It’s around the corner and everyone is anxiously awaiting its arrival. No school, no homework, but plenty of free time and fun.
Spring break marks the end of finals and the beginning of a week of care-free relaxation. But have you made your plans yet? If you haven’t, The Aggie has done some research to ensure that you can still make the most out of your week out of classes.
If you are looking to leave the state or even the country, STA Travel Agency, located in the Memorial Union, is the place to go. Store Manager Leigh Depeters and the staff at STA work to find discounts for students who are looking for a good time, even on a somewhat low budget. Depeters also said that using this as a resource leads to the “optimization of your trip.”
“We are extremely well-traveled; everyone here has traveled abroad and we work very closely with the summer abroad office so we help to further the experience,” Depeters said. “For spring break, we do a great job at devising packages that are cheaper.”
From Costa Rica and Mexico to regional places like Yosemite, Land Product Manager Kathy Magan said that any vacation experience can be accommodated.
“Basically no matter what experience they want to have on their spring break, no matter what their budget will be, we can cater to them,” Magan said.
Even volunteer options are available for what is referred to as “responsible tourism.”
“For Costa Rica, we do a package that includes a tour with a local tour guide that takes you around,” Depeters said. “If you want to do one of our responsible tourism options, like working with turtles, or another conservation effort, then you would have a regional tour guide that assists with that. Of course hotel is included, with optional activities like hitting up the hot springs or rafting.”
Another package available is a trip to Mexico that is all-inclusive. Airfare and hotel is discounted and the package includes dining, wristbands, entry to clubs and the guarantee that when one arrives at one’s destination, one will reach the hotel of choice complete with all of the amenities. This guarantee ensures that students on vacation can worry less about details of their travel and more about enjoying their time off.
“There’s a real peace of mind,” Magan said. “If something were to go wrong while they were away on their spring break and they just wanted to have a good time, they can call us and we can help them.”
While an extensive trip such as Costa Rica or Mexico requires planning far in advance, STA is still booking spring break trips.
“It’s not too late, even though it’s right around the corner,” Depeters said. “We have been finding great deals for people still if they were interested in booking.”
More local options, such as camping in Yosemite, are also very popular, and STA can help with a trip like this as well.
However, if you are still looking for winter activities like hitting the slopes, Ski or Snowboard (SOS) club president Bobby Shamim says that Lake Tahoe is a great local spot to ski or snowboard and “catch some rays.”
“I like to practice my park riding when the snow conditions aren’t amazing, so Boreal is a cool little mountain to hone your skills at freestyle and earn some swag points,” Shamim said in an e-mail.
If you are feeling a little bit more adventurous, Shamim suggested heading north to Wyoming or Montana.
“They have been taking every storm system that has barely touched Lake Tahoe and are looking good through spring break,” Shamim said. “That’s where I’ll be headed for that week.”
SOS will not be holding any organized ski or snowboard trips over the break. They will, however, be hosting a trip in April, so this week off may offer an opportunity to brush up on your boarding before heading to the mountains with the club.
These options still too far? San Francisco always offers plenty of entertainment, from live music to great seafood.
At reservations.sanfrancisco.travel you can purchase a Fisherman’s Wharf pass for $70 and see all of the attractions that the coastal hotspot has to offer. Or, for a more historic view of the city, take a tour on a double-decker bus of some of the famous sites such as Alcatraz, with prices starting at $26.
In Davis, Picnic in the Park is starting up again on Wednesday and will be continuing on both Saturdays and Wednesdays through summer. Picnic in the Park features live performances by local music groups during the Davis Farmers Market.
The Activities and Recreation Center is also always open with special hours for spring break for students who are staying local. Since so many students will be out of town, use the opportunity to shoot some hoops or rock climb without the usual crowd.
DEVON BOHART can be reached at features@theaggie.org.
