Spring is here, though it may not seem like it in some areas of the country. If you haven’t planned your COVID Safe solo or girlfriend’s spring getaway yet, I have some suggestions for you. The following are some of my favorite experiences and locations, all of which make for awesome spring break vacations in the almost post-COVID era. Check them out and then start packing for your next adventure.
NOTE: Please check websites and information for COVID-safety rules in advance, we do our best to stay on top of things, but new information comes in fast
Top Picks for the Best Spring Break Vacations for Women
Hike Mt. Rainier
Mt. Rainier is a magical place, and spring break is the perfect time to visit. If you love the snow, there are still plenty of areas that are covered in the white, fluffy stuff and there’s no better place to go snowshoeing. Inside Mt. Rainier National Park, you can get hooked up with a ranger-led snowshoe experience. Outside of the park, one of my favorite hikes is a 1.6-mile climb to High Rock Lookout. With an elevation gain of 1,350, this hike is no joke, but the view at the end is worth the work. After a scenic hike through fir and hemlocks, the forest falls away and a rock outcropping rises in front of you with the lookout perched on the edge of a cliff. It’s a scramble to the top where you can rest and take in the views at the tiny hut that was built in 1929.
Get ready to have your breath taken away. From your perch you can take in epic, panoramic views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St. Helens. Look down and you’ll see Cora Lake tucked in a forested valley 1,500 feet below. It is sincerely one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had.
If High Rock Lookout is snowed in, check out the Mt. Tahoma Hut to Hut system. You will find multiple hikes to huts that provide fantastic views of Mt. Rainier and some of the other peaks as well.
Hang Gliding in Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga is a cool, small city with lots of opportunities for adventure and fun. If you are into rock climbing and bouldering, it’s the perfect place to set up base camp for a couple of days of fun. Stone Fort is one of the most popular places to go climbing, and this article does a good job of listing rock lovers’ top spots.
My favorite Chattanooga adventure is Hang Gliding. If you go, you have to do it. Lookout Mountain Hang Gliding took good care of me. If you’ve never gone before, sign up for a tandem flight. You’ll be strapped to a pilot for comfort, and there’s no running and leaping off of cliffs involved in this experience. An airplane simply hauls your glider up into the air and then cuts you loose and lets you soar like a bird above the stunning Tennessee and Georgia landscape. You can read all about my flight here.
Rafting Durango, CO
I did not get to spend enough time in Durango, CO, but I fell in love with it instantly. First, fun fact: National Lampoon’s Vacation was filmed in Durango along with a whole bunch of movies. I suggest staying in the Rochester Hotel for your spring break getaway. It celebrates the area’s famed motion-picture history, with each room themed after Westerns that were filmed in the Durango area. It’s location at the edge of the downtown area, also makes it a perfect jump off point for exploring the city.
While in Durango, I booked a rafting trip with Mild to Wild Rafting. Their awesome guided took us on a super fun trip on the Lower Animas River. We did a half day trip, which was super fun and scenic. I suggest looking at longer trips. I only wanted more when our adventure came to an end.
While you are there, check out the Bookcase & the Barber. It’s one of the coolest speakeasies I’ve ever been too. The booze is phenomenal!
Exploring Moab, UT
Once again, I didn’t get nearly enough time in Moab, but I did check out a portion of Arches National Park and it was Amazing. Spiritual, event. I could spend days hiking this area, but if you want a more thorough guide to what your spring break getaway experience could include. Check out our Woman’s Guide to Moab, UT.
Explore Ybor in Tampa, FL
This is a shout out to the queer girls. And everyone else, but especially the queer women. Tampa, FL is the new “It” place to be, and the city has certainly earned the right to the current spotlight it’s enjoying. First of all, you can’t beat the awesome year-round weather, but what I fell in love with was the Ybor City neighborhood (A.k.a. Gaybor City).
Ybor is Tampa’s premier historic district and virtual cultural melting pot. As you walk down the area’s streets, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a different country. Ybor City was created by Cuban cigar makers who relocated with their factories in the 1880s. Now, it’s known for its boutiques, vintage shops,
You can spend your days wandering through the shops or making your way to the waterfront for a stroll. Of course there are plenty of pristine beaches nearby, but don’t miss the queer nightlife. Check out the Honey Pot and Bradley’s on 7th for dancing. For a more mellow evening, there’s always Ybor City Wine Bar.
Visit the Falls Niagara Falls, NY
If you are anywhere near the area, consider spending Spring Break Niagara Falls. The city of Niagara is located at the international boundary between the United States and Canada, and apart from seeing the breathtaking falls themselves, has a multitude of activities for you to enjoy. First, go to the falls and do all of the related activities. Hit the Cave of Winds which lowers you 175 feet down into the Niagara Gorge where you’ll get a pancho and then have the chance to walk to the the Hurricane Deck which is just a few feet from the rush of Bridal Veil Falls—the closest you can get to the actual falls. Also, make sure to take a ride on the Maid of the Mist boat tour. This double-decker ship takes you right up to the falls where I found myself surrounded by rainbows. It was an incredible experience that I will never forget.
Hit the Hot Springs in Oregon
It’s no secret: I love skinny dipping and hot springs. If you live
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