It’s not that every square inch of these deservedly popular destinations will be jammed to the gills with rowdy, insomniac, beer-guzzling and nauseated high school and college students. It’s just that you’ve likely been there, done that, and now you’ve earned the right to celebrate the rites of spring your way, the civilized way.
Adult travelers aren’t the only ones “over” Spring Break, says John Frenaye, a 15-year travel industry veteran and analyst, former retail travel agency owner and now Chief Single Dad at SingleParentTravel.net. “Look back at Fort Lauderdale, which was the place to go; the city got tired,” he points out. And even though Fort Lauderdale has cleaned up its image, we recommend an alternative Florida destination: Amelia Island, filled with quaint B&Bs and the type of low-key lifestyle in which hopping on a bike to explore the island's 13 miles of beaches is just another day in paradise.
You can also enjoy “The Paris of the South”—Asheville, N.C., with an eclectic downtown and 30-plus art galleries all framed by the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. Renowned accommodations include the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa and the Cottage on Biltmore Estate (that’s George Vanderbilt’s 8,000-acre place and site of America’s largest home). Richmond Hill Inn also has an elegant, B&B-inspired ambience. March’s variable weather could bring either snow tubing downhill or rafting on the French Broad River.
On the other coast, or about 99 miles inland, is the prince of kitsch resorts: Palm Springs, Calif. It’s a haven for mature adults, yupsters and anyone else who craves golf, tennis and swimming with a retro vibe. Sure, the main drags bustle a bit more during Spring Break, but in a matter of seconds you’re in the slower-paced streets that back up to the towering San Jacinto Mountains. Vintage modernism and a George Jetson vibe predominate at the Orbit In Hotel, while the Korakia Pensione welcomes you with Mediterranean and Moroccan-flavored villas, plus two sexy swimming pools.
Spring Break, Frenaye says, can overburden cities with additional security and police wages, heavy impact on the judicial system, inconvenience to residents and businesses, not to mention damage control to the destination’s image. For hotels, there’s a nasty mess to clean up, plus higher insurance rates. “People begin to ask: Is this good business or bad business?” To safeguard yourself against a hotel packed with spring breakers, ask how many guests, maximum, are allowed per room and whether any groups are expected during your stay. And in hard times like these, a savvy travel agent will know exactly which tour operators cater to budget-conscious, grown-up spring breakers.
To be super safe, suggests Frenaye, consider “adults-only” resorts in Mexico such as Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita Resort and Thalasso on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. If you want to skip that area altogether, head across the country to Zihuatanejo, home to gorgeous resorts like The Tides, Casa Que Canta and Capella Ixtapa.
We’ve assembled our own righteous list of diverse places where you can bravely stake out your pristine plot of sand without dodging flying Bud suds. Instead, order a tart Appletini or sparkling flute of Dom and be blissfully at one with spring—on your terms. You can do Mexico, the Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii, even the San Diego stretch of southern California. And don’t forget that Spring Break can be an ideal time to head for still-snowy climes, especially our choice of Park City, Utah. Some hotels are smaller, but big on ambience and savoir-faire; others are large, with options guaranteed to keep the restive guest away from an iPhone.
Spring Breaks for grown-ups
2010 Volkswagen Golf at the Toronto Auto Show
