Family-Friendly Spring Break Ideas In The Southeast

These Family-Friendly Destinations In The Southeast Are Sure To Please

If you’re looking for family-friendly Spring Break ideas, the Southeast provides the perfect weather for a March escape.

Prefer a nice hotel nestled in an urban oasis of activity? Would you rather slow down and feel the charm of a small mountain town? Or perhaps, you want to completely unplug and gaze at the stars in the night sky?

These destinations have something for everyone. Too busy to read through a million blogs and guidebooks to plan a family vacation? Don’t worry, it’s already been done for you.

Each destination below has a full itinerary available. Everything you need to know: where to sleep, eat, and play! All organized into detailed day-by-day plans.

No lodging research needed or activities to plan out– it’s all covered in detail, saving you time and effort that you would rather spend on your vacation, not planning it.

Urban Adventures

These southern cities have it all—a great food scene, museums, festivals, shopping, plus easy access to the great outdoors should you choose to leave the oasis of the city.

Stay in the heart of the city, park the car, and walk to all of the city’s best attractions. At the end of each day, enjoy a nice dinner and relax in the comfort of your hotel.

Knoxville, TN

Knoxville offers fantastic restaurants, local shops, craft breweries, art galleries, and a world-class zoo. There are plenty of activities for any family to enjoy in this fun city.

Enjoy exploring Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness together during the day while savoring the amazing food and charm of Knoxville’s thriving downtown at night.

Learn more about Knoxville things to do, lodging, and more here.

A scenic view of World's Fair Park in Knoxville, Tennessee, featuring the Sunsphere tower with its golden globe, surrounded by trees, a water fountain in a pond, and a tent-like structure under a partially cloudy sky. — Knoxville World’s Fair Park and Sunsphere

Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga has no shortage of things to do for kids and adults. Climb in one of the largest climbing gyms in the country, walk across one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world, visit Civil War battlefields, admire a jellyfish exhibition at the wonderful Chattanooga Aquarium, and enjoy a wonderful downtown dining scene.

Get all the details in our Weekend In Chattanooga With Kids Itinerary.

A large, wavy pedestrian bridge arches over a walkway in front of a striking building with a glass-paneled triangular roof. People walk along the bridge on a clear day, and trees frame the scene. — The Chattanooga Aquarium

Asheville, NC

One of my favorite urban escapes, Asheville makes for a terrific family vacation. This fun, artsy town offers fantastic restaurants, shops, art galleries, and an endless choice of family-friendly local craft breweries.

It’s also surrounded by the Blue Ridge mountains, so you’ll find plenty of scenic hikes nearby as well as a river perfect for floating.

See our Weekend in Asheville With Kids Itinerary.

A large beige building with the " Wedge Studios" written on the side in a graphic design. A silver food truck sits in front and there are people eating at tables, typical of an Asheville brewery. — The Wedge Brewery in Asheville.

Greenville, SC

Calling all foodies and outdoor lovers! Greenville’s picturesque, riverfront downtown has a vibrant food scene, shops, and art galleries.

After your urban exploration, take a hike or bike the easy Swamp Rabbit Trail (see our guide here) a 20 mile paved bike trail running through downtown and leading to fun food stops along the way.

Learn more about all Greenville, SC has to offer here.

A scenic urban park with a paved walkway along a river, featuring small waterfalls. Buildings, including a hotel, surround the park. Leafy trees are in bloom, and the sky is clear blue. — Greeneville’s picturesque downtown and riverfront Swamp Rabbit Trail

Charming Mountain Towns

We love these charming mountain towns, because you can enjoy a quiet stroll down Main Street with locally-owned shops and restaurants, or venture out to enjoy nearby hikes and bike rides.

At the end of each day, you can easily return to town for lodging, a local craft beer, and a great meal.

Abingdon, VA

Abingdon is a beautiful, quaint town in southwest Virginia. Catch a show at the famous Barter Theater and stroll around Abingdon’s historic downtown.

Seek more adventure with a bike ride along the Virginia Creeper Trail (a 34 mile rails-to-trails pathway) or with a hike along the trails at Grayson Highlands State Park, famous for its soaring views and wild ponies.

P.S. Grayson Highlands State Park is one of my favorite places in Virginia. Plenty of easy trails to magnificent views and fun lodging in one of their yurts (see my review here).

You’ll find plenty of memorable family fun in Abingdon.

See our Abingdon, VA Itinerary.

A scenic view of a lush green valley with rolling hills and distant blue mountains under a clear sky. In the foreground, vibrant pink wildflowers and rocky terrain are visible, adding color to the natural landscape. — Grayson Highlands State Park Near Abingdon, VA

Brevard, NC

Brevard is a smaller, more affordable version of Asheville. This charming mountain town is filled with shops (including a great toy store), restaurants, antiques, and art galleries.

