Spring break comes but once a year. Although it seems the annual respite has gotten shorter since my time in school, the days off are still a welcome period to relax and enjoy family time. Where should you turn if you want to enjoy a weekend away? Day events are always an option, but how about squeezing in a little vacation time?

Mommy Poppins Philadelphia has compiled a list of places close enough for an easy spring break getaway. For more ideas, be sure and check out our event calendar for fun activities throughout the Philly area and Travel Guide for far-off destinations.

Are you ready to get out of town and see some new scenery? Covid cases are falling (yay!) but it’s probably still not the right time to book a flight to a favorite exotic resort or massive hotel. But a road trip to a vacation home rental somewhere in gorgeous, sunny California is just the ticket: meticulously cleaned before you arrive, no crowded spaces, and the chance to be someplace new, different, and fresh.

Since we’re not traveling to packed tourist destinations, we wanted to find the best places to visit where the actual vacation rental was part of the attraction—so here are treehouses, a-frames, cabooses, and space ships (seriously) that are on the beach, in the mountains, in the city, or on alpaca farms. Read on to discover where in California your next family vacation will be.

Since opening its doors in 1983, The Parish School has been on a mission to educate and empower kids with communication delays and learning differences across the greater Houston area. Now situated on a 17-acre hill country summer camp-inspired campus, the nationally-recognized special needs school offers students ages 2 to 12 a nurturing nature-based learning environment, complete with an on-site pediatric therapy clinic that helps children to truly thrive.

Whether you call them hand pies, toaster pastries, Pop Tarts—or just plain ol' delicious!—these treats sweeten up any family morning. Frozen pie crust simplifies this homemade Pop-Tart-style pastry recipe. It's easy to follow and comes together faster than you might realize. Kids can fill these, and top them, with their preferred flavors, from jam to chocolate and sprinkles.

Visiting Joshua Tree National Park is an otherworldly experience: groves of twisted trees and giant boulders create enchanting settings so unique, you might think you have stepped into a fairy tale—or landed on an alien planet. Approximately a two-hour drive from Los Angeles and a stone's throw from Palm Springs, this park is great for a family camping adventure or just a day hike because it captures everyone’s imagination. Stroller-friendly trails make it a great option for little trekkers, as do several walks easy enough for young kids (or tired grown-ups) to maneuver. But teens and tweens who never tire won't run out of rocks and boulders to climb over.

Read on to get the latest information on what's open, what to see, and how to explore this spectacular local national park. Spending the night? Check out our 10 Favorite Joshua Tree Airbnbs, Hotels, and Campgrounds for Families.

Editor's note: As of April 21, 2021, the opening day has again been delayed. Organizers hope the attractions will open sometime during summer 2021. The Sea Life Aquarium at the American Dream entertainment complex in New Jersey has set its grand opening date for Tuesday, May 4, 2021. With a "city under the sea theme," its interactive exhibits showcase more than 3,000 sea creatures from jellyfish to sharks. Opening alongside the attraction is a Legoland Discovery Center. Both were slated for spring 2020 openings but saw their debuts pushed back by the pandemic.

The first Sea Life to open in the Northeast, the New Jersey aquarium joins nine other locations across the U.S., including aquariums in San Antonio, Texas, Orlando, Florida, and Carlsbad, California.

Large-scale, step-inside, immersive art displays are having their moment in NYC, but you don't have to wait until the late-spring Van Gogh Exhibition to step inside a sprawling art-filled space. Artechouse NYC, located in the lovely and packed with family-friendly amenities, Chelsea Market, has just debuted a brand new show, and it's worth adding a visit to your calendar.

Read on for our Artechouse NYC review and find more fun art-inspired destinations in our Guide to Museums, Galleries, and Exhibitions.

One New Jersey town has found a unique way to give its businesses a little lift. Giant, light-up seesaws have been installed in Westfield as part of its Glo Downtown promotion, and organizers hope these whimsical playthings attract visitors to its streets.

The seesaws are part of the touring public art installation dubbed Impulse, which features 15 illuminated, sound-producing seesaws, each holding up to four riders at a time. It's been installed in the North Avenue Westfield Train Station parking lot. The Impulse seesaws, which previously appeared in New York City, Montreal, Australia, London, and Boston, are FREE to ride and available daily through Sunday, March 21.