40 spring break surprises

Southern Living, Mar 2001 by Thompson, Annette

This time of year brings blooming flowers, singing birds, and crowds of winter-weary families hitting the road for that great American tradition known as spring break. If you love the break but hate the back-to-back sunbathers and bumper-to-bumper traffic it often brings, come along with us. We've discovered three great getaways-to a resort, to the mountains, to a beach-as well as 37 other family-friendly destinations throughout the South that the crowds haven't found..yet.

Make Hill Country Memories

Rustle up your pardners big and small for some memorable days at the Flying L Guest Ranch, about an hour from San Antonio. The ranch is actually a fim-filled country resort with 672-acres of Western-style activities spread under turquoise Hill Country skies. Begun as a playground for Hollywood's fly-- in-and-out elite, it's now a family place.

Begin your day with a hearty country breakfast in the main ranch house, and then jump on the hay wagon for a ride to the stables with Cowboy Craig. He'll introduce you to wrangler Tawni and her gang who will help you pick the perfect horse for a ride. She might lead you along scenic San Julian Creek or across fields dotted with mesquite and cedar trees, where wild pronghorns and rare white deer graze in the early hours.

Afterward, hike or bike to the ghost town and pretend you're the new sheriff in town. If you feel like sporting, dip into the Texas-size swimming pool or take a few swings around the golf course and tennis courts. Your kids will clamor to check out the children's program where they can star in their own Western adventures including scavenger hunts, cap pistol shoot-outs, and calf ribbon pulls. There's more fim than can fill a ten-gallon hat.

Relax in the evening with a stunning view of the Hill Country from the cozy dining room. Stroll down to the petting corral for an after-dinner walk, and then settle in to watch the nightly entertainment. If you're lucky it'll feature trick roper Kevin Fitzpatrick and his talented horse, Wet (who stands still for just about anything). The duo puts on a show with flying ropes and humorous dialogue that'd make Will Rogers proud.

After you've roasted the last marshmallow and tasted the final s'more, return to your stylish villa and lay your head down for some sweet home-on-the-range dreams. Tomorrow you can get up and do it all again.

Coming 'Round the Mountain

Mildred the bear probably didn't know what she was starting.

Purchased from a zoo in 1967 by Hugh Morton, owner of Grandfather Mountain near Linville, North Carolina, Mildred lived to the ripe old age of 26. When she died in 1993, the beloved black bear left behind 10 cubs and thousands of human fans. "I guess you could say Mildred put us in the habitat business," Hugh says.

Today, one of Mildred's descendants lives in the expanded Bear Environmental Habitat, while a menagerie of panthers, deer, eagles, and river otters stalk, prance, perch, and dive in other nearby natural areas.

The animal habitats are just part of the outdoor attractions you'll find on this world-renowned privately owned mountain. Hugh inherited Grandfather Mountain from his grandfather in 1952. After overseeing construction of a road to the summit, a mountaintop visitors center, 13 miles of hiking trails, and The Mile High Swinging Bridge, Hugh opened the top of his 3,500-acre, 5,964-- foot-tall inheritance to the public.

Among the manmade additions Hugh brought to his mountain, The Mile High Swinging Bridge may be the most impressive. Stretching 228 feet over an 80-foot chasm, the recently refurbished bridge offers spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.

Follow the road back down the mountain, and you reach the Nature Museum. Located next to the animal habitats, the museum brims with exhibits detailing the area's natural wonders and history.

A bronze statue of Mildred with two of her cubs stands in the museum's lobby. As she stares at the visitors who wander through, a slight smile seems to cross her face. Maybe Mildred knows what she helped start after all.

Roam Jacksonville's Riverwalk

Daytona Beach usually comes to mind when you think of spring break in Florida. But north of that rambunctious seaside town, Jacksonville offers just as many ways for families to welcome the warm weather.

Jacksonville combines the best of a bustling big city with the laid-back feel of a small beach town. And some of the city's prime attractions, shops, and restaurants are found along the downtown Riverwalk, a meandering boardwalk that runs for more than a mile along both sides of the St. Johns River.

The Riverwalk's north bank features the Jacksonville Landing, an entertainment complex with more than 80 shops and restaurants. Take a river taxi across the St. Johns to the south bank, and you'll find the Museum of Science & History. The MOSH (as it's known locally) is a high-tech, hands-on, kid-- friendly place where children learn about everything from sea creatures to solar systems.

Mike and Annmarie Willette often bring their two daughters, Danielle and Isabelle, down to the river. "We come here a lot," Mike says. "We'll go to the MOSH, a show at the Florida Theater, or a restaurant in the Landing. And the Riverwalk is a great place to let the girls run off some energy."