I don’t know about everyone else, but I am more than ready for a break. With assignments, exams, and applications piling high, knowing that Spring Break is less than a week away is pushing me to make it through. While the break is exciting, it’s also a point of stress for some who worry that it may turn into a COVID spreading event. However, with the newfound warm(ish) weather and beautiful landscapes all around our campus, there are tons of activities around us that are not only COVID-safe but exciting as well.
- Reid State Park
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Located in Georgetown, ME, Reid State Park is a beautiful, ocean-locked park with sandy beaches and long hiking trails perfect for Maine’s spring weather. There is a fee of $8 for every Adult Non-Resident to enter, but I promise the 360° ocean views and incredible trails are worth it! I also recommend bringing picnic supplies as the park’s beautiful fields make for the perfect picnic location. The park is about an hour and twenty minutes from Colby’s campus and is near beautiful Boothbay Harbor!
- Acadia National Park
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Acadia is a famous Colby destination for outdoor adventures and activities. It’s the largest park in Maine with beautiful geological formations and ocean views. Located just outside of Bar Harbor, ME, the park is about an hour and forty minutes away from campus. Any geology major will be eager to tell you about the incredible features all across the park, from huge boulders thousands of feet up in the mountains to the array of naturally occurring colorful rocks along the beaches. Acadia is an incredible place to visit for the day or for a weekend camping trip; perfect for the upcoming break!
- Sugarloaf Mountain
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If you’ve been at Colby for more than 5 minutes, you’ve probably heard of Sugarloaf before. It’s the largest ski mountain in the Northeast with plenty of housing opportunities if you’re looking for a weekend getaway. Located only an hour and fifteen minutes from Colby, the mountain is easily accessible for a day trip. However, overnighting at the ‘Loaf is a great experience! The condos on the mountain offer ski-on-ski-off locations as well as less convenient, but more affordable, options further down the access road. Ski and snowboarding lessons are available if you’re new to the slopes, with rentals and day passes easily accessible at the base lodge. It’s a really fun way to spend the day outside with friends, especially with the incredible weather Mother Nature is providing us with for this break!
- China Lake
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If you’re looking for a quick day trip instead of an hour-plus adventure, China Lake is a beautiful waterfront location only about twenty minutes away from Colby. Feeling bold? It’s a great place to take a polar plunge with car access up to the water, limiting your time standing outside post-dip. Feeling more of a relaxed day? China Lake has gorgeous water views and comfortable picnic seating (both on the ground and at tables) for a nice lunch at the lake!
With Spring Break and the anniversary of our extremely unpleasant departure from Colby both around the corner, please remember to stay safe and COVID-conscience now as much as ever. We all want to finish this school year together! Let’s ensure that this break is fun and productive towards this goal. I hope these options provide you with some exciting oppurtunities to get outside and celebrate break safely.