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7 Budget Friendly Spring Break Vacation Ideas in the Northwest!

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Spring Break Vacation Ideas in the Northwest

7 Budget Friendly Spring Break Vacation Ideas in the Northwest!

When it comes to spring break, your first thought might be of some tropical beach destination or some place that requires air travel to get to. With rising costs of travel these days, destinations like that can add up to thousands of dollars very quickly. Especially if you are planning to travel as a family. The good news is that we have a number of wonderful locations right here in the Northwest, that will appeal to different interests. The best part is that many of these can be done on different budgets, making spring break getaways more manageable for families if you stay local.

We share seven of our favorite budget friendly family spring break destinations in the Northwest below, to help you with the planning process.

All of these are in driving distance if you live in the Northwest (some a longer drive than others). This alone will save you on one of the biggest costs of travel these days – airfare. All of these areas also have budget friendly lodging options for families, as well as fun things to get out and do as a family. They are also all locations that either or both Jen and I, and our families have traveled to and enjoyed. So we share the things we personally loved about each location too. Some of these spots we love so much, we have visited multiple times.

If it is important to your family to getaway for spring break, but budget is a concern, check these ideas out and see if one is a fit for your family this year.

Spokane & North Idaho Ideas –

I list this one at the top, because it offers so many options for families who are looking for lots of activities. If you are planning a spring break trip for those that love waterparks – this is a great spring break option as there are a couple of spots to enjoy in this area.

Although Spokane and Northern Idaho are two different areas, they are close enough together that you can plan this all as one trip. Or just focus on one area alone for your trip. It offers lots of flexibility for families to plan a trip that works best for them.

It is also great because you can mix outdoor fun, with indoor waterpark entertainment, and really have quite a bit to do on your trip. As far as budget is concerned this one can be done on a small budget, or there are some splurge options that will cost a bit more. Anyway you look at it, it should save you more over other popular destinations that require a flight.

If you are thinking of doing this trip, here is a road trip itinerary from Seattle to Idaho we have used over the years many times. It includes ideas to stop at on the way or way back from the Puget Sound area. And if you need some ideas on where to eat on your trip, be sure to check out these suggestions for places to eat in Idaho, and these spots to eat in Spokane.

Spokane area – this stop offers many budget friendly lodging and food options. There are a number of activities for families to enjoy, like the waterfront park. We have visited many times over the years as part of sports tournaments, or built it in as a stop on our way to Northern Idaho destinations.

Indoor Waterparks & Hotel Stays – Northern Idaho has two indoor waterparks, with hotels that can be perfect for families to use as a Spring Break destination. Or you can plan a trip where you hit up both of them!

The first one is the Triple Play Resort with the Raptor Reef waterpark and family fun center on site. There is a Holiday Inn connected to the water park and family fun center, if you want to stay onsite. You can also choose to stay at another location (we share a list of ideas below), and then just pay to get in and enjoy the water park and family fun center activities separately as well.

And the second idea (and my favorite) is the Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg Idaho. This one will cost you more than Raptor Reef usually, but spring is their shoulder season so it is a great time to get a good deal on this spot. This one is a better fit if you have older kids (teens) with you too. It is my favorite because it is relaxing for adults, fun for kids, and a great mix of outdoor activities and the indoor waterpark. It also offers one and two bedroom condo options (with kitchens to cook in) for families to spread out a little more.

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

This is also a fun location to stay, that can be a landing spot to venture out from for many of the other locations we mention here, but also offers things to do locally.

  • Drive time from Seattle – approximately 4.5 to Spokane, and about another 20 minutes to the Idaho border (Stateline)
  • Drive time from Portland – approximately 5.5 to Spokane, and about another 20 minutes to the Idaho border (Stateline)

What to do in the area for families: 

In addition to the waterparks we share above, we have compiled some of our favorite activities in both the Spokane and Northern Idaho area here.

Where to stay on this trip: 

Current Deals to Book:

More rates starting at under $100/nt here – these deals where current at the time of publishing, but can change at anytime. 

Bend / Sunriver

We love the Bend and Sunriver area year round, but especially in the summer. What makes it appealing for a spring break option though, is that this is their shoulder season. That means it is the time that you can get some of the very best deals to visit here. And there is still plenty to do in the area. We spent spring break here a few years ago, and although it was quieter than the summer, it was still lots of fun as well as quite a bit more affordable.

  • Drive time from Seattle – approximately 5 hours and 50 minutes to Bend, and another 20 minutes to Sunriver.
  • Drive time from Portland – approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes to Bend, and another 20 minutes to Sunriver.

