In spring break travel-magnet Florida, you can always hit up Miami’s party-hearty beaches or booze-cruise scene. But if you’re looking for a relaxed beach trip, Marco Island, in the Gulf of Mexico, is a better choice. Residents’ Beach, the long, sandy beach that covers most of the island’s west coast, and Tigertail Beach up north, are ideal for lounging the day away in the sun. After the beach, laid-back kayaking and relaxing wildlife viewing should be on your itinerary.

In mid-March, Galveston becomes an affordable spring break road-trip hot spot with the best Texas-sized beaches, bars, and beachfront dining this side of the Mississippi. After hitting the party scene, head out in search of dolphins, catch a sunset on a Segway, or build sand castles with the help of a pro.

There’s hardly a poor snorkeling spot in Hawaii, but the Big Island makes this list because it promises fewer crowds during the hectic spring break season, at least in some places. For example, the marine sanctuary of Kealakekua Bay is both a secluded and scenic snorkeling spot. The Big Island is also a destination for magical nighttime manta ray snorkeling trips and scuba diving adventures with green sea turtles off the coast of Hilo, the island’s capital.

The Chihuahuan Desert in West Texas wakes from frigid winter in March, ideal for a spring break road trip. The desert spans Big Bend National Park (a great swathe of protected land tracing the Rio Grande along the US-Mexico border), a desirable, remote camping destination. Float through secluded canyons on kayaks and stargaze in the US national park with the least light pollution in the lower 48 states.

Just because the weather heats up doesn’t mean you have to give up on sports that make winter fun, like skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, and ice skating. The Park City ski season typically runs through April, which means you have time to get your skis ready and hit the slopes even as late as spring break. Not a traditional winter sports kind of person? You can snowshoe to the top of Empire Pass and try “snowga,” yoga in the snow.

Wildlife viewing might not be a standard spring break activity, but it should be, as spring is when newborn animals make their first appearances. In Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming, moose, bison, and elk come into view in April while enormous herds of bison roll through Yellowstone’s Hayden Valley with their calves. With a little help from a wildlife biologist, you can safely spy wolves, bears, and more bison in Lamar Valley, also known as the “Serengeti of Yellowstone.”

If you love history, there’s never a bad time to check out the Alamo, San Antonio’s string of UNESCO–listed Spanish-era Missions, and other key sites throughout the historic city. In the spring, the Texas weather is (relatively) pleasant, making it the perfect time to stroll along the waterside shops, museums, and eateries on the River Walk. Plus, the city’s signature festival, Fiesta San Antonio, which celebrates the history of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto, takes place in April.

The shy among us might prefer solitude and wide open spaces to party sprees, and we know just where to send them. Come spring, Death Valley sheds winter tones for a kaleidoscope of desert flowers—and even superblooms about once a decade. Bloom season runs from mid-February to June but peaks in March and April, making it an ideal time for your spring break trip. Depart from Vegas to take the wallflowering down a notch, or stay for stargazing to turn it up.

First-rate surf breaks line the San Diego coast from Point Loma to Oceanside, but experienced surfers usually head to Windansea Beach just south of La Jolla, a small SoCal gem famed for consistent breaks, undersea reefs, and a historic surf shack. If you’re a beginner, start with a basic lesson in La Jolla; then, after you’re wiped from a day in the water, set sail on the bay and celebrate with a drink.