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Oh, shoot! With Family Weekend coming to an end and finals creeping up more quickly than you realized (how does that always happen?!), you didn’t have any time to plan a killer spring break with your besties. Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. Here are some last-minute spring break ideas:
1. Road trip to Spring Training
Every spring, half of the MLB’s 30 teams convene in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona for over a month of try-outs, practices, and exhibition games before the regular season. Soak up some sun and enjoy the great American pastime with some Chicago-style hot dogs and cold beer…plus, boys in baseball pants—who’s complaining? Phoenix is also an oasis of outdoor fun and great boutique shopping. Check out the lovely Desert Botanical Garden, or hike Camelback Mountain for a panoramic view of the city.
2. Backpack in Yosemite
If you love the great outdoors, this is for you. Camping or day-tripping in Yosemite, one of the country’s most famous national parks, offers an affordable and adventurous escape from the SCU bubble. For the best view, take the bus to the top of Glacier Point, and then hike the Four Mile Trail back to the valley; you’ll get a sweeping view of Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Yosemite Falls. Build a fire with your buddies and cook out under the stars.
3. Do Good
Maybe wet t-shirt contests and beer pong just aren’t your thing, and you would rather spend your time helping others. If you’re staying here, local nonprofits like Julian Street and Second Harvest Food Bank offer opportunities to serve the impoverished of San Jose. Or, volunteer with a larger-scale nonprofit like Habitat for Humanity and spend your week building houses for those in need. If you feel like getting out of the Bay Area, go big! Check out Projects Abroad or United Planet and similar sites to apply to spend your spring break in a developing nation working on humanitarian projects internationally.
4. SoCal road trip
Okay, we all know the Pacific Coast Highway is the coolest drive in the country. Pack a car with a group of friends and a fresh playlist (don’t forget Drake’s new mixtape or American Beauty / American Psycho, the new Fall Out Boy album) and head south. Make sure to hit up Pacific Grove, a charming Victorian beach town near Monterrey, play some soccer or volleyball on the beach when you hit Malibu, and do some shopping at Santa Monica Place, a sleek, trendy open-air shopping center near the beach at Santa Monica. Let your inner child run free at Disneyland, and if you’re going the whole nine yards, discover the best Mexican food of your life in San Diego and Chula Vista.
5. Stay home & still have fun
If you know you’ll be staying in Claradise or in your hometown this spring break, you don’t have to be bored! Check out Groupon and save some money while trying a new hot yoga class, treating yourself to a mani-pedi, or scoring some discount concert tickets. If you’re a thrill-seeker, you can even buy discounted tickets to go skydiving or bungee jumping somewhere close to your city. Reinvent yourself or pick up a new hobby! Learn how to screen print online or in a class so you can make and sell your own tee shirts. Start your own YouTube channel of makeup and hair tutorials. Concoct the perfect coconut-kale-acai-banana smoothie. Pitch a tent in the backyard and have your friends over for a night of s’mores and drinking games. You never know, staying home might be more fun than anything else you could have done after all!