Why travel to faraway destinations when we have the best ofbrthe best right here close to home? That's right: For Spring Break this year,brwe're focusing on nearby destinations we often overlook, forgetting about thebrgems and pearls that made the South so great! Come with us as we tour the bestbrof the best amenities our favorite Gulf of Mexico destinations have to offer,bralong with a couple of travel tips and alternative spring break ideas.
Splendor in SouthbrPadre
Forget the cheap spring breaks of your college years, andbrplan for 10 days in the lap of luxury at the Pearl at South Padre. Located onbrthe southern tip of the island, the full-service resort offers guests tranquilbrviews, soft sand beaches and the largest hotel swimming pool in South Texas,brreplete with a swim-up bar and glorious sundeck. Take a break frombrfamily-filled fun on the beach with some “me” time at the resort's world-classbrspa. Part of the Omni family of hotels, the Pearl offers top-notch highlybrpersonalized service and stands ready to cater to your every need. Makebrmemories for a lifetime with a daytrip south of the border by heading tobrBrownsville. Expert tip: Be sure to leave your car in the United States; borderbrcrossing is much easier on foot. You can revel in the sights, sounds, tastesbrand smells of Matamoros for a half-day before heading back stateside, mementosbrin hand! PearlSouthPadre.com
Sumptuous Santa Rosa
Our fave non-Texas destination for those who live largebrwould be the WaterColor Inn at Santa Rosa Beach in Florida. Rated four stars bybrForbes and the recipient of a cornucopia of best-of awards, this resort catersbrto every need and desire a family could have. Enjoy the complementary bikes,brkayaks and paddleboards on an outing with guides. Drop the kids off at thebrsupervised Camp WaterColor while you spend a day hitting the links on one ofbrthree golf courses, including the acclaimed Tom Fazio-designed Camp Creek GolfbrClub. Or, take the kids with you for a day of short-play at the Origin's GolfbrCourse. Non-golfers can take a load off availing themselves of the InnSpa'sbrtreatments and massages. And let's not forget about the AAA four-diamond award-winningbrFish Out of Water restaurant that features fresh farm-to-table food for thebrgourmand in you! We love the options the WaterColor offers for accommodation.brChoose between an oversized room inside the resort (all have beachfront views!)bror one of 160 vacation homes offered through the resort in surroundingbrneighborhoods and districts. WaterColorResort.com
Greenback FriendlybrGalveston
For those trying to pinch a penny or two, the tried-and-truebrGalveston will never fail. We love the brand-new Courtyard Galveston IslandbrGulf Front, a beautiful beachside property that offers plenty of quietude and privacybrduring a busy island season. It might be a little more basic than abrfull-service resort, but kids will be sure to enjoy the pool while theirbrgrown-ups enjoy adult beverages nearby. Don't miss nearby Schlitterbahnbrwaterpark, a 26-acre oasis of more than 33 attractions — including what hasbrbeen voted the world's best indoor waterpark, for when the weather doesn'tbragree with your beachy plans. Don't spend your entire vacation on thebrboardwalk, however. Take a tour of the (often free) historic side of Galveston,brwhich was once the economic center of Texas, and be sure not to miss the OperabrHouse, built in 1894, the historic and architecturally unrivaled Bishop'sbrPalace or the Rosenberg Library — the oldest such facility in the state. Webrlove the idea of exploring Galveston's tree sculptures, an excellent day ofbrself-guided tourism that is sure to wow even the most jaded tourists! Marriott.com,brSchlitterbahn.com
Invaluable Vacations
Do something different with your time off this spring bybrgiving back on one of many increasingly common alternative spring breakbropportunities. Kids of high-school age will find plenty of options to suitbrtheir volunteering sides from building houses with Habitat for Humanity in NewbrOrleans to assisting in aidwork overseas. Many organizations offer opportunitiesbrfor solo travelers under the age of 18, such as i-to-i. Yes, those volunteerbrtrips do look great on college applications, but the lifetime of memories and thebrfeeling of having given back are priceless. Of course, giving back isn'tbrwithout its costs. Volunteers often are required to pay a fee for the programbras well as provide their own transportation and housing. Habitat-Nola.org, i-to-i.com
Destination Deluxe
Whether you're traveling with family or on a romantic tripbrfor two, you would probably appreciate the luxury and convenience offered bybrone of many destination clubs. For a one-time membership fee and annual perbrdiems, you can gain access to the club's exclusive collection of million-dollarbrhomes, one-on-one vacation planning services and a guarantee of luxury nobrmatter how far flung your destination. Services like the Exclusive Resorts, thebrlargest club, offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences all over the globe, includingbrstunning luxury villas, customized journeys, VIP members-only events, immersivebrcultural experiences and deeply personalized services. For the one-time fee ofbr$170,000 and annual dues ranging from $10,000 to $60,000, members enjoy abr30-year membership, refundable travel and access to a set number of vacationbrdays throughout the year. The more affordable American Express Inspirato offersbrmembership fees of $17,500 and annual dues ranging from $3,000 and up, but it hasbraccess to fewer vacation options. You'll enjoy the personalized service you'vebrcome to expect with American Express, a destination concierge in each locationbrand resort amenities no matter where you travel. ExclusiveResorts.com,brInspirato.com