If you are like us spring break is always a challenge to figure out what to do, where to go or what to do with the children while we are working.  Well and of course some years we would wait to long and the vacation would be out of the question so we would try to get the kids into a camp so they're not bored.  Don't end up like that this year, here are some ideas to get away, take a break for a day or if you just can't but need something for the children to do.

Spring Break offers an excellent change to take a break and get away from it all.  Southern California has so much to offer that we don't have to go far from home, of course sometimes it is nice to get away.  Here are some ideas of what you can do this spring break ranging from in-expensive to possibly outrageous and almost right in your back yard to jump on a plain and travel for 5 or more hours.

• Camping in San Diego and Southern California parks or at one of the many lakes, beaches, dessert or mountain spots that San Diego has to offer. 
• Take a day a two day hiking adventure to one of the many local mountain and reserve trails.  One I particularly love and recommend going at least once is the Torrey Pines State Reserve. You can Hike one to three different trails, all 1.25 miles or less and with spectacular scenery and vies of the ocean.
• How about Camping in Yellowstone National Park with it's numerous Geysers, Waterfalls, Wildlife and Hotsprings that it has to offer and 950 miles of backcountry trails.
• Or stay closer to home and visit Yosemite National Park. Yosemite has something to offer everyone, from the pristine Yosemite Valley and the Giant Sequoias to the spectacular panoramas and mountain vistas at Glacier Point or Tuolumne Meadows, and the historical communities that surround the park.
• Rent RV and travel to the Grand Canyon or drive up the coast and stop at any of the parks, beaches, tourist locations along the way.   California has hundreds of miles of beaches, places to visit like Hearst Castle, and of course amusement parks and recreation.
• Take the family for a fun vacation and visit one of the many Six Flags locations, with theme parks, water parks, ocean adventure parks and of course all the extreme roller coasters.
• Stay near home and visit; Lego Land, Disney Land, Knott's Berry Farm, San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park.
• Check out many of the Southern California Beaches and Piers for example, Historical Santa Monica Pier, with it's vintage carousel, merry go round over looking the pier and ocean, amusement park, restaurants and shops.  This is another place this is a most see.
• And finally to really get away from it all, take a trip to the Caribbean or a cruise to a tropical destination.

Have to work or just can't take a vacation and wondering what to do with the children.  How about taking them to the ice skating rink, a movie or the children's museum or get some crafts for them to do or have them plant a childrens garden in a bare spot in the back yard.  For those that have to work or don't have the time for one those activities, maybe one of the following can help:

• The local YMCA offers camps, sports, aquatics, dance and for children over 8 they have all day child care programs for minimal fees offering, reading, games and more.
• Check out some the local camps.  San Diego has camps for basketball, surfing, baseball, Kayaking, wrestling, and more.
• Finally why not help a teen in your area make a little extra money and entertain the children at the same time; hire a teen-age babysitter to take the kids to the skating rink, movie, children' museum, or park on the weekdays.