It’s also home to Dupont State Forest, which offers plenty of hiking and mountain biking trails to explore. The Hunger Games movie was filmed at Dupont where you can visit Triple Falls, the most recognizable mountain scenery in the movie.

If you want to rent a cabin in a beautiful forest, this is the place for you.

See Our Weekend In Brevard Itinerary.

Two children stand behind a wooden fence, facing a large waterfall surrounded by lush greenery. The sky is overcast, and the scene conveys a sense of serenity and natural beauty. — High Falls In Dupont Forest near Brevard, NC

Johnson City, TN

Johnson City is a small town in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, and their logo aptly states “start your adventure here.” It’s a great hub for biking, hiking, and even exploring a fossil site.

A revitalized downtown offers terrific restaurants and breweries in a quaint setting.

You can spend a day hiking the Appalachian Trail at nearby Roan Mountain State Park, bike a local family-friendly bike path, and return to downtown to grab some tasty tacos and a local craft beer.

Get all the details here for your family trip to Johnson City!

A winding gravel path leads through a meadow with dry grass and wildflowers. It descends into a vast landscape of rolling hills and mountains under a partly cloudy sky. Pine branches frame the scene on the right. — The Appalachian Trail in Roan Mountain State Park near Johnson City

Our Favorite Beach Vacation

Kiawah Island, SC

Kiawah Island Resort near Charleston, SC is our favorite beach destination. We’ve been going for over 20 years.

Spring weather can sometimes be a bit cool for water activities, but the island offers plenty of beach activities, biking, fishing, and more.

See our Insider’s Guide To Kiawah Island for all the details.

A small child walks on a beach towards a lot of seagulls. — Kiawah Island, SC

Unplugged Retreats

Sometimes you simply need a complete change of scenery from the hustle and bustle of life. These outdoor destinations are the perfect opportunity to unplug from your devices and connect together as a family.

Cherohala Skyway

Experience stunning overlooks, hike to some of the most beautiful and accessible mountain balds you’ll ever see, go fishing, visit a waterfall, hug a giant tree, and enjoy views for days as you drive along this 43-mile National Scenic Byway stretching from Tellico Plains, Tennessee to Robbinsville, North Carolina.

Pitch a tent or rent a cozy cabin as your basecamp for exploration. Also nearby is the Lost Sea Adventure, a cave boat tour in Sweetwater, TN, halfway between Chattanooga and Knoxville.

The Lost Sea is a large cavern containing the largest underground lake in the US. And you get to go on a glass bottom boat to explore. Guaranteed to be something fun and different from any other cave tour you have taken! See our review here.

See Our Complete Guide to the Cherohala Skyway.

A person flying a kite in a grassy field with rolling hills and mountains in the background under a clear blue sky. — One of the best views on the Cherohala Skyway

Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Spring is a great time to visit the Smokies before the crowds arrive in the summer. You’ll find plenty to do here, both in the national park and outside of it.

Hike, bike, explore a cave, and relax in your mountain cabin at night, roasting marshmallows by the fire. If you feel too “unplugged”, you can always venture out to nearby Dollywood!

We like staying in Townsend as our basecamp to explore the Smokies. It’s super close to the entrance, has good restaurants, a cave to explore, and has no traffic compared to the other gateway towns.

See our Great Smoky Mountains Guide for all you need to know.

Sunrise over the mountains in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park — Sunrise at Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Big South Fork National Recreation Area

You’ll find some of the best stargazing in the Southeast here at Big South Fork. Located on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, Big South Fork may have more natural arches than anywhere else in the Eastern US.

You’ll find plenty of easy trails for the family, and camping at its wonderful Bandy Creek Campground (see our review) will serve as the perfect base for all your fun activities — hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, swimming, and stargazing.

Charit Creek Lodge, a unique hike-in retreat, makes a terrific family getaway because it combines rustic comfort with outdoor adventure.

It is a cozy and unplugged vacation spent hiking in the woods, rock hopping in a stream, playing board games on a screened porch, and s’mores around a campfire. Perfection! (See my review of Charit Creek Lodge.)

See our What To See and Do In Big South Fork for all the details.

A person stands beneath a large rock formation in a forest. The massive rock arches overhead, surrounded by tall trees and dense foliage, creating a serene natural setting. The path is rocky and uneven. — Yahoo Arch in Big South Fork National Recreation Area

Hope this has inspired your Spring Break Travel! Happy Trails! If you want to venture outside the Southeast, March is our favorite time to travel to Europe. See our International Destinations like “Paris With Kids” and “Amsterdam With Kids” Or, consider a family ski trip to Big Sky Montana (our favorite ski resort!)– Amy