9 Spring Break Destinations for Sunseekers

An hour outside Los Angeles, Huntington Beach boasts miles of pristine coastline and more than 280 sunny days per year. It’s also a prime spot for surfing, having earned the nickname Surf City, US, for its connection to the sport.

Beyond catching a wave, here you can enjoy a picnic, and stroll Huntington Beach Pier before or after a fishing or boating excursion. Hiking, biking, and beach volleyball are also popular in the area. It’d also be remiss not to mention the city’s vibrant nightlife scene with plenty of bars, breweries, and lounges—it’s spring break, after all.

St. Petersburg offers a whopping 361 days of sunshine, so it’s no surprise many refer to it as the Sunshine City. The area is also known for its abundance of sandy beaches, calm blue waters, and many outdoor activities such as golfing, fishing, and boating.

If you're an adventure seeker, embark on speedboat rides, evening kayaking excursions, or helicopter tours. You can also explore the destination’s vibrant downtown area, home to hundreds of colorful murals, on foot or bike. However you fill your days, cap off your trip with a romantic sunset sail and toast to an incredible vacation.

With more than 233 days of sunshine and an average temperature of 79°F (26°C), Corpus Christi is easily among America’s best spring break destinations for sunseekers. The city is home to nine pristine beaches, and while we wouldn’t blame you for spending your entire trip soaking up the sun from your lounge chair, you can also try your hand at surfing, kayaking, and fishing.

Don’t skip town without visiting the nearby Padre Island National Seashore for excellent wildlife spotting and even more postcard-worthy stretches of sand, though.

With its year-round warm climate and clear skies, Phoenix is perfect for spring breakers searching for sunshine. Outdoor enthusiasts should take advantage of Phoenix’s many scenic hiking opportunities, including Camelback Mountain, Papago Park, and South Mountain Park.

For even more adventure, sign up for a desert UTV tour, a hot-air balloon ride, or a cliffside kayaking excursion. While Phoenix proper has plenty to see and do (including a bustling downtown area complete with colorful street art), you can also take organized day trips from the city to other must-see spots like the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Antelope Canyon, and the Apache Trail.

The idyllic Caribbean island of Grenada attracts visitors from around the world with its tropical climate, picturesque beaches, and turquoise waters.

Grenada also features many overwater and underwater highlights, like 15 tranquil waterfalls and 30 dive sites, including the Caribbean’s largest shipwreck and the world’s first underwater sculpture park. It’s no wonder snorkeling is especially popular here, as are waterfall hikes and river tubing. Consider embarking on an ATV excursion or spice tour—Grenada, aka the "Spice Isle," is also known for its spice production.

Beautiful Belize offers everything from sandy beaches and ancient Mayan ruins to lush forests and the famous island of Ambergris Caye. Located along the largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere, Ambergris Caye is home to exceptional sailing, paddling, snorkeling, and scuba diving opportunities, too.

For even more adventure, go cave tubing, kayaking, and ziplining. And no trip to Belize is complete without a trip to the enchanting Great Blue Hole, one of the world’s top dive sites.

Related: 9 of the Best Places Around the World To Learn How To Scuba Dive

The Bahamian capital of Nassau is an easy flight from the US, but its sunny skies, warm weather, and turquoise waters make it feel worlds away.

Between trips to the beach, families with little ones in tow can splash around at one of three water parks (including this one at Atlantis, Paradise Island), play with dolphins at Dolphin Cay, and spot wildlife at Ardastra Gardens. Meanwhile, grown-ups can sign up for a food tour of the city or an adventure-filled ATV excursion.

This spring break, escape to sunny St. Kitts, which has endless sandy shores, clear waters, and tropical rainforests. But this island’s allure goes far beyond just soaking up the sun.

Here, enjoy popular activities such as off-roading, ziplining, snorkeling on a speed boat trip, horseback riding, kayaking, and hiking a dormant volcano. In between all the action, take some time to catch up on some R&R at one of the island’s most beautiful beaches.

Located on Mexico’s Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta offers a vast array of outdoor adventures and fun in the sun for visitors of all ages. This popular spring break spot is home to a handful of renowned beaches, as well as one of the country’s longest suspension bridges, Jorullo Bridge.

Other activities include ATVing, horseback riding, ziplining, parasailing, and snorkeling. It’s also worth noting that whale-watching season here runs through March (and maybe even into April and May), offering you the chance to spot these magnificent creatures in the wild while on spring break.