Don’t want to spend a week of your life sunburnt, blackout drunk and living out a real-life version of the movie, “Spring Breakers”? Luckily, there’s plenty of ways to enjoy your Spring Break without it being basic AF. Forget Mexico and say hello to exotic locales that might just be in your own backyard. Who knows? Maybe this will be one spring break you’ll never want to forget.
1. Take a state park road trip.
Grab your girlfriends or your favorite guys and head out on the roadtrip of a lifetime -- no passport needed. After all, there’s over 10,234 State Parks in the United States to discover! Make sure to pack your tents or hammocks, throw on your favorite road trip playlist and grab a coffee because this will be one trip you’ll actually be able to remember -- and one you won’t want to forget.
2. Do a volunteer vacation.
Most people think that going on an alternative spring break trip might mean going to some far flung locale -- but nothing is further than the truth. You don’t have to travel miles away to help out a community, but all power to you if you want to go a little farther out of your comfort zone. Grab a few pals and spend your week off helping your own community with Habitat for Humanity projects or check out IVHQ, a website that links college volunteers to weeklong volunteer abroad programs. How’s that for making a difference?
3. Be a tourist in your own town.
Don’t feel like spending all your alcohol funds on some cheap cruise to Mexico with people you don’t even really like? Try being a tourist in your own town. Go to your local library, grab a travel book and plan a trip around town as if you’ve never been there before. Head to that little hole-in-the-wall restaurant you’ve always wanted to go to, or that new brewery you’ve never gotten around to trying out. The possibilities are endless! And who knows, you might find something new when you’re looking at your hometown with new eyes. Just make sure to pack your sunscreen and fanny pack to really play the part.
4. Go camping.
Whether it’s in your favorite park or just your own backyard, grab your trusty tent and spend an evening under the stars. The weather will be nice (no summer heat!) and there won’t be any pesky mosquitoes either. S’mores are a must and mix up the whole ghost story thing by scaring your friends with your latest midterm grades.
5. Theme parks (Disney Day!)
Spend your spring break at the most magical place on earth -- and remind yourself that it’s okay to be a kid once in a while. Most theme parks like Disney make it easy for students to travel, with resident rates that might be able to save you a little more money for your textbook funds next semester. Just remember, the purchase of mouse ears (and they are much needed, as any Insta diva would know) are not included in the price of your trip!
6. Have a casino weekend.
Channel your inner James Bond and spend a weekend at your favorite gambling establishment. Go to the extreme and head out to Vegas or Atlantic City, or keep things local and head to your favorite hometown dive. Grab your girls, your fanciest dress and pretend that you know how to do more than just play the slot machines -- show em’ what you’re worth!
7. Go someplace really historical.
Grab your favorite gal pals and head off to your closest historic district. Dress in your favorite vintage garb -- because trust me, your insta game is going to be poppin'. Take a stroll down memory lane and see what trouble you can get yourself into.
8. Get lost.
This one’s easy if you have no sense of cardinal directions -- but mix it up by setting out with no destination in mind. After all, you might be surprised where you end up. If you really want to let loose, head out to a known place and explore it in a different way. Try closing your eyes and having a friend lead you, or only walk backward. This will lead to all sorts of adventures you might never have had. Maybe you’ll run into future bae on the way.
9. Take a hike.
Find the nearest trailhead and head out into nature. Grab your Timberlands and your favorite baseball cap and take a trip into the great outdoors. If you’re feeling particularly industrious, spend a few days seeing what the Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trail has to offer. If that sounds a little too intense, just try a day hike. It even has the potential to be more of an adventure than that hike you took to Sigma Apple Pie the other day (after that, anything is possible -- I mean, you did that in heels).
10. Do something spontaneous.
This spring break, do something a little different: don’t think, just travel. My favorite way to do this is to take a spontaneous road trip: only the driver knows where she’s bringing the squad. You pack a suitcase and she’ll just drive. You’ll soon find out that sometimes the best trips (or the best spring breaks!) are the ones that aren’t planned.
