Making the Most of Spring Break

Spring Break is Here!

For most, Spring Break is the last hurrah before Summer is upon us. Why not make it a fun vacation away from all of the hustle and bustle of the school day? Make each day a day of rest and activities close to home. Below is a list that we have compiled of activities you can do with your family and friend to spice things up and give your host student a once in a lifetime experience.

Take a Trip

Depending on where you live take a short two or three day trip to a fun city nearby. In California, you have San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Solvang. In Idaho, let your car take you to beautiful Coeur d’Alene. Tennessee? Visit a small country town like Franklin or Jonesborough and shop to your heart’s content. There are some good websites to find the best deals on hotels such as Trivago or Hot Wire. Can’t stay the night? Leave early, have some breakfast in a quaint little restaurant and spend the day enjoying the rich history wherever you go.

Walking is Good For You

Go for walks around the neighborhood. Take a walk to the store and grab some ice cream for the walk home. Enjoy a nice talk with your host student. Talk about the similarities and differences you see from their hometown.

Enjoy the Outdoors

Work on or start a garden. Have your host student help picking out their favorite vegetables to plant. If space is a limitations, buy clay pots and hang from kitchen wall or fences. Don’t like veggies? How about an herb garden? Don’t have a green thumb? Try succulents - they’ll survive almost anything!

College Tours

Travel to nearby colleges and take a tour of the old buildings. Check out the libraries and auditoriums. You can find some rich history in many colleges and universities. William and Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia is rich with history. Attended by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, this college was built in 1695.

Spring Cleaning IS a Real Thing

Have a day of spring cleaning and involve everyone in the family. Turn on some loud music, open all of the windows, and go through cupboards, closets, etc... Give your host student the task of loading up bags and boxes to donate to a local charity. Take old towels and blankets to your nearest animal shelter (This is a new trend). Better yet, see if you can volunteer for a couple of hours. You’d be surprised how happy animals become with a visit, a nice brushing, and a chat.

Here Comes the Sun

Spend a day at the beach or a park and be sure to bring plenty of food, toys, and sunscreen. Allow your host student to splash and play in the ocean. This may be the first time they’ve been to the beach. Staying all day? Pack a cooler, snacks, and an umbrella or two to protect your sensitive skin.

Home Life

Spend the day at home with a big bowl of popcorn, order pizza, and watch old movies. Perhaps there is a movie that takes place in your host student’s country. Watch the movie in the language it was made and play the subtitles. If you’d like to interact more with your family, play a game like Yahtzee or Apples to Apples. Both are fun and competitive.

Time for Some Pampering

Let everyone take care of you. Have the kids and your host student plan, shop for, and make dinner. Yummy! People love to take care of people! Why not allow them to clean the kitchen, watch the kids while you get your nails done, watch a movie no one else will watch, or hang out with friends?

Staycation

Want to save money? Have a staycation. Stay home and have a fabulous vacation right in your own home. Have a spa day, game time, or just work on simple crafts such as coloring, scrapbooking, painting, creating with clay, etc. Bake some yummy goodies or spend the afternoon making ice cream.

Closing

As the days get warmer and longer, this is the last vacation that leads us into the homestretch of the school year, make it a memorable one!

Citation(s)

‍