Spring is a wonderful time to travel. Mild weather, beautiful floral, and quieter tourist attractions make a weekend getaway a relaxing way to enjoy time with loved ones. That is, of course, until the spring breakers appear. Hordes of rowdy students descend on the beaches and turn every bar into a personal party pad, potentially ruining your carefully planned retreat. Here are our five top tips for avoiding the crowds and enjoying quiet spring break destinations.
1. Save the Date
If you’re planning on traveling during the spring, you should find out when colleges are breaking. Most breaks happen between early March and the beginning of April, but every school has its own timetable, so exact dates vary. For example, in 2020, spring break for the majority of California colleges covers the period late-March to early-April, according to TripSavvy.
2. Avoid Party Towns
Certain destinations are perennial favorites with partying students, so these are clearly the places to avoid during spring break. College Consensus compiled a list of the best places for students to go for spring break, so if you’re looking for peace and quiet, scratch these off the list:
- Panama City Beach, Florida
- South Padre Island, Texas
- Daytona Beach, Florida
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Key West, Florida
- Savannah, Georgia
- Clearwater, Florida
- Miami, Florida
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
Students are looking for inexpensive fast food, hot beaches, and cool bars. Anywhere boasting an abundance of these things is somewhere to eye with caution during spring break. Also bear in mind that, while many spring breakers leave their hometowns, many stay local, and popular locations attract students from other areas. Make sure you’ve done your research before making a booking.
3. Find a Cultural Retreat
If you want to know where to go to avoid spring breakers, look for destinations steeped in culture and history. After all, not many party animals spend their time on historic walking tours, or exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Examples of good places to consider are:
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Chicago, Illinois
- San Francisco, California
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Toronto, Ontario
Large cities with a rich heritage and a diverse selection of art exhibits and historic landmarks are perfect for a sophisticated weekend vacation with a partner. They’re also good destinations for kids, if you want them to appreciate history and the arts.
4. Go Abroad
While a few spring breakers may head to somewhere like Amsterdam, many stay within the United States or hop across the border to Mexico. That means a quick jaunt to Europe is a good way to avoid all that noise while soaking up the history and culture of another continent. London is an obvious choice, as there’s no language barrier, and the bustling city is a hive of activity with plenty of museums and landmarks to explore, such as Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace.
You don’t need to worry about the local students causing trouble either. While students in Europe get a Spring break, it doesn’t usually equate to weeks of drinking and partying like it does in America.
5. Hit the Open Road
If you don’t want to go abroad, why not go for an adventure in the great outdoors? Take a detour off Route 66 and head into the wilderness, far from the crowds. A camping trip is a great way to get in touch with nature during the spring, and it’s an opportunity to visit Joshua Tree National Park or adventure to a secluded National park. Along the way It’s also fun to stay in little hotels and motels that are off the beaten track.
A good road trip starts with a good itinerary, and it’s worth planning your route and making all of your reservations in advance to ensure you aren’t caught in the middle of nowhere with no place to stay. Visit Reservations.com to find fantastic travel deals and to make preparations for a great (peaceful) American adventure.
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