In New England, many public schools have a week-long break in February. While some feel it's too close to the holiday break, it's a great opportunity for a family vacation. Not every state has the same week, so you may have some nice options for lower-cost flights if you travel to a different airport.
When my kids were younger and in school, we loved traveling during this week. By mid-February, we were all pretty sick of the cold winter and ready to enjoy warmer weather. Of course, some families also choose this time for a ski vacation. Both are great options.
Here are some of our favorite family vacation ideas for February vacation from Boston.
Disclosure: We received some complimentary and discounted stays for review purposes, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. A purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.
February Vacation Ideas from Boston
Puerto Rico
If you are looking for a fantastic warm weather vacation from Boston without needing a passport, Puerto Rico is a great choice. U.S. citizens traveling from the mainland U.S. do not need a passport. Average highs are in the low 80s, so you can visit the beach and/or the resort pool. But it's also not so hot that walking around is uncomfortable. Direct flights from Boston to San Juan are available.
We've been on family vacations to Puerto Rico twice. Once, we stayed at the El Conquistador, which is about an hour from San Juan Airport. This resort offers a private-island beach, a gorgeous pool, and numerous restaurants. It's more of a resort experience, though you can rent a car or book an excursion to get around beyond the resort.
On our second visit, we stayed at the Marriott San Juan and Stellaris Casino. It's located in San Juan, and there are lots of restaurants in quick walking distance. We enjoyed spending time at the pools and the beach. But we also took a ride-share to Old San Juan and spent a day walking around.
San Diego
With beautiful average high temperatures in the mid-to-high 60s, San Diego is great year-round. But in February, it's a nice reprieve from the dark, cold winters in New England.
San Diego and the surrounding area offer plenty to do, including the San Diego Zoo, LEGOLAND California (in Carlsbad), and Mission Bay Park. When we went, we found that the flights weren't too expensive because it wasn't as popular a February break destination as other places.
Read about everything to do in San Diego on a family vacation here.
Disneyland
On my son's last February vacation in high school, we traveled to Disneyland. Like San Diego, this isn't as popular from New England, so the trip was more reasonably priced than trips to Florida.
The weather in Anaheim in February wasn't particularly warm, but it was pleasant for a theme park vacation. On that trip, our vacation dates overlapped with the Lunar New Year celebration at Disney's California Adventure Park.
We opted to stay at the Grand Californian Resort and Spa and spent all of our time at Disneyland. But you could also visit the other theme parks in Southern California during your trip.
Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World is an extremely popular February break destination from Boston. With cooler temperatures, it can be a very pleasant time to visit. Keep in mind, however, that flights from Boston's Logan International Airport to Orlando International Airport are typically expensive during February break.
Cancun
Cancun can be a relatively easy vacation from Boston. Although you will need a passport, direct flights can take you right there. If you choose a hotel in the Cancun Hotel Zone, it's a pretty short ride from the airport.
I've stayed at two hotels in Cancun that I really enjoyed. The AVA Cancun is a newish hotel located right near the airport. It has a huge saltwater lagoon and is located right on the beach. AVA has many restaurants, along with family-friendly activities like bowling and an escape room. While it is all-inclusive, there are fees for these extra activities.
The Marriott Cancun, An All-Inclusive Resort is located right in the Cancun Hotel Zone. It offers a fantastic kids' club, multiple pools, a small water park, and a waterfront location. There are multiple delicious restaurants, and the service is excellent.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is another fantastic warm-weather location with direct flights from Boston. You will need a passport. Punta Cana (and the surrounding area) is the most popular for resorts, but there are other great destinations in the Dominican Republic as well.
I recently stayed at the Family Selection at Grand Palladium Select Bávaro Punta Cana, a premium resort within the Grand Palladium Select Bávaro in Punta Cana. It's all-inclusive, and five resorts fall under the Palladium umbrella on property. The resort offers so much to do, and it's perfect for a family vacation or even a multi-generation vacation.
Skiing
February vacation in New England is an especially popular time for skiing. In fact, I've even heard some families call it ski week. My family doesn't ski, but if yours does, this is a nice time to go. Keep in mind that many of the most popular New England mountains will be crowded.
Some of the most popular ski destinations in New England include:
- Stowe Mountain Resort (Vermont)
- Killington Mountain (Vermont)
- Smugglers Notch Resort (Vermont)
- Sugarbush Resort (Vermont)
- Bretton Woods Resort (New Hampshire)
- Loon Mountain (New Hampshire)
- Wachusett Mountain (Massachusetts)
- Sugarloaf Mountain (Maine)
- Sunday River Mountain (Maine)
Aruba
Aruba is one of my favorite Caribbean islands. Located near South America outside of the hurricane belt, it offers beautiful weather year-round.
Aruba has many beach resorts. Many are à la carte, though some are all-inclusive. If you visit Aruba, you'll probably spend most days outside, enjoying either the ocean or the resort's pool area.
However, you should also consider booking some excursions outside the resort. On my recent winter trip, I enjoyed a lunch and snorkel tour with Red Sail Excursions. I stayed at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort, a newly opened resort across the street from the beach.
If you want a suite with extra space, plus a free buffet breakfast each morning, this resort is a fantastic option. While the beach is across the street, there's a tunnel from the resort for easy access.
Turks and Caicos
For several years, when my kids were in high school, we stayed at Beaches Turks and Caicos for our February family vacation. This luxurious resort is huge (with a recent expansion) and is all-inclusive. There's so much to do, including water sports, several pools, entertainment, kids' clubs, and a water park.
Turks and Caicos has some of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen, with clear turquoise water. In February, we can find direct flights from Boston. Prices are high, however, and the resort typically sells out during this week. Book early if possible.
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman, part of the Cayman Islands, is another fantastic family vacation destination. There are several beautiful resorts along the water, including The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa where I've stayed several times.
The island also has several fun things to do, so I recommend exploring beyond the resort. Rum Point Beach, on the other side of the island from Seven Mile Beach, is beautiful. If you don't have a car, I recommend taking an excursion there. We did one from the Westin that included a stop at Stingray City (a must-do).
The Cayman Turtle Centre is a must-visit. I recommend getting the Full Access pass, which includes Breaker's Lagoon, the Turtle Twister waterslide, and the Turtle Lagoon. Be sure to bring your swimsuit and towels.
Family Cruise
My family enjoys cruising, and we've been on a handful of them during the winter months. Our favorite was on Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas, which stopped at Cozumel and Costa Maya. A cruise is a great way to see multiple destinations, and if you choose one of the best cruise lines for families, you can take advantage of activities for every member of the family. As always, I recommend arriving at your departure port city at least a day before your vacation.
Do you travel with your family over February vacation?
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