Spring Break Fun

Spring Break in Palm Beach County will be from March 17-24th. March 17 is a Professional Development Day, and there is no school. There are many great camp options (check them out here). If you are also taking the week off, here are some fun things to do right here in South Florida!

Educational “Field Trips”

Just because school is out doesn’t mean the learning has to stop. Day trips to some area attractions can teach the kids a few things and help them have fun while away from the classroom. Some of PB Parenting’s top picks: Cox Science Center and Aquarium, Palm Beach Zoo, Schoolhouse Children’s Museum, Sandoway Discovery Center, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, and the Manatee Lagoon. Learn about animals, science, and more, all within a 15-40 minute drive of your house.  

Go WILD this Spring Break at the Palm Beach Zoo! Palm Beach Zoo guests explore a WILD ecosystem thriving on 23 lush, tropical acres while discovering hundreds of exotic animals. Visitors can enjoy interactive animal experiences, nature and water play. The Zoo is  home to hundreds of animals and 190 species, many of them endangered. Come visit your favorite animals from monkeys, sloths, koalas, lemurs to big cats like tigers and jaguars and even a white alligator named Mardi. There are even animal encounters like feeding lorikeets. There is a lakeside cafe to enjoy lunch and don’t forget to pack a towel and bathing suit to cool off in the splash fountain.The Palm Beach Zoo is open daily from 9 AM – 5 PM. For more information, visit www.palmbeachzoo.org.

School may be out, but Schoolhouse is in! The Schoolhouse Children’s Museum offers hands on exhibits and hosts many fun activities, including an interactive storytime on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 AM, free with paid admissions. Class size is limited, so make sure to RSVP at the front desk. Check out their full calendar of events and learning at www.schoolhousemuseum.org.

The Cox Science Center and Aquarium has one of our favorite backyards to play in! Check out the Fisher Family Science Trail. Enjoy the outdoors while continuing your science exploration! The quarter-mile trail connects 15 new exhibits, including a Physics Forest, FPL SolarScape, splash pad, gem panning station, shark tooth dig pit, a dinosaur walk, picnic areas and much more! You can also play a round of mini-golf at their conservation course. Stay cool inside and check out their Dinosaur Explorer exhibit. Travel back in time and discover what modern paleontology knows about the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods by exploring a series of dynamic displays featuring animatronic dinosaurs! Dinosaur Explorer examines the ways that environmental, biological and behavioral circumstances influenced dinosaur daily life while posing the question – Where do we see similarities in our world today? Utilizing the latest animatronic technology, this series of larger-than-life displays and vibrant vignettes provides a highly interactive experience that is sure to amaze and captivate visitors of all ages.  Learn more at www.coxciencecenter.org.

How about feeding some sharks and stingrays? Sandoway Discovery Center is a beachside nature center located in a historic home. The nature center’s activities include daily shark and stingray feedings at 1 PM. Sandoway Discovery Center offers a glimpse into South Florida’s fragile marine and freshwater environments through educational exhibits and programs Tues.-Saturday at Noon. $6 per a person. Learn more and purchase tickets online at www.sandoway.org.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center, is committed to the conservation of ocean ecosystems through public education, research and rehabilitation with a focus on threatened & endangered sea turtles. The newly renovated center, is located oceanside in Loggerhead park features an on-site sea turtle hospital, learning exhibits, gift store, aquariums and so much more. Loggerhead  Marinelife Center is open 10 AM – 5 PM Daily. Check out page 17 to learn about TurtleFest on March 18th. Learn more at www.marinelife.org.

Manatees are Florida’s gentle and “chubby mermaids”. Learn all about them for FREE at FPL’s Manatee Lagoon. Florida manatee season runs from November 15 to March 31. Although there is no guarantee you will spot a manatee at Manatee Lagoon — because these amazing, wild creatures are operating on their own time. Check out all that Manatee Lagoon has to offer www.visitmanateelagoon.com.

Indoor Fun

We can’t control the weather. If it’s a rainy day or maybe you want a break from the outside heat, check out Adrenaline Entertainment Center! This fun trampoline park has a rock climbing wall, basketball, trapeze and dodgeball. 2 hours of jumping and my kids are worn out for the day! During Spring Break they will have a 3 hour jump special for $30. Learn more at jumpadrenaline.com/lake-worth

Explore your backyard

People travel from all over the world to enjoy the sun, beach and beautiful weather South Florida has to offer!  When was the last time you were at the beach? I know it is a big pain to haul all that gear and stuff but it really wears the kids out and is a lot of fun. If the thought of sand in your car is too messy, maybe check out a local splash pad or water park.

Plan a short road-trip a trip McKee Gardens in Vero Beach. The Garden’s unique 18-acre tropical hammock supports a dense and diverse botanical collection. Their children’s garden is a fun and interactive place to explore and enjoy the fresh air. The Children’s Garden features include the Scorpion Shipwreck in the Grand Discovery Tree, a Fairy Circle & Fairy Forest Trail, Nautilus Shell Amphitheatre, Karst Splash Garden, Waterlily Fountain, Music Maze, Bamboo Village, Blue Crab Reading Circle & Stumpery, and Sandridge and also Pollinator Garden. Learn more at www.mckeegarden.org.

For more fun things to do on the Treasure Coast check out our PB Parenting Treasure Coast Section on page 34 for Marianna’s Spring Break Picks! 

PB Parenting hopes you have a safe and fun Spring Break!  We are very lucky to live in South Florida and Spring Break is the perfect time for a mini-staycation and enjoy everything our area has to offer. Share your spring break adventures with us on social media tag PB Parenting on instagram or facebook or send us a DM. We would love to hear about your adventures!