8 Grown-Up Spring Break Trips That Don’t Involve Boozy Beach Parties

Spring break tends to be synonymous with youthful hedonism: boozy beach parties, late-night DJ sets in mega-clubs, neon-streaked full-moon parties. But just because waking up every morning with a tequila hangover isn’t your idea of fun anymore doesn’t mean that spring break as a concept should be off the table. Traveling with friends is timeless, and spring, with its often sweet-spot shoulder-season weather and budget-friendly rates, remains the perfect time to do it.

The nice thing about traveling as a group of adults is the amount of freedom you have—you can set your own pace, without being locked into a plug-and-play all-inclusive resort with a kids club, or having to tick off a syllabus of cultural landmarks or museums to fulfill college credit requirements. The ideal grown-up spring break is also an opportunity to reconnect with pals—whether old or new, college or postgrad—and to make time for the sorts of feel-good pursuits that often get pushed to the side amid our busy day-to-day work and family lives. (Even if that means kids need to be left at home with obliging grandparents or a trusted babysitter to make it happen.)

Whether your crew gravitates toward culinary adventures or outdoor excursions, urban exploration or rural relaxation (or a little bit of all of it), there’s a spring break trip out there for you. We’ve rounded up eight of them, below. While even the most copacetic squads are unlikely to agree on every aspect of a vacation itinerary, we’ve made sure to highlight one standout activity we think everyone will be able to get on board with; so fire up that group chat and start planning.

Sedona, Arizona

Enchantment’s new pool deck features picturesque red rock views and a dedicated “pool concierge.” (Photo courtesy of Enchantment/Kevin Floerke)

Artists and spiritual souls alike have long been drawn to Sedona, Arizona, thanks to its dramatic landscape and healing energy. With luxurious spa hotels and awe-inspiring hikes, the Southwestern city also offers a reprieve for burned-out city dwellers looking for some R&R, as well as the woo-woo curious—those who know one another’s rising signs by heart and never schedule a brunch date without hitting a sound bath first. Visiting in spring allows you to catch the region’s magnificent wildflower blooms, while avoiding peak summer temperatures. If you’re looking to splash out, book a stay at Enchantment resort, which has an array of pueblo-style, multiroom suites that are well suited to groups.

Traveling with pals isn’t always low-stress, especially when some people crave an activity per hour and others just want to read and veg out. But Sedona is all about balance: The high-octane folks can head out for morning hikes or hit the nearby Seven Canyons golf course, to which Enchantment guests enjoy special access. Those seeking a lower-key vibe can book a chakra-balancing session or Crystal Grotto ritual at the neighboring Mii Amo spa, and everyone can debrief at the gorgeous canyon-view pool at the end of the day. A week spent in the glow of the red rocks will guarantee your group leaves feeling recharged, bonded and blissed out.

Crowd-pleaser: While adventurous hikers may prefer to explore the region on foot, a private Jeep tour accompanied by a naturalist guide will allow nature lovers of every fitness level to get up close and personal with Sedona’s rugged terrain—all without breaking a sweat.

Miami, Florida

The Shelborne By Proper is a laid-back Art Deco hotel with a wealth of cool-kid programming. (Photo courtesy of The Shelborne By Proper/The Ingalls)

Even if you’ve aged out of South Florida’s perennially popular spring break scene, you’ll never be too old for Miami. With its lively food and art scene, hotels for every budget and vibe, and easy flights from pretty much anywhere in North America, Magic City is a great low-lift escape for a culturally savvy crew that wants to spend the bulk of their time relaxing, eating good food and soaking in high design—but hasn’t totally ruled out the occasional 3 a.m. party night. Book a splash-out meal at Michael’s Genuine Food & DrinkOpens overlay or Joe’s Stone CrabOpens overlay to celebrate the trip finally making it out of the group chat, explore galleries in the Design District (the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, which hosts regular exhibits from superstar artists, is a must-see) or just sip piña coladas and catch some rays on America’s most iconic strip of shoreline.

For a sleek stay that won’t break the bank, check out The Shelborne By Proper in South Beach, a laid-back Art Deco hotel that recently got a $100 million facelift. Staying in one of the hotel’s Two Bedroom Villa Suites is like having your crew’s own private beachfront residence, while still providing access to the hotel’s cool-kid cultural programming, from DJ sets and jazz shows to mah-jongg and backgammon clubs. It’s also walking distance to the clubs and restaurants of vibrant Collins Avenue; if one of your friends happens to be celebrating a recent promotion (preferably with a pay raise), you can stroll over to nearby Los Fuegos by Francis MallmannOpens overlay, in the glitzy Faena Meami Beach hotel, for a lavish steak dinner beside a woolly mammoth skeleton covered in gold leaf.

