This article is from 2011; read our updated list of spring break activities for 2016 HERE.

For some parents, the thought of Spring Break (a whole week with your kids at home) seems more daunting than refreshing. While the kids are wildly excited about the break from classes, parents sometimes need a little help keeping them entertained. We’ve got the week covered. Here are plenty of close-to-home activities that won’t stress you out or break your budget and will ensure that your kids have a fun-filled week!

ALL WEEK LONG (March 21-25)

Spring Break Camp at Little Rock Athletic Club — Each day Mon.-Fri. is filled with games, sports, arts and crafts, swimming, field trips and more. Lunch and snacks are included. Cost ranges from $140-$180. Ages 3-5 are from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and ages 5-12 are from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Complimentary Extended Care starts at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. For info and to register: (501) 225-3601 or LRAC.com.

Spring Break Activities at Sonshine Academy — From 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri., Sonshine Academy will be providing fun-filled days of games, crafts and even field trips. Cost is $28 per day. Register in person at 2415 Donaghey Ave., Conway. For info: (501) 327-7742.

Shoezapalooza at The Wonder Place — Grab your favorite footwear and come join the fun Mon.-Fri. from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. There will be activities, games, crafts and more. Monday is boots; Tuesday is sneakers; Wednesday is dancing shoes; Thursday is house shoes; and Friday is flip flops. Receive $1 off admission when you bring in a pair of gently used shoes to be donated to a local charity. Regular admission is $7 per person. For info: (501) 225-4050.

School’s Out Day Camp at River City Gymnastics — River City offers School’s Out Day Camps for children ages 5-12 during Spring Break with activities ranging from soccer and volleyball to arts and crafts and gymnastics that keep your child's health and fitness in mind. Camp hours are from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Call to register. For info: (501) 407-8000.

Spring Break at Lake Ouachita State Park — There will be lots of recreational opportunities this week, including kayak tours, lake tours, astronomy programs, nature programs, hikes, games, crafts and more. Many are FREE! For info and a detailed schedule: (501) 767-9366.

Tulip Extravaganza at Garvan Woodland Gardens — Be the first to see the more than 100,000 tulips at Garvan Woodland Gardens this spring. This lavish floral display is one of the most anticipated events of the year. The extravaganza begins March 21 and runs through April 3 (call for estimated peak bloom dates). Admission is $8.75 for adults, $4.50 for children 6-12, and free for children age 5 and under. For info: (501) 262-9300.

Spring Break at DeGray Lake — Located one hour south of Little Rock in Bismarck, children can come spend Spring Break in nature at DeGray Lake Resort State Park. The park runs programs year 'round such as daily interpretive programs, kayak and lake tours, island adventures, golf course safaris and more. Families can stay at the lodge, in cabins or campsites, or come on a day trip. Most activities are FREE. For info: (501) 865-5810.

Spring Break Fun at CALS Main Library —The Main Library will be hosting a different activity each day at 2 p.m. Days are as follows: Movie Monday, Tie-Dye Tuesday, Wii Wednesday, Think About It Thursday and Frightful Friday. For info: (501) 918-3050. FREE!

Spring Break Activities at Pinnacle Mountain State Park — Pinnacle Mountain State Park has all kinds of activities going on this week, including canoe floats, lake cruises, day camps, hayrides and more. For info and a full park calendar: ArkansasStateParks.com/PinnacleMountain.

SPECIAL EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Keep On Truckin' at Mid-America Science Museum — This family event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. will allow kids of all ages to get up close and touch fire engines, police cars, a monster truck, a milk truck, construction equipment and more. Cost is $5, and the first 100 kids will receive a free T-shirt. For info: (501) 767-3461.

Spring Equinox Celebration at http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/toltecmounds/— From 4-7:30 p.m. Sat., March 19, visitors can participate in a Native American tools and weapons demonstration, enjoy a presentation on how the mounds are arranged to coincide with solar events, and go on a guided tour of the mound site to observe the sunset over Mound A. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for kids ages 6-12 and free for those 5 and younger. For info: (501) 961-9442.

Spring Break Family Day at Arkansas Arts Center — In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Young Arkansas Artists Annual Exhibition, the Arts Center has planned a variety of art activities for families from 1–4 p.m. Wed., March 23 in the Atrium. A small fee may be charged for some activities. The exhibition will also be open for viewing. For info: (501) 372-4000.

Mini Camp at Arkansas Arts Center Museum School — This two-day children’s workshop titled "If You Give a Pig a Pancake" Art and Fun for Spring Break will be from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. March 24-25. Kids ages 6-9 will design toys, paint, collage, make prints, make puppets and enjoy a matinee performance of "If You Give a Pig a Pancake." Cost for the workshop is $77 and includes cost of materials and admission to the play. For info: (501) 372-4000.

Breakfast with Reptiles at Little Rock Zoo — From 8-9:30 a.m. Sat. March 26, come enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet in Cafe Africa and a unique keeper chat all about reptiles. Cost is $12.95 for member child, $16.95 for member adult, $16.95 for non-member child and $21.95 for non-member adult. For info and reservations: (501) 661-7218.

OTHER IDEAS

Cheap Skate at Arkansas Skatium — From 7-10 p.m. every Tuesday, you can enjoy roller skating for just $3 per person. Skate rental is $1.50 extra. For info: (501) 227-4333.

Tour the The U.S.S. Razorback — The Razorback is moored on the North Little Rock side of the Arkansas River at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum. A tour of the submarine takes you through seven watertight compartments, where you can learn about the sub's wartime service and her activities during the Cold War. Children can see firsthand how submariners slept, ate and worked. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-dusk Fri.-Sat. and 1 p.m.-dusk Sun. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 children. The tour is not recommended for children under five.

Tour the Arkansas State Capitol — Children will love the ornate staircases and the high ceilings of the rotunda. Older children can learn a great deal from the exhibits. The historic building is open to the public from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m on weekends and holidays. Free scheduled tours of the Capitol Building are offered from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays. For info: (501) 682-5080.

Visit the Old Mill — Located at Fairway Avenue and Lakeshore Drive in North Little Rock, The Old Mill is a popular outdoor destination. This re-creation of an 1880s water-powered gristmill was featured in the opening scenes of David Selznick's 1937 movie classic "Gone with the Wind." The park is decorated with sculptures of toadstools, tree stumps and several ornate bridges – all great for curious kids. A lake stretches into the Lakewood neighborhood below the Old Mill. The park is open from sunrise to sunset.

Watch the ducks at the Peabody Little Rock — Parading ducks, spectacular downtown views and a great glass elevator. Need we say more? The ducks parade into the lobby of The Peabody Hotel every day at 11 a.m., where they swim in the lobby fountain until parading out at 5 p.m. For info: (501) 906-4000.

Ride the River Trail — The Central Arkansas River Trail is an extensive paved pathway that winds along the Arkansas River banks of Little Rock and North Little Rock. The trail’s proximity to popular landmarks, scenic landscapes and outdoor attractions make it a favorite route to recreation and adventure. Discover the trail’s laid-back appeal with carefree curiousity and motor-free mobility on a set of wheels from River Trail Rentals. For info: (501) 374-5505.