What to do in the area for families: 

Spring break time in this area is the most unpredictable of the year in terms of weather. Snow is likely melted in both the Bend and Sunriver areas, but you can still head up to Mount Bachelor for some skiing or tubing fun. You also may see temperatures in the 60’s, it is hard to predict. For that reason we have included two lists of both the colder and warmer season to get an idea of what to do. During our previous spring break trip we enjoyed ice skating, bike rides, swimming, rock climbing and putt putt golf.

During spring break dates I would opt to stay in the Sunriver area, as you will have lots of biking trails, and walking access to the restaurants and activities in the village, as well as the Sharc indoor pool facility.

Here are some ideas:

Where to stay on this trip: 

Here are some of our favorite spots to stay in the Bend and Sunriver area, with different price points. During spring break I have a personal preference to stay in the Sun River area, so that we can easily access more things to do (like indoor pools at the SHARC), or if you want more pool access consider staying at the Sunriver Resort for the COVE pool and activity center. It also provides miles of biking trails, and you can walk to the ice rink and other activities and restaurants in the village.

Current Deals to Book:

More rates starting at under $100/nt here – these deals where current at the time of publishing, but can change at anytime. 

Oregon Coast

There are so many great spots along the Oregon coast. You can pick one to go spend the entire spring break, or make it a road trip and hit a few of them. Two great spots to visit with kids, because there are lots of activities include Seaside and Newport. If you are making it a road trip, other fun stops along the way might include Astoria, Cannon Beach, the Tillamook Cheese Factory, Lincoln City and more! This route can get busy in the summer, so spring is a great time to get some good rates on hotels and avoid the crowds.

  • Drive time from Seattle – approximately 3.5 hours to Seaside, and another 2 hours and 40 minutes to Newport, Oregon.
  • Drive time from Portland – approximately 1.5 hours to Seaside, and another 2 hours and 40 minutes to Newport, Oregon.

What to do in the area for families: 

Here are some of our favorite things to do in the area.

Where to stay on this trip: 

Current Deals to Book:

More rates starting at under $115/nt here – these deals where current at the time of publishing, but can change at anytime. 

Mt. Hood

If you like winter activities, Mt. Hood is a great option. You will find skiing, and tubing (including Cosmic tubing at night) at the Skibowl park, and many other winter activities like snow shoeing and cross country skiing in the area too.

Note that the weather determines how long these snow activities stay open for the season, there is no set date. In the past few years it has generally stayed open for snow activities through mid-April. That means that it is usually a great option for snow play for most spring break dates, but you will need to watch the current years weather conditions to know for sure if there will be snow on your travel dates.

  • Drive time from Seattle – approximately 4.5 hours.
  • Drive time from Portland – approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.

What to do in the area for families: 

Where to stay on this trip: 

  • The Mt. Hood Tiny House Village is a fun option. They also have cabins for different budgets too, and there is an indoor pool on site!
  • We also love the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort, and we found rooms starting at around $144 for spring break dates. They have an outdoor heated pool for winter, which my kids always loved (or an outdoor hot tub too).
  • If you want to stay right in Government Camp, nearest to the Skibowl park, check out current rate specials at Collins Lake Resort. They offer various condo/chalet communities that are in walking distance to both the Government Camp village (with shops and restaurants) and Skibowl East.

More rates starting at under $150/nt here – these deals where current at the time of publishing, but can change at anytime. 

Kitsap Peninsula

We have been visiting the Kitsap Peninsula for spring break for years now, because we have family that lives over there. I have packed the car full of kids, and headed over to enjoy a long weekend or a week long stay on many occasions. They enjoy beach time (NW style, so in sweatshirts and coats this time of the year), exploring the quaint small towns in the area, some hiking and more.

  • Drive time from Seattle – approximately 1.5 hours to Poulsbo
  • Drive time from Portland – approximately 3 hours to Poulsbo

What to do in the area for families:

Check out our Kitsap Peninsula Road Trip Itinerary for ideas on where to stay and what to do on a trip over here.

And where to stay: 

  • An option that is usually budget friendly is the Best Western Plus in Silverdale. I like this one as it sits waterfront (so you can get a room facing the inlet), and there are bike or walking trails right outside, and indoor pool, and it has been recently renovated.
  • We love the Clearwater Casino Resort, as it has a really cool pool. It is also centrally located to easily access Poulsbo, Kingston, Bainbridge and Port Gamble. Although it is a casino, select a room in the lodge (my preferred rooms) and you don’t even know there is a casino on site unless you go looking for it (it is on an upper floor of the other building. The resort is waterfront,
  • The Alderbrook Resort and Spa is also a wonderful option, if you want a bit of a splurge. It sits waterfront, and has lots for families to enjoy right on site (like and indoor saltwater pool, beach combing, boat rentals and more).

