Beach: The quintessential spring break experience is on a beach, soaking up the sun all day and partying from dusk till dawn.
- Panama City Beach (PCB), Florida
PCB is the spring break destination that everyone wants to experience at least once in their lives. There are beaches, bars, parties, and even free concerts on the beaches. It’s a whole city of spring breakers—everything is about partying all the time.
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is another famous party beach, but it is a little quieter than PCB. It has the same partying mentality, but you won’t find people running down the streets screaming when you decide that it’s time for you to sleep. With beachfront hotels and many local places to eat, Myrtle Beach is the ultimate low-key spring break experience.
- 30A, Florida
30A is the name of a stretch of road along the north Florida coastline that is home to some of the prettiest little beach towns you’ll ever see. They have beautiful, clean beaches, ice cream, locally-owned restaurants, and quaint boutiques that can easily fill your days with fun and relaxation. The most popular town among then, Seaside, was even the filming location for The Dick Van Dyke Show because of its picturesque beauty.
- St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, is yet another award-winning coastal town in Florida, known for more than just its beaches. While the Fort De Soto Park offers miles of pristine beaches, it also offers an old Spanish fort that has become a canvas for mural artists (perfect for Instagram!). St. Petersburg also houses the Salvador Dalí Museum, which holds the largest collection of Dalí’s works outside of Spain. Once you’ve had your cultural fill, you can head into downtown St. Petersburg to enjoy shopping and food from any of the town’s many restaurants or its Locale Market, a 20,000 sq. ft. marketplace offering the freshest artisanal cuisine.
Woodsy: For those who aren’t interested in sand, salt, and sun, a spring break in the mountains might be just the thing for you.
- Cabin in the woods
Renting a cabin deep in the woods with your friends can be one of the best bonding experiences for college students. You’re away from the hubbub of school and the city with a wealth of nature to explore. Some great locations include Ellijay, GA and Blueridge, GA for more quiet, secluded getaways. Places like Gatlinburg, TN, Sevierville, TN, and Asheville, NC offer cabins for rent that are closer to town.
City: For the more fast-paced spring breakers, these cities might provide just the experience you’re looking for.
- New York City, New York
Need I say more? New York City has it all: shopping, great food, museums, the theatre, and even a giant park.
- San Francisco, California
In San Fran, you can fill your days with classic San Francisco activities like adventures to Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, while exploring the city and its colorful neighborhoods by cable car. If you are looking for an experience without the danger of looking too much like a tourist, you can always visit the Mission Murals or take the Nob Hill Walking Tour, which takes you through neighborhoods filled with rococo palaces of the old railroad and silver titans, historic hotels, and even an exclusive men’s club.
- Portland, Oregon
This quirky city offers an experience that differs from cities like NYC and San Francisco. Portland is quieter with colder weather, perfect for those who prefer coffee shops and secondhand bookstores over beach parties. In this city, you can explore old neighborhoods drenched in history, check out the cutting edge art installations, and take advantage of some tax-free shopping.
- Miami, Florida
Miami is a city all its own, offering every type of experience a spring breaker could desire. During the day you can visit its beaches and any of its many art and history museums; at night, you can go out to the lively restaurants and award-winning clubs. And if you’re a fan of Cuban food, this is the best place to find a Cubano—outside of Cuba itself.