In just a month, it will be spring break. I know that sounds wild. It’s February. Currently, we just found out that the groundhog may, in fact, be a compulsive liar or a fraud. Since the groundhog predicted an early spring and there are whispers of snow shortly, one has to wonder if winter is ever really ending. 

But according to the calendar, spring is approaching in 30 days, and that means it’s time to look at what you can do that week if you don’t already have a big event or trip planned. 

Spring break is always interesting for our family because our son’s birthday is that week, the weather never seems to cooperate for an outdoor gathering, and the indoor spots are packed with lots of other groups. They say NCAA basketball is madness in March; try hosting a kids’ 5th birthday party the weekend before school resumes. You get more people than you can fit, or everyone declines because they are out of town. Never mind how your child feels about not getting to see anyone after spending every weekend celebrating 2 to 3 of their friends’ birthdays. 

One must turn to strange concepts in such events and possibly even consider the ill-conceived plan of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s parents and in-laws and wonder if they were on to something, moving their son’s birthday to a weekend that he could have to himself and just do something quiet at home the day of.

But this is not about birthdays; this is about what you are doing with your family next month for Spring Break. Here are a few ideas that will either make your little group happy or inspire you to come up with your own ill-conceived plot to undermine a child’s short-term happiness. 

Beach Weekend

Depending on where you reside in Oregon, the coast is either really close or far. If you fall into the near or close-ish category, have you checked what kind of rentals you can get the week of the 25th to 29th? Airbnb and VRBO have some great options, and if a weekend is not in the budget or the property you want is only available for a night, that’s not a deal breaker. As long as you get to town by early afternoon and plan to make enough of the second day to get home after dark, even a one-night trip can feel like a whole weekend. And the extra day at home to recharge can be nice if, like me, you’re not taking the week off and will need to get some work done. 

Hood River

Maybe you don’t live near the coast, but what about the rivers? The Columbia is neat in the Portland area but even better in Hood River. Even if you only jet in for the day, it’s a great town regardless of the weather. With rentals and hotels aplenty, finding the ideal lodgings might be challenging, but there will be something – especially if you are open to more rural areas and not right in town. If you plan to hike or visit a landmark, it might be best to get an early start out of town anyway.

Bend and Sunriver 

If you don’t live close enough to Hood River to take a day or weekend trip, have you considered Bend? Some say it’s the Hood River of central Oregon. Ok, no one says that, but it’s shockingly similar. There are many great breweries, great outdoor activities, a mountain not too far in the distance, and great rentals and restaurants. Sunriver is a fun resort even if you aren’t staying there, but there are many spots to experience, like the lava caves. 

Oregon Zoo 

It’s never a bad day to visit the zoo, and when all of your human friends are traveling on their trips, you can visit your animal friends and probably get a lot more personal space than you’re used to. When it’s crowded, it can be challenging, especially with small kids, but it’s really neat to see your kids’ faces light up when they come face-to-face with some of their favorite animals. I assumed my son thought most animals were real, but when he saw a giraffe for the first time, he gasped and was so happy. I had not considered it, but I think he thought they were like dinosaurs, and from another time, we can’t visit – at least not yet. My wife and I still relish seeing his face in that “WOW, they are real!” moment. 

Oregon Aquarium

If you’ve been to the zoo enough recently and don’t think a beach weekend is in the cards but want to see some sea creatures, it’s probably time to take the family to Newport for the day. The aquarium and especially the underground tunnels have something for everyone, and with Ripley’s around the corner, as well as Rogue Brewery and Lincoln City very close by, there’s a whole day waiting for you; you just need to head there. As long as you live somewhere between Portland and Eugene, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is close to many of us, maybe even closer than you think.