Spring break is the perfect time to relax, reset your brain, and prepare to take on the end of the semester. As the weather begins to warm back up, there are plenty of great outdoor opportunities we students need to take advantage of! Unfortunately, not all of us have the funds to hop on a plane and swing down to paradise for a week. However, with a bit of creativity, we sure can pull of an incredibly fun filled spring break!
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Outdoor Activities:
- Go on a Fun-Filled Road Trip: Pack up your car and head out for a week on the road! There are so many great adventures out there to be had and the open road gives you every opportunity to explore them. If you want some ideas, check out my last spring break road trip to the Grand Canyon and be sure to use my ultimate road trip packing list.
- Hit the trails and go on a Hike: Hiking is so beneficial. It is a great workout, you get the opportunity to see some amazing sights, and its free! Check out AllTrails to find a hike near you, and don’t forget to pack the ten essentials.
- Go Camping: Another cheap and fun outdoor adventure is a fun camping trip! Gather up some friends and head out to a local state or national park and spend some time outdoors.
- Go Rock Climbing: Currently my new obsession, rock climbing is such a great way to get a workout in and get your daily dose of the outdoors. Research your area to see where the closest rock-climbing opportunities are for you! Be sure to bring the proper gear (most college campuses have cheap rentals) and to be safe.
- Go Mountain Biking: Jump on your old mountain bike (or rent one for cheap from campus) and hit nearby mountain biking trails! A great way to see much more than you might be able to while hiking.
- Explore a Nearby State or National Park: Most state and national parks are cheap or free to enter and are filled with days-worth of activities including hikes, guided exploration trails, beautiful scenery, cheap or free museums, cheap camping sites, and so much more!
Related: Discover How to Create a Motivational Bucket List (+50 Ideas to Get You Started!)
- Organize an Outdoor Group Activity: Many guided outdoor adventures are much cheaper with group rates! Research to see if you have any nearby that might interest you! Some outdoor group activities that might spike your interest include:
- Zip-Lining
- River Rafting
- Obstacle Courses
- Horseback Riding
- ATV Adventures and Tours
- Go Backpacking: Backpacking is a great way to hit some great hiking trails that you might not be able to complete in one day. As an added bonus, you get to camp at the same time! If you haven’t backpacked before, be sure to pick an easier trail and check in to see if you need any permits.
Related: The Ultimate Spring Bucket List (50 Fun Activities To Try This Year!)
- Go Fishing: Want a more relaxing activity? Grab some fishing gear and head to your local fishing hole to catch some dinner!
- Hangout at your Local Lake: Most populated lakes have great visitor beaches and parks to hang out at for the day. Better yet, check out their local rentals to see if you can get your hands on things like:
- Jet Skis
- Water Trampolines
- Boats
- Paddleboards
- Soak up Some Rays at the Local Beach: Speaking of water, if you’re at the coast, go check out your local beach for the day! Maybe go surfing or read a good book?
- Spend the Day at a Nearby Ghost Town: You might be surprised just how many ghost towns (or abandoned towns) there just are around the globe. Research to see if there is one near you! They are really fun (and sometimes creepy) to explore.
Related: The Ten Essentials You Can’t Forget When Exploring the Great Outdoors
City Adventures:
- Spend the Night out at a Local Concert: Check out some nearby event websites to see if any cheap and local concerts are going on. You might be pleasantly surprised!
- Check out Your Local Zoo: The zoo is a great way to spend some time outdoors and see some fun animals. As an added bonus, many zoos have free admission days or college discounts!
- Walk around the Farmers Market: The local farmers market is the best place to find cheap and yummy produce. Plus, it can be so fun to walk around all the different booths and taste test everything!
- Go Bowling with Friends: Round up your friends for a night out at the bowling alley. It is pretty cheap and so much fun! Some bowling alleys even have other activities such as laser tag or arcade games.
- Go Mini-Golfing: Spring break is the perfect time to head out for some outdoor mini-golf while the temperatures are warming up!
