Spring Break! The week everyone in school looks forward to. A break from school, tests, and stress. During this time, a lot of people like to get away from their home and take a break from everything. Some people prefer cold weather and want to hang on to the last bit of winter, while others can’t wait for summer to come already. Which brings us to the question: What are the best spots to visit during Spring Break? From many years of experience and countless vacations, here are a few spots that are worth your week off.
Florida:
Wow! I’m sure you’d never guess this would be an option. As popular as it is, you can’t deny that a vacation to Florida is all you really need. The warm sun heats you up. Then, you jump right into the ocean to cool off. Nothing beats that feeling! The best places to live it up during your spring break would definitely be Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Naples, Orlando, and, of course Key West. Have fun in the city, lay on the beach and get a tan, or go on a boat ride with your friends or family. Visit the zoo full of exotic reptiles and birds or visit a botanical garden overgrown with rare species of tropical plants!
Arizona:
Although there aren’t any beaches in Arizona, it’s even hotter than Florida. Arizona, located on the west coast bordering California, Utah, Nevada, and New Mexico, is just as beautiful. Its dusty orange soil and mountains make nature unforgettable. Spring in Arizona can get as hot as 85 degrees. So what can you do here? Well, since beaches aren’t an option, there are countless pools at spas and aquatic centers that are open to the public. If you’re in more of a hiking and adventurous mood, the Grand Canyon would be a great option. Its beautiful winding patterns after thousands of years of erosion make it absolutely breathtaking. A friendly but challenging hike would be Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona. Camelback has a good variety of rock climbing and stair taking to get to the very top. Once you’re up at the top, you get an amazing 360 view of downtown Phoenix. And if you’re wondering, yes, the mountain does look like a Camel. From personal experience, this hike was amazing. You get insane views from all sides on your hike up, and, once you get to the top, it’s worth all the struggle.
Colorado:
If you’re not quite ready yet to let go of winter and still want to see snow and feel the cold breeze on your face before spring comes, Colorado is the perfect place to get that feeling one last time. Colorado has beautiful mountains that you can ski or snowboard on, and if that doesn’t interest you, you can always go on a hike and find a breathtaking view. Although there is a lot of snow on top of the mountains, at the bottom, in the cities, the weather is perfect. It isn’t too cold. It is the perfect spring weather, just cool enough for a light coat or hoodie. If you aren’t interested in spending time up on the snowy mountain tops, you can travel to the amazing national landmarks or other outdoor attractions, such as the Garden of Gods, Rocky Mountain National Park, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, or Pikes Peak. Anywhere you choose to spend time in Colorado will leave you amazed and refreshed.
Mexico:
Mexico is a popular vacation destination with many top places to visit, including beach destinations, cities, and archaeological sites. The most popular thing to do in Mexico is definitely to stay at all inclusive resorts. You can spend all day at the beach relaxing and tanning, or you can sit by the pool if you don’t like sand or salt water. Both are great! You can go swimming, diving, and, in the ocean, you can try something new like surfing, snorkeling, fishing, or scuba diving to see the amazing sea life underwater. While you’re underwater, you can also try shark cage diving, an exhilarating experience that you get once in a lifetime! You also get to enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine, along with the traditional drinks that go along with it.
Dominican Republic:
The Dominican Republic, located in the Caribbean, is most definitely a must-visit! It’s known for its beautiful beaches and resorts. It’s about a 5-hour plane ride from Chicago to Punta Cana’s International Airport. If flying isn’t your thing, cruises are available to the Dominican Republic, such as Carnival, Princess, Norwegian, and Holland America. Some cruises include stops at Puerto Plata and Punta Cana. Each cruise lasts roughly 7 days, but options vary from 3 to 5 days. A few highly recommended resorts are Amanera, a luxe oceanfront resort with golf and a spa; Excellence Punta Cana, an all-inclusive resort with a spa; and Melia Caribe Beach Resort, which includes 12 restaurants, pools, and spas. Spring weather in the Dominican Republic typically has a daily high temperature of around 86°, rarely falling below 82° or exceeding 90°. The Dominican Republic offers a variety of activities, including water sports like snorkeling, diving, and kitesurfing, adventure tours like canoeing, hiking, climbing, and ATV rides, as well as mountain biking and golfing.
We hope you were able to find a vacation spot you are interested in and would like to spend your week off at. All of these places will definitely take your mind off of what is waiting for you when the time comes to return home. They’ll have you feeling refreshed, relaxed, and hopefully motivated to get back to work. Although it’ll be hard to leave these beautiful places and the choice may be difficult, we hope our recommendations were helpful!