Dreaming of spring break: Where would you go if money was no object?
March 15, 2017
Spring Break this year is April 14th through the 21st. And what would be better than to spend it away from Maryland? Spring break is a time to relax and get away from jobs and work. Choosing a place to spend spring break with the whole family can be difficult, but it’s not too late to book a getaway.
Islamadora, Florida
For those who don’t have their passports or don’t enjoy plane rides, there are great places to go in the United States. Florida gives the feeling of being in the foreign tropics, while still being in America.
Islamorada Florida is a beautiful, tropic wonderland in America. Jessica Mitchell has gone to Islamorada since she was three and stays at her beach house in Ocean Harbour. She goes jet skiing, parasailing, snorkeling, and fishing. The beaches have white sand and crystal clear blue water. Fresh seafood is in every restaurant. Islamorada has beautiful weather, 85 degrees with a light breeze.
“I would rate Islamorada 11/10 because of its beautiful weather. My favorite place is the flats, which is just shallow water it the ocean where people park their boats and just hang out. It is such a relaxing place,” said Mitchell.
San Juna, Puerto Rico
Just a short plane ride away is San Juan, Puerto Rico, an American Territory. The flight is less than four hours, and the airport is right in San Juan.
San Juan is perfect in the spring.
When I went in 2015 the air was warm, but there was a light breeze. The water is crystal clear and the waves were huge. The food is mostly of Puerto Rican origin and was great. A lot of people spoke Spanish, but there were a plethora of English speaking people. The city has many old buildings and cute shops. At night there were a lot of live music performers.
Not far from San Juan is the El Yunque national Forest which makes a great tourist attraction. The forest is beautiful. They have little stops for food on the way up that stay true to the Puerto Rican culture. In Old San Juan there is a historic fort called Castillo de San Cristóbal. The old fort has many scenic views and is right on the edge of the old city.
Aruba
Aruba is a Dutch Caribbean island. The plane ride is less than five hours and the destination is worth it. Aruba offers a diverse selection of Caribbean foods. Natalie Kucsan went in the summer of 2016 and could only say good things. The water of Aruba was perfect for snorkeling, paddle boarding, and jet skiing. Aruba is close to the equator so it can get hot, but there is a nice breeze.
“Aruba was really pretty. Baby Beach was really nice and the water was so clear. When I went we snorkeled and had a jeep tour around Aruba,” said Kucsan.
The Caribbean island of Jamaica is a perfect vacation spot to relax. The over 80 degree weather and endless sun makes for a great oasis. Jamaica has beautiful water that is so clear you can see all the way to the bottom, which makes the water perfect for snorkeling. Jamaican life has a lot of music threaded in. Reggae is a popular music there and adds to the relaxation factor.
“I stayed at the Negril Resort in Jamaica and would rate my time in Jamaica a 10/10. We went snorkeling and we could see everything under the water. It was really cool. At the beach there were a lot of live Reggae bands which I enjoyed,” said Alex Michael.
Bahamas
Why stay in one place, when you can go on cruise of the Bahamas. The Bahamas are ranked # 4 in Best Spring Break destinations. The temperature is almost always at least 90 degrees. There are great tourist attractions like Atlantis, water parks and Freeport Beach. The beaches of Nassau have white sand and very clear water. It is a true oasis.
“I went on a Carnival Cruise and it was incredibly fun. There was unlimited free ice cream on the ship and the weather was really nice. On Free port there were people performing on the steel drums. It was a great trip. 10/10 for sure,” said Maggie Keaton.
As great as warm tropical places are, they aren’t for everybody. Sometimes the heat is too much and people want something more polar.
Paris, France
Paris, France is a vacation spot with beautiful views, amazing french cuisine, and great places for tourists to visit. In Paris, tourists can visit the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe, just to name two. Paris is a city that is a center of art, fashion, and food. The food is something that you could only have in the heart of France.
“The city life of Paris was something way different from Maryland. The food is so different. I had a snail which I never would’ve had in Frederick. The people there were really fashion forward and the Eiffel Tower is more amazing than pictures can give it credit,” said Sarah Twigg.
Dublin, Ireland
If you were looking for a place with a lot of history and accents, Dublin, Ireland would be for you. Dublin is rainy and chilly, but beautiful nonetheless. Horse racing is a must see when in Dublin. Another day time activity could be shopping in the city. During the night, Dublin comes to life. The streets become filled with people. There is also a beautiful castle called the Wilton Castle. The castle is on the countryside and people can actually stay there in a room.
“I loved Ireland. It was kind of chilly throughout the trip, but i saw a double rainbow and even got to spend the night in a castle. The castle was so beautiful and it was cool to stay in one,” said Katie Gallagher.
Whether you are planning to leave your home or not, maybe you have just found your new happy place that you can go to mentally or physically