Crowd-pleaser: The only thing better than laying out on Miami’s beaches? Gazing back at them from a private boat cruise.

Hudson Valley, New York

INNESS’s 7,000-square-foot spa boasts a heated tranquility pool and an extensive treatment menu. (Photo courtesy of INNESS/Adrian Gaut)

Do you have the kind of friend group that prioritizes hygge? You know—one made up of folks who could spend hours poring over coffee-table books of the world’s chicest countryside inns, who collect quality wool blankets like baseball cards and who are constantly saving cozy cabin decor on their favorite apps? If any of that sounds familiar, then consider casting your eyes north of New York City to the Hudson Valley. Conveniently located just an hour or two by car from the Big Apple (or, depending on the destination, a few hours by train), this is a dreamy rural retreat for those who want fresh air and scenery without sacrificing the stylistic flair that comes from close proximity to a big city—think design-focused restaurants and inns run by world-class chefs (like MatildaOpens overlay at The Henson hotel, from the team behind Manhattan’s WildairOpens overlay), eclectic museums (don’t miss the epic torqued steel sculptures at Dia Beacon) and charming slow-fashion boutiques like Hudson’s Nikki Chasin.

Hit up antiques stores, marvel at the sculptures at the Storm King Art Center’s outdoor gallery or just hole up at a cabin in the woods with some board games, firewood and a selection of local wine and cheese from one of the region’s many artisanal producers. If you prefer to have your fires stoked for you, book in at INNESS, a boutique retreat on 220 acres with tennis courts, a much-ballyhooed golf course and deferential but unfussy service.

Crowd-pleaser: You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more luxurious group bonding experience than a day of pampering at INNESS’s 7,000-square-foot spa, with its heated tranquility pool, sauna and steam room, and treatment menu that includes acupuncture, fire-cupping (a Traditional Chinese Medicine healing technique that uses a flame to suction glass onto the skin) and top-tier facials.

San Sebastián, Spain

The view from Nobu Hotel San Sebastián, overlooking horseshoe-shaped La Concha beach. (Photo courtesy of Nobu Hotel San Sebastián)

If you’re a foodie with a week or so to spare, we recommend skipping the big European capitals and heading to this oceanfront gem in the Basque Country, a region named one of Chase Travel’s 26 Trips to Take in 2026. This is the ideal getaway for crews with their finger on the culinary pulse, who track new restaurant openings and compare notes on celebrity chefs like they’re playing rising stocks. After long days sipping txakoli, the region’s traditional crisp, sparkling white wine, and catching waves at one of Europe’s best surf spots, it’s time for the main event: dinner. Much of the action in Spain happens after dark, so make sure to choose your friend circle for this trip accordingly (night owls strongly preferred).

Most of your evenings will be spent bar-crawling for hours and munching on pintxos, San Sebastián’s version of tapas (don’t miss the savory delights of Bar TxepetxaOpens overlay, where they’ve been serving famous vinegar-cured white boquerón anchovies since the 1970s). But make sure you save a night or two for a splurge-worthy blowout—the city has an impressively high concentration of award-winning restaurants, like AkelarreOpens overlay, the pathbreaking temple of New Basque cuisine. Treat yourselves with a stay at Nobu Hotel San Sebastián, where the brand’s trademark modern minimalism gets regional flair in a 1912 villa overlooking crescent-shaped La Concha beach, the city’s most postcard-perfect vista.

Crowd-pleaser: When you can’t agree on where to dine next, consider a guided walking tour of the city’s best pintxo spots, or an authentic Basque wine tour and tasting at one of the region’s txakoli wineries.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

An oceanfront villa at Fairmont El San Juan Hotel, where you can kick back after a long day at the beach. (Photo courtesy of Fairmont El San Juan Hotel/Eric Laignel)

Craving Caribbean sunshine without the headaches of international travel? Grab your driver’s license (no passport needed) and hop on a plane to San Juan—there are direct flights from many major U.S. hubs—which offers a best-of-both-worlds itinerary for travelers seeking an unhurried blend of beach, culture and nightlife. You have your pick of hotels in the capital, but make planning even lower-stress with a stay at the historic Fairmont El San Juan Hotel—which has more than a dozen on-site restaurants and bars, not to mention four pools, and is close enough to the airport that you can go from baggage claim to cold cervezas by the ocean in under 15 minutes.

