Spring Break, Indoor Activities Highlight CBS Better Mornings

Looking for an off the beaten path spring break destination? Tourists have been taking their picture in these giant gator teeth for over 50 years. It’s one of the most photographed parts of Gatorland.

This morning was a Field Trips with Sue morning on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta. I don’t know about you, but I’m trying to figure out what to do for spring break. Orlando is the one of the top spring break destinations for families. Although we love Walt Disney World, there are lots of other fabulously fun attractions in Orlando and we talked about a few of them. In our second hour we stayed close to home and talked about fun indoor activities that can get your crew’s blood pumping  and even engage the moody tweens and teens. Here’s more details on what we discussed, as well as a link to the actual video segments (just in case you weren’t glued to your TV in the wee hours of the morning.

In our first Field Trips with Sue segment on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta, we talked about an everything BUT Disney trip to Orlando Florida for spring break (click here for the video) including:

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  Collecting free trading cards from education staffers at SeaWorld was a hit with my youngest.

  SeaWorld – SeaWorld has changed a lot since I was there in the early 90′s. The shows are still the main attraction, but now incorporate so much more than just the animals – divers, water cannons, big screens and light shows. They’ve added thrill rides too, like roller coasters Kraken (which goes upside down seven times) and Manta. The animal exhibits were my sons favorite because he could collect free trading cards from the educators stationed at each exhibit.

• LEGOLAND Florida – Atlanta has a LEGO Discovery Center at Phipps Plaza, but LEGOLAND in FL is an entire theme park. Some of the elements from the Discovery Center are at the theme park, like the Build and Race track for instance. However, LEGOLAND has LOTS of rides and several shows, all geared to the 12 and under crowd.  But even older kids LOVE mini-land, popular US sites built with LEGOS and a special section with all the planets from the Star Wars saga.
• Gatorland – For something off the beaten path, and more along the lines of Old Florida, try Gatorland. Built in 1949 as a roadside attraction, Gatorland is the alligator Capital of the World. I was most excited about wrestling
  

  A legion of Gungans in Star Wars mini-land at LEGOLAND Florida.

  an alligator, but my kids really enjoyed the shows – especially the Up Close Encouter where they ask an audience member to hold a tarantula. You can zip line over the swamps on the Screamin Gator Zip Line.  Gatorland is offering $10 during spring break

• More Spring Break Ideas – For more spring break ideas for everything from cruises to ski resorts and more, visit this post by Family Travel Forum on Spring Break Vacation Ideas.

Stay tuned to Field Trips with Sue for more in-depth posts on these attractions or better yet, subscribe so you don’t miss a single post.

If you’re New Year’s resolution to be more active is waning or maybe your just tired of all this rain and want to get out of the house, we’ve got some indoor fun (link to the CBS segment) to get your heart pumping.

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  Fernbank’s NatureQuest is a nature lovers indoor playground

  Atlanta Rocks – Atlanta Rocks is an indoor climbing gym that offers family day each Wednesday. It’s a perfect activity for those with children of multiple ages. There’s so much to do with young kids in Atlanta, it’s nice to find somewhere that tweens and teens find interesting and fun – but will also engage younger kids. Plus, parents can get in on it too and if you’ve never climbed or need help, they have staffers ready to step in.

• SkyZone – SkyZone is another great place to get some exercise that is fun for all age ranges including the picky tweens and teens. In fact, the first Friday of the month (tomorrow) they have a special night just for middle schoolers and on Saturday is a special night just for high schoolers. Great way for kids to hang out in a positive environment – not in the McD’s parking lot like we had to do when I was a teen.
• Fernbank Museum of Natural History NatureQuest – One of my favorite indoor playgrounds for younger kids is based on the outdoors. NatureQuest at Fernbank Museum of Natural History lets kids explore six diverse ecosystems with over 100 interactive encounters. Once they wear themselves out, the IMAX show Flight of the Butterflies is a great cool down. Fernbank is doing a Butterfly Bash for kids on Feb. 9.