Spring Break: The typical time after midterm exams when college students flee to warm places with either family or friends on their mid-semester vacation. However, it is still fun to go home and see old friends. The concept of a "staycation" is being able to have fun while staying home, whether it means visiting new local hotspots or pretending to be a tourist in your hometown.
Some of the best parts of staying home are grabbing dinner with friends, watching movies, catching up on Netflix (or starting a new show), and, of course, exploring the local haunts. Whether exploring new restaurants in the local big city, or playing tourist, complete with plenty of pictures, staying in your hometown is just as rewarding as visiting somewhere completely foreign.
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Firstly, upon returning home from college, you are a legal adult, with new freedom and responsibility. Your newfound freedom opens you up to visit and discover more than you would have than if you were still in high school or living at home. You are allowed to see the big city from far away, and you gain a new perspective of your hometown. Instead of focusing on the Starbucks that you used to frequent with your friends after school, you can see the specialty stores you might have overlooked.
Second, if you are from the suburbs, you might have visited the local big city, but might have missed some of the small shops and new buildings. Grab a few friends and go visit that new museum you never noticed or thought you had an interest in. You have an opportunity to visit that super touristy ice cream shop you saw on television, stop in on a kitschy toy store, or go watch a street performer. You never know what you might see!
Thirdly, do not forget your lovely parents. They miss you, and want you to come home. While away at college, you find yourself around people your age all the time, and sometimes accidentally forget to catch up with your parents. They will always be there for you, and are sure to want to hang out. Watch some of this year's Oscar winners with your mom, or just have a cup of tea with your dad. They just want to see you for a bit while you return. Don't try to be too cool for them, because they've always been there for you, and it will make their days.
While spring break might seem like a time for people to go on ostentatious vacations, staying home can be a lot of fun as well! Exploring the local unknown gives you a new perspective on what seemed so familiar, and is very fun, and the memories last forever.
