It’s that time of year again…spring break! Now I know it’s weird being on spring break when it’s still 35 degrees outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t escape to somewhere that’s warm, sunny and full of sand.
South Padre Island, Texas:
I know. I thought Texas was an odd place for spring breakers to venture to, but it seems like South Padre Island is full of fun and one of the cheapest options around. A couple of big name sponsors (Coca-Cola to be one of them) get together and throw the “Nation’s Largest Beach Party.” An electronic sound stage, a pool party, and a seafood buffet are just some of the things you could experience if you visited South Padre Island.
In addition, if you visit http://www.spadre.com/springbreak.htm you’ll see that they offer awesome early bird prices for their spring breakers. Some of these prices include $39 and $49 rooms per person per night. This deal also includes free security bracelets (normally $20). Sounds pretty sweet, right?
Nantucket Island, Massachusetts
Have you ever drunk one of those Nantucket Nectars? Well Nantucket is a tiny little island off the coast of Mass. This island is small, but very quaint and not too far away. If you’re looking for a little R&R over spring break, then Nantucket is the perfect place for you; you definitely won’t get the same spring break experience if you were to go to South Padre Island. However, Nantucket seems to have what it takes to make your spring break satisfying.
You’re able to rent bikes and ride along the shore, visit the aquarium, catch a movie at the local theater, or visit one of their numerous museums and beaches. If you need a place to stay, the rooms are only $135 a night.
If you’re interested in more of what it would be like to stay in Nantucket, visit http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/north-america/united-states/massachusetts/cape-cod-and-the-islands/nantucket/overview.html
The East Coast:
If you don’t want to go far for spring break, what better way to spend it then exploring the places right around here? Philly, New York, D.C and Baltimore have some great places to check out and you wouldn’t even have to spend the night away from home.
Take a drive down to Philly and check out the Franklin Institute, the art museum, LOVE park, the liberty bell or Xfinity Live. If you need a place to eat, grab a cheesesteak, try something new at Reading Terminal Market or get some ice cream at the Franklin Fountain.
You could also take a drive to New York City and see some of the plenty of things the city offers. If you want to see a Broadway show but don’t want to pay the Broadway price, stop by the TKTS discount booth in Times Square for discount tickets the day of the show. If Broadway isn’t your thing, you can visit the Museum of Modern Art, the Statue of Liberty or Madame Tussauds wax museum. You could also stop by and see Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart or David Letterman film their talk show.
Washington D.C is a bit of a drive but there is plenty to do there as well. One of the 19 Smithsonian museums is sure to keep you busy, and if that’s not enough the National Mall will definitely hold your attention. In addition D.C also has many things to do including the Newseum and The International Spy Museum – the only spy museum in the United States.
Alternative Spring Break:
If you’re going to be around over spring break and feel like doing some good, then doing an alternative spring break is the perfect idea for you. United Way of Northern New Jersey started and alternative spring break organization that invites you to help out for a week in New Jersey and work on volunteer projects to help fix the damage from Hurricane Sandy. With Hurricane Sandy hitting so close to home, this is the best way to make a difference.
This Alternative Spring Break is open to college students during each of the four weeks in March. If you choose to volunteer, you will participate in numerous recovery efforts and have the option to work with kids in after-school programs.
If you’re interested please visit http://www.unitedway.org/take-action/alternative-spring-break/ for more information.