5 Alternative Ways to Spend Spring Break

By Tamiera Vandegrift on March 8, 2018

Spring break is right around the corner! It’s finally high time to say goodbye to homework and exams for a while. Even though this temporary hiatus only lasts a week, it’s a fantastic week meant for catching your breath right smack dab in the middle of the semester.

Many students spend their spring break soaking up the sun at the beach. Every spring break, college students flood the shores of Miami and Cancun seeking natural sunlight and warm ocean waters far away from the harsh fluorescent library lights and those damp moldy dorm rooms. While going to the beach is a wonderful way to enjoy the lovely spring weather, let’s face it: the beach can be crazy and crowded! It’s hard to enjoy your spring break when you’re spending it paying insane hotel prices and fighting to find a spot to lounge in the sand amongst drunken college kids. There are tons of other ways to spend your spring break if you are willing to step outside of your comfort zone and try something unique. Trust me, your local beach will still be there waiting for you after spring break. Keep reading for some alternative ways to spend your spring break vacation time.

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Travel Somewhere New

It’s a pretty big world and there are a ton of incredible places to visit that many spring break travelers and vacationers don’t really consider. If you’re a fan of roughing it, hiking, and camping, look into making a trip to The Craigs Trail in Colorado. To get the most out of this destination, you need a spirit of adventure and a heart full of love for nature as the trail is home to incredible mountains and beautiful, flowing streams.

If you enjoy thrills and chills, explore a haunted lighthouse in St. Augustine, Florida. If you prefer something a little more tame, the city also offers some beautiful ocean views and an aquarium to visit. If you have the extra cash and you’re looking for ways to get a taste of something foreign, look into your university’s foreign exchange trips and other student travel programs. This will give you the chance to see Bali, Iceland, Paris, and so much more!

Discover a New Hobby

Everyone has that one thing they would love to do, but they continue to put it off. Whether it’s writing a novel, learning to play an instrument, trying out a new restaurant or starting a YouTube channel, spring break is the perfect time to sit down and do the thing! For a week, you’re no longer burdened by schoolwork, internships, and extracurriculars so use spring break to live your life to the fullest. You could spend your time binging Netflix shows or sleeping for three extra hours, but by doing so, you’re wasting precious daylight and time that could otherwise be spent achieving your goals!

Take a Road Trip

It’s finally spring break and the road is calling your name. You’ve spent nearly half of the semester cooped up in your college town, only occasionally escaping to visit your folks. Now, it’s time to completely find your escape. Round up all of your college buddies or even your old high school chums and hit the road to the next town over!

Even if it’s just for the day, an escape to the next town or city over can introduce you to a new experience you never knew you needed. You can try that little Mom n’ Pop cafe where they serve the yummiest, most unique pancakes. You can explore the city streets and nearby shops to pick up some cool memorabilia. A vacation does not have to be some grand, expensive voyage; it can be a simple, small adventure that gets you out of your comfort zone.

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Make a Difference

One of the most fulfilling ways to spend your free time is by helping others and making a difference. Check out ways to get involved and make a difference in your local community. Try volunteering at your local animal shelter! Animals are often trapped in crowded, small pens without much social interaction so stopping by and spending a few hours playing with them makes a huge difference. Look into your local retirement community and see if there is any way to spend time with the elderly residents. These people often don’t have many visitors and it can get pretty lonely, so they would appreciate someone taking the time to show they care. There are a ton of ways to give back to the community and on top of being a great, fulfilling way to spend your time, volunteering also makes for a great resume builder. Giving back is truly the best of both worlds.

Organize your Life

By this point in the semester, spring break is a blessing. Midterms have just passed by and you finally have a break to catch up on sleep and rest time. With that being said, it is completely fine to use this time exclusively to get your life back together and take some time to care for your mental health. Clean your room and organize your surroundings. A cluttered living space is a cluttered, chaotic mind so fix that right away so you are rejuvenated enough for the latter half of the semester. Go through your emails and social media and do some “spring cleaning” by getting rid of toxic people and needless spam. Spend time touching up your resumes and cover letters in time for internship and job application season. Use the spring break week to take care of yourself and make your life the best it can be. Take some time for some self-pampering as well. Treat yourself to a fresh haircut or a bubble bath, anything that will make you feel refreshed and confident once again.

There are plenty of unique alternative ways to spend your spring break aside from beach vacations and Netflix binges. These are some of the last years that you’ll be able to enjoy spring break before you enter the working world (depending on which industry you’re entering!) so be sure to make the most of them.

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