Start your mornings with strong coffee and a guava pastry at SpigaOpens overlay as you wander the pastel-hued, cobblestoned streets of Old San Juan. Afternoons are for soaking up the sun along Condado or Isla Verde beaches, followed by dinners at hot spotsOpens overlay like MarmaladeOpens overlay and craft cocktails at the mazelike La FactoríaOpens overlay.

Crowd-pleaser: Appease the adventurers in your squad by tacking on a day trip to hike among waterfalls in El Yunque National Forest or a nighttime kayak trip through the glowing bioluminescent bay in Fajardo.

Vancouver, British Columbia 

Hop a floatplane to Long Beach Lodge Resort in Tofino for miles of unspoiled coastline and Canada’s best sunsets. (Photo courtesy of Long Beach Lodge Resort)

Want to touch grass without going totally off the beaten track? Get the gang together and head to Canada’s westernmost province. The coastal metropolis of Vancouver offers scenic sea views, the best sushi outside Japan (don’t sleep on the sashimi moriawase at Sushi HilOpens overlay or Miku’sOpens overlay famous aburi nigiri) and—depending on exactly when you go—parka-free spring skiing just 40 minutes from the city.

Once you’ve had your fill of urban exploration, go experience some nearby nature: Hike in the mountains of Whistler, or hop on one of the BC ferries over to Vancouver Island, where beaches, cozy lodges and rainforest hikes await. For a more ambitious group getaway, drive a couple of hours (or hop a floatplane!) to Long Beach Lodge Resort in Tofino, a breathtaking surfer’s paradise where you can spend your days kayaking among sea otters and soaking in dramatic Pacific Coast sunsets that could provoke tears in even your most stoic corporate-ace friend.

Crowd-pleaser: A dreamy backdrop for your group trip selfie: soaring through the clouds on the Squamish sea-to-sky gondola as you take in some of BC’s most stunning landscapes from above.

Mexico City, Mexico

An international hub of food, art and design, cosmopolitan Mexico City has a little something for everyone.

For the group that wants a little bit of everything—culture, food, art, history, sunshine, party—you simply can’t beat CDMX. The city’s popularity is hard to escape; Mexico City has in recent years become one of the continent’s most happening capitals. But there’s so much to see and do here that isn’t about chasing the trendiest social media backdrop, and balmy spring is the best time for it all. Wander the streets of the trendy, boutique-filled Roma Norte and La Condesa neighborhoods with pastries from Panadería RosettaOpens overlay, popping into shops and snapping photos of purple jacaranda trees. Or split off and choose your own adventure: History buffs can marvel at Aztec wonders at the Templo Mayor Museum, while architecture lovers hit up famous Mexican Modernist buildings and foodies line up for rib-eye tacos at MaizajoOpens overlay or tacos de cochinita pibil at CastacánOpens overlay.

After action-packed days, you can congregate back at your hotel (Condesa DF, one of the city’s first boutique design hotels, boasts a leafy triangular rooftop that’s great for a nightcap with a view) or one of the city’s many world-famous restaurantsOpens overlay, like ContramarOpens overlay (which remains perhaps the city’s most legendary seafood spot for a reason).

Crowd-pleaser: Watching the sun rise as you soar over the pyramids of Teotihuacán in a hot-air balloon is hard to beat when it comes to bucket-list bonding activities.

Formentera, Spain

Ibiza’s sleepier little sister has the same blissful Balearic vibes, without the techno mega-clubs. (Photo courtesy of Gecko Formentera/Marta Pérez Fotografía)

We get it: While city vacations offer certain thrills, sometimes you just want to lie horizontal on the sand. For the gang who spends all year fantasizing about screensaver-quality shorelines, consider adding the island of Formentera to your travel list. It’s often thought of as Ibiza’s more easygoing sibling—same blissful Balearic vibes and serene turquoise waters, far fewer pulsing bass lines and slick mega-clubs. Stringent rules around development on the island mean an absence of high-rises or name-brand chain hotels—though if you still want some of the conveniences of resort life on a smaller scale (for example, a quality on-site restaurant and amenities like paddleboard rentals and yoga classes), the easygoing beachfront Gecko Formentera hotel and beach club is a nice option. Spring is an especially good time to explore this Mediterranean oasis: fewer tourists, cheaper prices and still-balmy weather suited to long lunches of peix sec (sun-dried fish) and bike rides through the island’s many sandy coves, cliffs and trails.

Crowd-pleaser: A private sailing tour is the best way to experience the region’s dramatic coastlines—you can wave to the revelers on neighboring Ibiza from the comfort of your own catamaran (while retaining control of the aux cord).

Lead photo courtesy of Angela Sun/Chase.