More rates starting at under $100/nt here – these deals where current at the time of publishing, but can change at anytime. 

Skagit Valley & the Daffodil or Tulip Festival

The Skagit Valley is famous for its daffodil and tulip festivals in the spring, but it is also a great location to use as a spring board to do day trips to many local Northwest favorite spots to explore. We suggest a beach front cabin in the La Conner area as basecamp, and then provide ideas on what to do while you are there.

  • Drive time from Seattle – approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to La Conner.
  • Drive time from Portland – approximately 4 hours to La Conner.

What to do in the area for families 

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival officially runs from April 1 to April 30, but nature decides when the tulips are in bloom. The Daffodil festival happens before that in March. So depending on when your spring break is, you will hopefully hit one or the other.

There are a number of day trips that are easily accessible from this area too.

  • Visit the joint Swinomish tribal park/ @wastateparks Kukatali Preserve just 5 minutes away. You can take the easy 2 mile hike to the end of Kiket island for unique views of Deception Pass bridge.
  • Deception Pass State Park, the most popular park in the state, is just 20 minutes away & you could spend a day or several days enjoying all of the hiking trails & beaches & lake at this park.
  • Washington Park / Anacortes – head to this park for some gorgeous sunset views with the San Juan Islands in the distance
    Take a day trip to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island as a walk-on passenger. This is a great way to see the beautiful islands from the ferry ride & enjoy the shops & restaurants of Friday Harbor, without the steep ferry costs for vehicles.
  • We share more ideas here.

Another fun day trip idea is to enjoy a drive up Chuckanut Drive. It starts in Skagit county and ends in Whatcom county, so you get to see a little bit of both.

And the Kangaroo farm opens Thursday – Sundays in March, and is in Arlington. So while it is not technically in Skagit Valley, it is a fun option to consider if you are driving past the area on your way or way back from your home.

and where to stay:

Note – it might seem strange to recommend casinos for family getaways, but they often have really nice rooms and amenities for great rates which is why I mention them – and in my experience the casino is always in a separate area, so you could stay generally and not even go in the casino with kids. 

More rates starting at under $100/nt here – these deals where current at the time of publishing, but can change at anytime. 

Partial North Cascades Loop Trip

For real road trip enthusiasts, the loop is best experienced on a five to seven day trip. However, you can generally only do the entire loop between June and October. The Winter sees many road closures due to winter weather conditions. So, although spring break is not the time to do the full loop, there are still a few stops along the loop that you should be able to access during spring break dates, and they would make for a fun road trip. They include:

Leavenworth / Wenatchee area, the Winthrop / Methow Valley and the Lake Chelan area

  • Drive time from Seattle – 2 hours and 20 minutes to Leavenworth, then another 1 hour to Chelan, and approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes to Winthrop.
  • Drive time from Portland – 4 hours and 45 minutes to Leavenworth, then another 1 hour to Chelan, and approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes to Winthrop.

What to do in the area for families: 

Each one of these destinations can be a trip in itself, which is the way we usually do it. However you only need a day or two at each location too, so combine all three for a nice weeklong spring break getaway idea.

Where to stay on this trip: 

Current Deals to Book:

Stay in the downtown Leavenworth area at the LOGE, with many spring break dates available for $136/nt.

More rates starting at under $100/nt here – these deals where current at the time of publishing, but can change at anytime. 

Bonus Ideas for Northwest Spring Breaks –

Staycations

A staycation is a great way to enjoy a mini vacation, but without hotel stay costs or airfare. You can use a smaller budget to plan lots of daily activities for the family, and enjoy being a tourist in your own city. A few ideas on how to plan a great staycation include:

Grab a Get Out Pass to enjoy the most affordable Staycation Spring Break you have ever planned. You will pay one price to get access to tons of attractions in the Washington and Oregon areas with these. For example, you can get the Get Out Pass for Washington for just $19.99 with our special code, per person. That will give you access to local attractions like the Woodland Park Zoo, Bullwinkle’s Family Fun Center, do a tour Beneath the Streets of Seattle and lots more. Plus, the passes are good for one year, so you have lots of time to enjoy anything you did not do. We share all about how the Get Out Pass Seattle Works (they have one for Portland too), as well as how to get it for this discounted price.

