Taking the Kids: Doing spring break safely

Eileen Ogintz, Tribune Content Agency on Feb 17, 2022

With Little Leaguers in your house, head to spring training either to the small stadiums of the Arizona Cactus League (15 teams across 10 stadiums) or the Florida parks that host the Grapefruit League. Not only are tickets half what they are at Major League stadiums, but the kids might even be able to get an autograph. Bring along a copy of “Ballparks of America Bucket Journal,” a 83-page book ($37) with the history of 30 Major League ballparks and extra room for trip planning notes, ticket stubs, drawings, stats of the games you saw and more.

Myrtle Beach, S.C., is one of the most popular East Coast golfing destinations, primarily because of its long season and affordability. Nearly half of the region’s golf courses welcome children 16 and under to play free with paying adults. Besides golf, there’s plenty of mini-golf, beaches, sailing and fishing. Catch a Myrtle Beach Pelicans minor league game when their season starts in April.

Spring can be a great time to head to a snow resort with sunny days, warmer temperatures, and lodging deals. Breckenridge, Colorado, the historic mining town at 9,600 feet, is home to one of the most popular snow resorts in the country. Located less than two hours from Denver, the Vail-owned resort is celebrating its 60th anniversary this season and plans to stay open until Memorial Day. Stop in at the free historic museum to learn more about Breckenridge history since the town boasts one of the largest historic districts in North America. Take the kids to eat at any of the cafes along Main Street during Happy Hour, which local families call “the Happiest of Hours,” with special menus and a kid-friendly vibe.

Opt for a new-style hotel like the dog-friendly Gravity Haus in Breckenridge or a cozy condo like the ski-in, ski-out Beaver Run Resort at the base of Peak 9, the closest base area to downtown Breck. The lower half of Peak 9 offers mellow learning terrain and family-friendly zones, while the upper half offers wide-open intermediate terrain that fosters progression. According to the rental home site Vacasa.com, Breckenridge, Lake Tahoe, California, and Winter Park, Colorado, are good bets for vacation rental availability this spring.

Wherever you go, have fun – and stay safe!

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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The Kid’s Guide to Philadelphia, the 13th in the kid’s guide series, was published in 2020, with The Kid’s Guide to Camping coming in 2021.)