Things to Do Instead of Travelling this Spring Break

Things to Do Instead of Travelling this Spring Break

Spring break is an important time for university students, and is widely considered a rite of passage. During this time, many students have fun, de-stress, and recharge through travelling, partying, and engaging in entertaining activities. Travelling to an exciting destination is one of the more popular ways to spend spring break, but not every student has the desire or ability to travel to a hot spot. If you plan to stay put this year, here are a few alternative spring break activities to consider.

Visit a Local Park

Parks are known for their natural beauty and endless opportunities for fun activities. And, McMaster University in Hamilton happens to be close to one of the most exciting parks in Ontario: Confederation Beach Park. While it may not be swimsuit weather, you can still spend time at this scenic location and take in views of Lake Ontario, have a barbeque with your friends, hike, or play outdoor sports. There are also other entertaining lakeside parks in Hamilton, such as:

  • Christie Lake
  • Binbrook Conservation Area
  • Valens Lake
  • Fifty Point

To make your spring break more exciting, visit a few different parks and their unique activities. At Valens Lake, for instance, you can climb the observation tower or explore on the boardwalk. On the other hand, if you visit a smaller local park, you could take a long hike, depending on the weather.

Catch Up with Family or Friends

Visiting with family and friends during spring break is almost as popular as travelling. It’s especially easy if your childhood home isn’t far from campus. During spring break, you’ll have plenty of time to spend with your loved ones, but keep in mind that this might not be a break time for them. Thus, keep your quality-time expectations realistic. Plan to spend time with your family and friends during the evening, on their days off, or on the weekend.

On the other hand, if your friends’ spring break coincides with yours, plan some fun activities, such as going out to eat, taking shopping trips, or going clubbing. Engaging in these types of activities and more can help you reconnect with your favorite people. Additionally, it can serve as an important reminder that there’s more to your life than seemingly endless studying and exams.

Explore Your City or One Nearby

Hamilton is a city with plenty to offer. And, since it’s a port city, most of its best attractions are water-based. During spring break you’ll have plenty of time to visit many of these attractions and more. Some popular destinations include the area’s famous waterfalls, the Ridge Road Estate Winery, Bayfront Park, a conservation area (Fifty Point, Christie Lake, Spencer Gorge, etc.), Dundurn Castle, and HMCS Haida National Historic Site. Of course, you should also use this free time to thoroughly explore your campus, campus neighbourhood and any nearby neighbourhoods or cities. It’s likely you’ll find fun, adventure and some hidden gems. You might even be able to scout out desirable apartments near McMaster for next semester.

Take a Road Trip Without a Destination

Just because you can’t travel to a typical spring break destination, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t travel at all. If standard spring break fare seems uninteresting or too costly, consider something a little more different. Few adventures are as exciting as a spontaneous road trip, which can be full of surprise and wonder. Of course, the adventure and excitement are ramped up when you take this trip with friends. Together, you can visit some of the province’s most famous road trip destinations, such as:

  • Hamilton Waterfalls
  • Prince Edward County
  • Thousand Islands
  • Point Pelee
  • The Canadian Automotive Museum

However, what you see depends on where you travel. You could even travel through other provinces or visit famous, neighbouring U.S. states, like New York and Minnesota. If you plan a trip without a destination, there’s no limit to where you can go.

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