fishing (call for charter info, 941-964-4580). Added bonus: You'll have numerous flight options, as the island is easily reached via Tampa, Ft. Myers, and Sarasota/Bradenton airports.
Kamalame Cay, Andros, Bahamas
Okay, so it's not quite as easy to reach as the others (fly to Nassau; take a short flight to Andros), but it is so worth the effort. Everyone will enjoy the laid-back pace at Kamalame Cay, where Indonesian-inspired villas feature billowing muslin curtains, endless beach views, and freshly baked cookies at day's end. Try bone fishing or snorkeling on the world's third longest barrier reef, teeming with grouper, manta rays, and more. The resort will arrange treasure hunts on surrounding cays and kids ages 6 and up can learn to scuba dive in their freshwater pool. Explorers will love swimming in Andros's blue holes and trolling the tranquil tidal flats, while hedonists can relax with a Get Up, Stand Up Body Rejuvenator package in the resort's low-to-no frills aqua spa.
Honorable Mentions
West Coast:
Palm Desert, California
Sedona, Arizona
Riviera Maya, Mexico
East Coast:
Sea Island, Georgia
Charleston & Kiawah, South Carolina
Harbour Island, Bahamas
