Caitlin Shannon, Editor of Student Life and Arts Photo from: Women’s Valley Clinic
In just three short weeks Drewids will be packing up their bathing suits, sunglasses and flip flops to go on spring break. Don’t have plans to sit on a beach drinking piña coladas and reading? Worry not! You still have time to get great deals on flights and hotels. Apps like Hopper can help find cheap flights, and Airbnb is always a great option for cheap, short-notice accommodations no matter where you’re going. But, if you (like many of us) are on a tight college student budget, you can still have a great spring break at home or wherever you are! If you won’t be leaving on a jet plane this spring break here are six things you can do to make sure you still have a memorable and relaxing Spring Break:
- Visit a friend: Do you have friends who are also planning on going home for Spring Break? Go with them! Make a little vacation by visiting your friends in their hometowns or inviting them to come over to yours. It’s always fun to show someone new around your hometown. Plus, if your friends from home have spring break at a different time, bringing someone home with you (or going with them) guarantees that you will always have someone to hang out with.
- Be a tourist: Even if someone isn’t coming to visit you, try being a tourist in your own town! Are there any places that are ridiculously close to you but you’ve never been before? Check them out! Whether it’s a history museum, a local oddity or some other kitschy thing that you have always scoffed at, go check it out and see what all the excitement is about.
- Do a food tour: With a one-week respite from Commons food, you will want to use it wisely. You might not be exploring a new place, but you can still explore your hometown through the local food places! Spice things up a bit and try to eat at as many different foods as you can. Never had Thai food? Visit your local Thai place! Craving empanadas? Find your closest Cuban restaurant. Wanting some BBQ? Look up your closest Korean BBQ restaurant. Don’t forget to hit up your local favorites, too!
- Start a new series: What else are breaks for than watching obscene amounts of TV? Break is the perfect time to catch up on your favorite TV shows or start some new ones. Looking for a laugh? Watch Netflix’s One Day at a Time or Grace & Frankie or Hulu’s Brooklyn Nine Nine or Broad City. Are you an avid reader? Watch Hulu’s adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Need to escape from this garbage reality? Rewatch some childhood cartoons like Spongebob Squarepants and Hey! Arnold. Grab your chips, pour yourself a drink and park yourself in front of the TV for the day. Your overworked brain will thank you.
5. Treat Yo’Self: Time to catch up on your self-care and on your rest! Put on a face mask, pull on your fuzzy socks and grab a good book. Any book by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is sure to keep you turning pages! Treat yourself and go to bed early, unplug from your devices and get a truly restful night of sleep.
