Every year, Spring break comes around right when students need it most. For students, the third advisory seems to have dragged on forever, with only more and more homework piling up. By the time spring break arrives, everyone is ready for a blissful week off. The trouble is, with the possibilities being endless, it can often be hard to decide what to do during the holiday. Here are four destinations that will make spring break special and exciting:
Philadelphia- The Overnight Trip
Only taking 2.5 hours driving and 1.5 hours riding by train, Philadelphia is the perfect place to go if you don’t want to spend too much time or money traveling. As a historically important city, there are many interesting places to visit, whether it is the park where Alexander Hamilton’s office once stood, or Independence Hall. “Philadelphia was the capital, so there are many buildings that were used to organize the founding of this country”, says Wilson history teacher Clarence Alston, who visits the city a couple of times a year with his family. Philadelphia also has great food. Because many Italians migrated there in the 18th and 19th centuries, the city is full of excellent Italian cuisine. If you are interested in trying it out, grab a bite at a local Italian market for lunch on your trip. In many of these markets there are stands selling cheese, meat, fruit, and Philly Cheesesteaks.
Virginia Beach – The Beach Trip
In the spring, a trip to Virginia Beach is good if you want the relaxation of the beach without the sweltering heat. Although the car ride takes approximately four and a half hours from Washington DC, there are quite a few places to stop off at before arriving. One is Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que. Lunch at the classic road-side barbeque shack is a great way to start off the holiday. In Virginia Beach you can stay at one of the many hotels that line the beach. Spending a day on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk is a way to eat lots of good seafood, shop, and live the overall experience of Virginia Beach. Anna Warner, a sophomore at Wilson said that one of her favorite memories from Virginia Beach “was visiting [a seafood] restaurant around the beach”. If you’d rather not walk, there are plenty of bike rentals on the boardwalk.
Lancaster County (Pennsylvania Dutch Country)- The Countryside
Lancaster County offers an array of attractions from Amish farmer’s markets to amusement parks. During the two and a half hour car drive, you can drop by Stolfus Meats, a restaurant and food market that sells a variety of Amish style foods including freshly baked bread and meat. Once you drive into the heart of Lancaster County, the rolling hills and farmland provide a scenic view. Once in Lancaster, If you’re still hungry, you can visit one of the many Amish farmer’s and crafts markets to pick up locally made goods. If you are looking for a little more excitement, Hershey Park, an amusement park with Hershey candy themed rides, is a great way to spend the day.
Richmond – The Day Trip
Only a two hour drive, Richmond is a good day trip. Whether you are going for the food or to shop, you will not be disappointed. The historical city offers many activities to do in the spring. One example is the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Starting April 1, the botanical garden is open for visitors to see beautiful flowers in different themed gardens along with places to shop and eat. If you like shopping, go by the Carytown shopping district. This downtown shopping district is known for its range of artsy shops and relaxing cafes. Hungry? Swing by The Fancy Biscuit to enjoy delicious variations of the southern style biscuits and gravy for breakfast or lunch.
IMAGE COURTESY OF FLICKR
