When I told many of my friends I was going all the way to Virginia for spring break, I was met with a series of confused faces and people asking, "why?". We're not going to the beach, we're not going to a city, but a group of friends and I are staying in a colonial town 12 hours away from where any of us live - and it has been the best. So maybe this spring break, consider these things when you're choosing your location destination.
1. It's way cheaper
Going to a condo or airbnb on the Gulf Coast is extremely expensive. Everything from your room, to your meals, groceries, and gas is way higher because you're in a tourist area, and double that because it's during spring break. As broke college kids, that's definitely a pricey move.
2. You don't have to deal with so many crowds
Because not a lot of people are choosing these places as their vacation spots, there likely won't be as many lines to wait in and you'll have more time to do things you actually want. It also makes things a lot less stressful because you're not being surrounded by crowds all the time.
3. You get to RELAX
Sometimes when you go to a typical destination vacation, you feel like you need to be doing things all the time. When you go somewhere a little more off the beaten path, you have plenty of downtime to just relax with your friends and not feel like you have to be doing something every second of everyday.
4. You see some beautiful scenery that you're probably not used to
As my friends and I were driving up to Virginia, we were surrounded by snowy mountaintops and scenic views from the Shenandoah Valley. As people who live in the middle of Mississippi, this is a very different landscape than what we're used to. I think it's safe to say that we were astounded and surprised by how beautiful this area of the country we had never experienced is.
5. You feel less like a tourist
I live in Gulf Shores, Alabama and there is a definitive area where the local side of town stops and the tourist side begins. Many of the tourists are bombarded by the same tacky tourist shops and traps you would see in any beach town anywhere in the country. Going somewhere that is not a tourist area, however, you get to experience something that is truly unique.
6. It's more interesting
When you come back to school, you'll have a story different from everyone else's. You didn't rush around worrying about making the most of your money or trying to fill your time every minute. You took time to really have a break, and got to explore somewhere new in the process.
Going to the cinema alone is good for your mental health, says science
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