These U.S. Destinations Are Gaining Popularity for Spring Break Spots, Data Finds

Vacasa reports a significant uptick in reservations for cold-weather destinations like Alaska and Colorado.

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Spring break may conjure images of warm weather locales, swaying palms, and sun-drenched beaches, but this year, students and their families are also going for something more unconventional. Vacation rental management platform Vacasa reports a significant uptick in reservations for cold-weather destinations like Alaska and Colorado.

“Alaskan cities like Anchorage and Girdwood have seen a 17 percent spike in spring break interest over 2023, and Colorado locations Steamboat Springs and Vail and Beaver Creek have seen a 14 percent increase and 11 percent, respectively,” Kristen Taylor, VP of operations for Vacasa, told Travel + Leisure.

Both Anchorage and Girdwood are known for their abundance of outdoor activities, including glacier tours, hiking, skiing, and Aurora Borealis sightings. Anchorage is also the perfect home base to explore four of Alaska’s most stunning national parks: Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords, Lake Clark, Katmai, and Wrangell-Saint Elias.

“While we know plenty of travelers are content to sit on a beach towel for some R&R, spring break can also be an adventure-filled time to seek out destinations you might not normally consider,” Taylor added.

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Other places where you might find a larger spring break crowd this year are Tucson, Marana, and Oro Valley in Arizona, as Vacasa is reporting a 17 percent increase in bookings. Interest for East Tennessee’s Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg is also up 14 percent.

Even in traditional spring break spots like Florida and Hawaii, travelers are eyeing different destinations “where there’s more to do than soak up the sun,” according to Taylor.

For example, in the Sunshine State, accommodation bookings in Destin and Miramar Beach are up four percent over 2023. For Key West, they are up three percent.

On the Big Island of Hawaii, the communities of Kailua-Kona, Waikōloa, and Kea’au see a four percent spike in reservations for this spring break season. Kona is a popular spot for snorkeling and diving; whale-watching is a must-do activity this time of year.

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.