- Grab a Bike and Ride around the City for the Day: Head out and bike around your city or town for the day, you can even pack a picnic!
- Attempt to Escape the Room: Head to a nearby Escape Room location with your friends and try to escape it! They are so much fun!
- Explore some nearby Museums: Much like local zoos, many local museums have free admission days or great student discounts. Check out your local museum and see if you can get lost in it for the afternoon.
- Watch the Flowers in Bloom at Your Local Gardens: Go explore your local gardens for the day. Some even have free concerts or outdoor movies too!
- Watch a Movie at the Drive-In: I know, it can be hard to find a drive in these days. But if you are lucky enough to have one nearby, go take advantage of it! Ours is $8 per person for a double feature… a steal!
Related: 34 Budget-Friendly and Fun Ideas for Your Next Date Night
Other Fun Ideas:
- Play State Map Darts: Print off a map of your state or local area and throw some darts to see where they land. Then head off to explore that area! I promise that, no matter what, it will be an adventure! We found a few ghost towns and a great rock-climbing spot on our adventure!
- Volunteer for a Great Cause: Grab a friend and spend some time volunteering for your favorite cause. As an added bonus, you can use it to beef up your resume too!
- Watch a Meteor Shower: Research to see when the next meteor shower is and make plans to watch it!
- Watch a Movie Under the Stars: Grab a movie from the library and head outside to watch it. Who knows, maybe you can watch it while waiting for the meteor shower!
- Start your Summer Workout Plan: Spring is a great time to get back in shape and start eating healthy! You can even start running outside again.
- Get Lost in a Good Book: Grab some great reads from the library and get lost in your favorite adventures. Need any ideas? Check out my book list for the year!
- Crank out Some DIYs You’ve Been Dying to Try: Now that you have some spare time on your hands, get your crafting on and decorate your space!
Related: 21 Life-Changing Books for 20-Something’s (that will teach you everything school didn’t!)
How to Make the Most out of Your Spring Break
Now that you have some fun ideas to consider, let’s get into some tips that just might help you make the most out of your spring break adventures!
- Get Inspired: If you’re still stuck on what you want to do this spring break, get inspired! Check out sites like Pinterest to get you started!
- Become a Tourist in Your Own Town: One of the best ways to save money this spring break is to stay at your out place (or somewhere free) and just explore the area! Use sites like Triposo to find places you may have never explored before and create your own travel itinerary!
- Create a Spring Break Budget: Before you begin booking any type of accommodations, be sure to set yourself a realistic budget and stick to it! Trust me, this will make your life easier and your break much more stress free!
- Research Lodging Options (if traveling): Another quick tip before you begin booking your trips is to research various lodging options. Hotels can be unnecessarily expensive… try getting out of your comfort zone and checking out alternatives such as:
- Hostles
- AirBNBs
- Nearby Campsites
- Read Lodging Reviews: If you’re going with a cheaper lodging option, be sure to read their reviews first before you book! That way, you can ensure you pick the best one for your money (and know what to expect…)
- Research Transportation Options: You don’t always have to opt for the ever-expensive airlines (but if you do, be sure to book early!). Instead, consider possibly taking the train, bus, or even your own vehicle!
- Pack Accordingly for Outdoor Adventures: If you’re planning on going on a hike or adventuring outdoors, be sure to pack the ten essentials! They will ensure you have a safe and comfortable time out there.
- Beach Tips: If you will be spending any time on the beach, create some crafty ways to keep your valuables safe (like hiding them inside an empty sunblock container!
- Carve out Time to Prep for School: Finally, be sure you carve out some extra time at the end of your week to get prepared to go back to school. This may involve completing some assignments or just organizing yourself for the next upcoming week
Related: How to Prepare for a Successful College Semester
And that’s a wrap! I hope you found some interesting and fun ideas to try out this year, and maybe even some tips along the way! I am so excited for this coming spring break and hope you enjoy some warmer weather too! Happy adventuring!
Looking for more fun spring-time activities? Check out my ultimate spring bucket list!
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