Growing up outside Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the month of March was always a strange time during which every surrounding area was suddenly overflowing with college students on Spring Break. Every year, I saw older friends come home from college with their roommates and school friends for Spring Break, and eventually, my oldest brother brought eager friends home from college to spend a week in the Sunshine State. Now that I'm in college, I hear my own friends and classmates talk excitedly about going to Miami and Fort Lauderdale for break and ask me what they should do while they're in my home region.

Fort Lauderdale Area

Things to do

1. Beach (duh)

My personal favorite beach is Hollywood because I like the restaurants and shops by the water, but Dania has a cool pier and Fort Lauderdale also has some fun shops and restaurants.

2. Airboat Ride in The Everglades

Go see our national park and all the nature (including alligators) that goes along with it. My favorite spot is Sawgrass Recreation Park because they have a small zoo to explore before or after the airboat ride that has tons of cool animals, such as extremely endangered Florida Panthers.

3. Museum of Discovery and Science

I haven't been in years, but I always loved going to the science museum on field trips and with my family. There are tons of interactive exhibits and an IMAX theater. It's also right by Las Olas and right on 2nd Street where some of my favorite restaurants in Fort Lauderdale are.

Places to eat

1. Jaxson's Ice Cream

Prepare to eat ice cream for an entire meal. Jaxson's has the biggest ice cream sundaes and creations I have ever seen in my entire life, and everything I have ever tried is delicious. My personal go-to is the Chocolate Suicide Sundae- death by chocolate ice cream with brownie chunks, chocolate chips, fudge sauce, whipped cream, and cherries with an extra side of fudge. I share it with my dad and I don't think we've ever managed to finish it.

2. Catfish Deweys

The best spot for seafood. They have daily all-you-can-eat specials, but the regular portions are huge on their own. All meals come with hushpuppies, and they are by far the best I've ever had. This was my last meal before coming back to school for Spring semester, and I can't stop thinking about it.

3. New York Grilled Cheese

I'm a sucker for a good grilled cheese, and this place has some of the best. They have a menu with every option conceivable and a build-your-own option just in case. My favorite is the Midtown Truffle Shuffle with Swiss cheese, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and truffle aioli.

Miami Area

Things To Do

1. Wynwood

Wynwood is a street art district near downtown Miami where every building is covered in insane graffiti. There is a designated "Wynwood Walls" area to walk through with a few little museum-type exhibits, but the entire town is painted. All of it is completely free too. There are also amazing restaurants and the best doughnut shop (The Salty Donut) to stop for a snack or full meal.

2. Perez Art Museum

Perez is right in downtown Miami and is different from typical art museums because a lot of the art is interactive and they encourage photography. There are also free admission days, though I'm not sure when these are. This is definitely a good place for photo ops.

3. Zoo Miami

If you like zoos, this one is impressive. You can definitely spend all day walking around here and seeing all the animals. They also have four to eight person bikes you can rent for the day to help get you around the massive place.

4. Alligator Farm

This is another Everglades airboat place that has tons to do and see and an amazing airboat ride through the sea of grass where you're bound to see some gators.

Places To Eat

1. Lincoln Road

Lincoln Road is full of amazing restaurants, and if you like to shop, this is definitely the place to go (or Sawgrass Mills Mall if you're in the Fort Lauderdale area). I've only been once, but I went to Pizza Rustica and it was some of the best pizza I've ever had.

2. Robert Is Here Fruitstand

This place is somewhat in the middle of nowhere, but they have the best milkshakes I've ever tasted. It's definitely worth the drive, especially if you're going to the Alligator Farm, which is relatively close by.

3. Golden Rule Seafood

This place is right on the side of a major road and looks like a warehouse, but it is amazing. It's a seafood market but also has a restaurant. The seafood is all fresh and absolutely delicious.

The Absolute Number One Thing You Must Do When Spring Breaking in South Florida!

DO NOT DESTROY THE BEACHES!

Every year, college students come to our beautiful beaches and leave them covered in trash. Please respect the nature you're traveling to see and clean up after yourselves. It only takes a minute to do. I promise it won't ruin your fun.