Believe it or not, spring break is only three weeks away. We may be only halfway through winter, but the cold, wind and wet are starting to get pretty old. This upcoming break is only "spring" in name, since the weather doesn't usually get warm in Blacksburg until about mid-April, so spending a week away from the 'burg is on many people's minds.
If you're panicking at the time-span, don't worry. There are many fun and creative ways to spend your spring break, and not all require month-long planning. There are also ideas to fit the college student's often not-so-extensive budget.
Most people think spring break has to be spent somewhere warm, but try to go the opposite direction and visit a snowy location. If you choose to take a ski trip this break, you can save money by staying close and visiting a lodge in Virginia or West Virginia.
Spring break is often synonymous with partying, and if that's your thing, you have plenty of options. Websites like StudentCity.com have been set up over the years for that exact purpose, to help college students organize trips for students to various beaches for spring break, usually in Mexico or the Caribbean where the drinking age is 18. You can enter a destination, spring break dates and departure city, and the website generates a trip tailored to your needs.
This is usually best for college students because the website handles most of the details. If you are not a planner, these pre-made trips can often include airfare, hotel, transportation and even provide you with a list of parties going on at bars and clubs during your stay.
This is, however, one of the pricier options for spring break, not to mention all the extra cash you are likely to drop if you go out to the bars every night.
Many students love the beach but are looking forward to a week of rest and relaxation, not club-hopping. If that's the case, I would not recommend a trip to one of the major college student beach destinations, because it will be had to find a quiet spot. There are tons of beaches along the East and Gulf coast, though they may not be as warm as south of the border.
If you decide to go the less-populated beach route, you can even save money by picking a closer destination and driving rather than flying. Choosing to drive instead of fly this break is a great and easy way to save a ton of money.
Speaking of saving money, if you're trying to spend as little as possible this break, it doesn't mean you have to sit at home for a whole week. Get together a small group of friends and plan a road trip. Everyone can pitch in for gas and supplies, and you can cover a lot of ground in nine days.
Remember that many other schools have different spring break schedules, so you could even take the week and drive to visit some friends at different colleges. Crashing in friends' dorms and apartments is another way to save some cash for a night.
"This spring break I'm planning on driving down to Tennessee for a few days to visit my sister who is in grad school there," said junior HNFE major Lisa Harkness.
If you decide to splurge, however, you may think that a week is not enough time to do something truly extensive. A trip overseas is even an option, and some students know how to make it work.
"I never really do anything for spring break, so this time I decided to go all out," said junior mechanical engineering major Ryan Haac.
He and fellow junior and mechanical engineering major Lee Doyle are planning a trip to Europe for spring break and just booked their plane tickets a week ago.
"It took about five days to outline the whole trip, but we're still not done with planning," Doyle said.
They plan on visiting three cities, Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris. The cities were chosen largely based on where they could find the cheapest plane tickets.
"We'll be staying in hostels, taking as little luggage as possible, using the train system, and won't go out to eat, but instead shop in grocery stores when we're there," Doyle said, all in an effort to save money once in Europe.
Spring break doesn't have to be all pleasure, either. Remember those tours you took in high school to visit prospective colleges? For spring break, make an adult version.
Whether you're a graduating senior planning on getting a job or thinking about a summer internship, plan a trip to visit some companies you may be interested in working for in the future. You can even try and set up interviews, even if to just ask questions about the company and see if it is a right fit for you.
Another less-explored option is the concept of an Alternative Spring Break. These have risen in popularity since Hurricane Katrina, and the Blacksburg YMCA plans several of these trips each spring break. These trips take a group of students to a different area of the country for a week to aid those less fortunate.
This break, the YMCA is leading trips to Dupree, South Dakota and Dulac, Louisiana, about two hours south of New Orleans. "These trips are very different from a normal, typical college break," said Amber Franklin, a representative of the trip from YMCA. "Some focus on social issues and others are labor events."
Students can expect "to get up early, stay in community centers or churches, and be ready to do work for the day," Franklin said.
They have free time in the evenings and usually try to take at least one day trip.
Spring break is coming up fast, so if you haven't already, its time to make some plans. Just don't stress too much, because break is supposed to be a time to have fun, and at least to relax.
