How to Spend Spring Break in California
Enjoy one of our favourite American traditions – the grown up way.
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We know you’re not looking for messy parties or loads of young people doing keg stands on the beach – you’re not the college kid you were twenty years ago after all. So for your California spring break, you’ll be avoiding the typical spots and instead hitting locations where you can relax and enjoy the change in the weather without too many other humans infesting the area with their wet t-shirt contests and drinking games. (Isn’t it scary how much you’ve become your parents)?
Our fastidious Plum Guide home critics have personally vetted each of our properties to make sure they are up to your high standards so all you have to do is book and we guarantee you’ll have the best adult spring break in Cever. You’re welcome.
Los Angeles
Head to LA for mild temperatures, expansive beaches and just enough big city vibes to ensure no one will be bored. You’ll love hiking in the morning followed by a delicious and healthy smoothie, days spent lazing on Malibu beach, shopping in Beverly Hills and enjoying the multitude of art galleries, museums, restaurants and bars the city has to offer.
Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles, California
Rent a car to best take advantage of the City of Angels. There is nothing quite like zipping along the famous Pacific Coast Highway and taking in those California coastal views for the very first time.
Cloud Chord, Plum Guide home in Los Angeles
Plum Guide home Cloud Chord in the Hollywood Hills makes the perfect luxury crash pad for you and your family. You’ll feel like Hollywood royalty as you take a morning dip in the Roman pool complete with a hydromassage function. The rooms are huge, there is a grand piano on the premises and the beautiful mountain views are a feast for the eyes (and your social media-obsessed kids Instagram feeds).
Palm Springs
You’ve survived the winter so why not reward yourself with a sunny desert destination for your spring break in California? Palm Springs in the Sonoran Desert is known worldwide for its natural hot springs, chic homes, golf courses and spas. Architecture nerds fans will love the city’s stellar examples of mid-century modern architecture too.
Home exterior and palm trees in Palm Springs
Come here to pamper yourself with wonderful spa treatments and days spent golfing or around the pool. For extra parent points, treat your teens to Coachella tickets. They’ll love you forever or at least until their next big obsession rears its head. Want to get involved in the fun? Just pretend you’re there to chaperone when really you just want to see Beyoncé in person (don’t worry, we won’t tell a soul).
There is also great shopping in the area, particularly around Palm Canyon Drive and temperatures will be mild enough this time of year to enjoy the region's array of nature activities including hiking, biking and horseback riding.
The Alexander, Plum Guide home in Palm Springs
There are so many great Plum Guide homes to stay in Palm Springs with family like this lovingly restored genuine Alexander house. A mid-century classic, you’ll love the stupendous natural light and gloriously high ceilings, which accentuate the sleek and neutral modern decor. The yard offers extensive lounge seating, a salt water pool and views of the mountains perfect for catching the sunset.
Joshua Tree
For an even more laid back desert experience, choose Joshua Tree when planning how to spend spring break in California. Eponymous with the Joshua Tree National Park, the area is characterised by rugged rock formations, romantic desert landscapes and the strange, twisted trees from which the region takes its name.
The Pioneers, Plum Guide home in Joshua Tree, California
Secluded Plum Guide home The Pioneers makes the perfect retreat around these parts. Located on fifteen acres of land, this is the ideal place to recharge and unplug, while spending true quality time with the fam. Spend your days vintage shopping at the many local outdoor markets and hiking through the National Park. Go for dinner and live music at local saloon Pappy and Harriet’s and then come home and stargaze from the hot tub once the kids have gone to bed. There’s even an airstream that acts as a fourth bedroom in case you want the extra privacy. Hey, the desert is a magical place, that’s all we’re saying.
San Diego
For an ultra beachy spring break in California, make your way to San Diego. Though there will probably be more typical spring breakers here than the other cities we’ve mentioned, it’s still worth a visit if sun and sand are your goals for this holiday.
Ocean Beach, San Diego, California
Located about 90 minutes south of LA, San Diego is a posh and lovely coastal city which is home to some of the best beaches on the planet. The warm and mild climate makes for the perfect spring break destination and the multitude of available activities will be sure to keep the whole family happy. Try surf lessons for the little ones as you work on that much-needed tan. Balboa Park boasts not only beautiful gardens but also seventeen museums and the San Diego Zoo. There are golf courses, designer shops, fantastic restaurants and more.
Lemon Parasol, Plum Guide home in San Diego, California
When choosing your home away from home here, why not try Lemon Parasol in posh La Jolla? With both a pool table and a swimming pool, you won’t even have to leave the house to have a good time. There’s also a fire pit for quiet nights with your better half once the kiddos have gone to bed.
