Ideas For Your Spring Vacation

By Clarice Cho · On March 14, 2014

With spring break coming up, a lot of us are excited to get out of Berkeley, either to go home for a stay-cation, or to go abroad for a vacation. Either way, there are a ton of ways to make the most of this time. Here are some cool things you can do on your stay-cation/vacation to make the most of the break and rejuvenate before we come back to finish the semester!

If you’re planning on having a stay-cation…

1) Eat. Seriously, indulge in the delicious local restaurants and diners in your community, or any home cooked meal. Make the most out of not having to use meal points or eating Chipotle every day (no shame though, we all do this).

2) Garden. Unless it’s snowing at home or you have extreme allergies, this is a great way to feed your soul by spending time outdoors. And you may literally be replenishing if you have vegetables from the garden you can use to cook with!

3) Read. I’m sure it’s no secret that I am the world’s biggest nerd, but spring break is truly the optimal opportunity to finally read that book that’s been sitting on your shelf, making you feel guilty that you’ve chosen a textbook over it for the entire semester.

4) Swim. Just put on a swim suit and spend time in the water, it will automatically relax you.

5) Family time. Homesickness is a contributing factor behind why many college students feel lonely. Being around family, even just being in their company is a great way to enjoy your spring break and catch up with everyone.

If you’re planning on taking a vacation…

1) Be a tourist and a local. If it’s your first time traveling to a place, definitely see the sights and find out what it is that everyone raves about. But also experience life as a local. What locals do is way more interesting and unique, and you get to discover more about the culture than if you just see what everybody else sees.

2) Eat. One of the best ways to learn about another culture is to experience their cuisine. Don’t stick with McDonald’s or other American chains, you could have that any time when you’re back. Make the most of your vacation by trying something new every day!

3) Put your phone away. With such busy academic schedules, it’s been a while since a lot of us have traveled. Don’t waste this precious opportunity checking Facebook every five seconds. (Also, texting internationally = $$$.) Sure, use your phone to take pictures, but wait until you’re back at the hotel to Instagram them.

4) Shop. This tip is totally buying into the consumerist society situation, but this is a great way to see what a new place has to offer that home doesn’t. Find local shops/markets and pick up some souvenirs for yourself and your friends.

5) Talk to people. Meet the people of your travel destination, whether that’s just people from another state, or somewhere international. They say immersion is the best way to learn a language, so why not take advantage of it if you’re going abroad?