The Seattle CitiPass is a great option if you want to enjoy some of the larger tourist attractions over break. Like the

  • Space Needle Admission (includes 2 visits to the top within 24 hours (could be during the day & at night?)
  • Seattle Aquarium
  • Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour
  • and more options too.

You pay one discounted price to get admission to all of the attractions listed, so spring break is the perfect time to use it. Find out more about how the Seattle CitiPass works here.

We share big lists of ideas of things to do for a staycation here.

In addition to these city based staycation ideas, you could also spend the week exploring various themed small towns in the area. We share 9 charming and themed small towns in Washington here, to inspire your week.

An Alaska Cruise

This is going to still be a splurge trip (it is a budget friendly option if you love cruises, but cruises always cost). However since you can cruise right out of Seattle or Vancouver, you will save on airfare expenses. If you are traveling with a larger family, this alone can cost as much as the cruise, so by sailing from a local port you can save from 1/3 to 1/2 of what other cruises might cost you.

In addition to saving on airfare costs, there are two other savings reasons this one might be something to consider:

1- There are cruise deals going on often, including for Alaska Cruises. Book your cruise when you find a sale (like kids sail free, or others) and it can make them pretty reasonably prices. Cruises will always have additional costs tagged on, and we will break those down for you below, but still can be a great value for all you get.

2- Cruises include your food and drink costs. That means that most of the things you will need are paid for before you step foot on your cruise. You can upgrade and pay more for drink packages or specialty dining options, but you can also stick to the things that are included and be able to stay on budget that way.

What can you expect an Alaska Cruise to cost you? Here is the breakdown – 

There are many spots that we find special discounts on cruises, including Alaska Cruises, A couple of favorites are:

Travel Zoo

This is a travel deals aggregator site, and it is where we often find some nice cruise deals, as well as many other travel deals. They recently updated the way the site works, and you now have to pay a $40 annual fee to join and access the deals (if you were previously a member it should still be free to you through this year).

Check out their current offerings here. For example, one current offering is:

  • 7-night cruise in an inside cabin aboard Holland America’s Koningsdam, Zaandam, Nieuw Amsterdam or Noordam for as low as $349 pp and the 3rd and 4th guests sail free!
  • $85 onboard credit
  • Ports may include: Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Alaska; Vancouver, British Columbia

I just priced this one out for a family of four, and it came to $2,072.36 for an interior room. It cost me that much just to book airfare for four of us for last years spring break trip, which is why I include this option as fun way to save on a cruise.

(note below where we go over the other costs considered to book a cruise to get a better idea of your full cost).

Get Away Today

This is who I booked my upcoming cruise through, and they are often running lots of great cruise options to save. They will work with you too, to recommend the best fit when you let them know the things that are most important to you (ie budget, or focusing on a certain age group you are traveling with for the best ship match, etc). Plus, tell them TNWM sent you and you can get an extra $10 savings on your trip! Find their current cruise specials here.

Other costs to consider when booking a cruise:

  • The cost of the cruise itself + taxes and fees (paid at the time of booking.
  • Gratuities (we just booked a 7 night cruise for 4, and this will run us around $500). Note that many liners will let you prepay these too, so you know what you are paying ahead of time.
  • Transportation & lodging ahead of the cruise and after you return.
    • Since the idea of this one is that it is local, you will have more options here. If you have someone who can drop you off and pick you up from your cruise that is the most cost effective option. If you do not you can book a transportation service or uber to do this, or park for the duration of your trip. If you are coming from a little further out, then you may need to book an overnight stay ahead of your cruise to make sure you can board on time.
  • Food and drink are included on most liners, but there are other options that will cost you if you choose to partake in them.
    • For example on our upcoming cruise, water, lemonade, coffee and tea are all free – but all other drinks will cost you. You can pre-purchase daily drink passes ahead of time for sodas and alcoholic drinks, but note that these extras will start to spike up your overall cost quickly. You can also book specialty dining restaurants ahead of time, and they charge for those. There are enough options on most cruise ships though, that you can easily stick to the free options and have plenty of variety.
  • Excursions/ Entertainment options. Most cruises have plenty of free entertainment on board, but there will always be extra attractions that are fee based (like race cars, or roller coasters, etc.). You can also book pricey excursions at your ports, but alternatively you can just disembark for the day and enjoy the town to skip those.

And if you will be traveling with furry family members this spring break, be sure to check out this article on Pet Friendly hotels in Washington too.

 

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