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Top Ten Alternative Spring Break Destinations

Hot Spot:
Jacó, Costa Rica
Those looking for a more active or outdoorsy way to spend spring break often gravitate to Costa Rica, one of Latin America's premier eco-travel destinations. The seaside town of Jacó has great surfing and easy access to the rain forests, wildlife, and eco-tours for which Costa Rica is famous. It's also one of the country's most heavily visited destinations, especially during local holidays (like Holy Week, which sometimes overlaps spring break) when locals from San José arrive by the bus load.

Alternatives:
Dominica
As an alternative, consider Dominica, the tiny island-nation between St. Kitts and St. Vincent. Known as the Nature Island of the Caribbean, Dominica has virtually no beaches but makes up for it with a rugged interior that climbs dramatically from the shoreline. Favorite excursions include hiking through a verdant rainforest to 100-foot Middleham Falls, or through the Valley of Desolation to Boiling Lake (both aptly-named). The island also has terrific diving, snorkeling, and kayaking, and is home to the Caribbean's last remaining community of indigenous Caribs.

Cabarete, Dominican Republic
Another eco-tourism gem gaining popularity, Cabarete will be a hot spot before long. It's one of the Caribbean's premier windsurfing and kiteboarding destinations, and numerous shops offer instruction in both sports, plus rentals and retail gear. You can learn to surf here, too, or book a mountain biking tour. The DR is also home to Pico Duarte, the Caribbean's highest peak at 10,417 feet. Tour operators in Cabarete offer guided ascents, which take two to four days—sunrise at the summit is sublime.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
All-inclusive resorts are a logical choice for your next spring break family getaway, mainly for the ease and security of having your lodging, meals, pool, beach, and activities all in one spot for one price. Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, is one of the Caribbean's go-to family resort destinations, with high-quality beaches and facilities, plenty of kid's programming (including for teenagers) and affordable packages, especially if you're flying from the eastern U.S. and Canada.

Alternatives:
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
If you're looking for more adventure, consider taking the family to St. John, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The U.S. Virgin Islands' least developed island, St. John has sailing, horseback riding, and other family-friendly tours, plus plenty of do-it-yourself hiking and out-of-the-way beaches reachable by rental car. (And since St. John is part of the United States, you don't need to worry about the language or insurance concerns that deter some parents from renting cars abroad.) St. John has a couple of resorts, plus many condos and villas with full kitchens and multiple bedrooms, which make excellent home bases.

St. Kitts, St. Kitts and Nevis
The larger of the twin-island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Kitts offers families a good alternative to the typical resort vacation. It's easily accessible, with direct flights from several U.S. cities, and lodging ranges from all-inclusive resorts to private villas. Like St. John, St. Kitts has tours and do-it-yourself options—a new Marine World facility is a hit with younger kids, while families with teens can bond on challenging hikes through the island's dense forest and up its prominent volcanoes. Catamaran trips to Nevis, even less developed than St. Kitts, make fun day trips for the family.