Northwest Spring Break Family Vacation Adventures Include Fossils, Tide Pools, and Stargazing. Whatever your family’s passion, we have spring break vacation ideas to fit the quest. Consider biking along the coast and investigating tide pools or go fossil hunting in Eastern Oregon. Create your own urban family adventure in Seattle or camp out in a yurt. Have we missed something? Our Vacation Directory has at least 101 more ideas for the perfect spring break.

Washington: Seattle, Hotel Nexus Spring Break Suite Deal. Located in the Northgate Mall area, Nexus is a convenient family vacation base convenient to downtown Seattle. The hotel has a stylish family-friendly supported by apartment-style suites for often needed extra space and complimentary breakfast daily. Here's the scoop. Hotel Nexus offers animal-loving families a great way to stay in the city and experience Woodland Park Zoo, all in one convinent package. Here’s the deal. The Woodland Park Zoo Hotel package requires a one-night stay in a room with two queen beds and  includes: two adult tickets and two child tickets for the Woodland Park Zoo, spacious suite, complimentary hot breakfast, complimentary high speed internet access, two commemorative stuffed animals, indoor spa and fitness center, free parking, free area shuttle to Seattle Center/Space Needle, Pioneer Square, Woodland Park Zoo, and Northgate Mall. (Hotel Nexus 2140 N. Northgate Way Seattle, WA 98133, USA. Toll-free 1- 800-435-0754, (206) 365-0700 or www.hotelnexusseattle.com) 

Oregon: Dayville, Stargazing and Searching for Fossils. Eastern Oregon offers oodles of awesome opportunities for parents to share learning moments with their children. At John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, surrounded by rocky terrain (out of cell phone) reach families with young rock hounds will have it made. The 14,000–acre park includes the Blue Basin volcanic ash bowl, the dramatically beautiful claystone “painted hills” and a wilderness landscape populated with well-preserved plant and animal fossils dating to 65 million ago.  Here’s the scoop. The Thomas Condon Paleontology Center at Sheep Rock Unit is at the center of action offering visitors guided tours, ranger talks, microscopes for interactive investigation, and touch tables. Seeing is believing but touching makes all the difference in understanding fossils. Bonus Points: Kids ages 5- 12 have a chance to earn a Junior Ranger Badge during their visit. (Thomas Condon Paleontology Center Sheep Rock Unit Highway 19 between the towns of Dayville and Kimberly about 75 miles east of Bend. (541) 987-2333) or NPS Sheep Rock). Sleeping spots: Consider making the Historic Oregon Hotel in Mitchell your family adventure base or try the slightly quirky Fish House Inn in Dayville.

Oregon: State Parks Statewide - Sleep in a Yurt and Launch Your Own Family Adventure. Oregon is full of great places to share with children. My first recommendation is always to check out the unique selection of state parks – many with camping facilities and all with remarkable natural beauty. Spring breaks along the coast may include horseback riding, tide pooling, whale watching, and fishing while inland there’s always hiking, biking, and star gazing. Browse the master website and be rewarded with family vacation possibilities. Being practical about the weather I suggest spots with cabins or yurts. Here’s the scoop.  The good news, 18 parks throughout the state have yurts some are rustic and a few are deluxe. Yurts in Oregon parks each have futon sofa (converts to a double bed), single/double-sized bunk bed, coffee table, heating, lights, electricity, venting skylight, outdoor fire pit, picnic table. Guest supply bedding, dishes and utensils, towels and usual camping items. My advice (for a few dollars more) is to select a deluxe yurt with private restroom, a kitchenette, TV/VCR and beds. Here’s the deal. Prices range from $36 to $76 per night depending on season and location. Location on the planet: One of my favorite parks is Umpqua Lighthouse State Park within Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area so I offer it as a starting point. (General park information and reservations toll-free 1-800-452-5687 or www.oregonstateparks.org)