Spring Break: Where To Go This Year?
A unique opportunity for students this year is a trip to the Galapagos (pictured above), with the science department (Photo: Wikipedia).
This year, spring break will happen in Grandview from March 23rd to March 27th. Students will flock to beaches, forests, and coasts to get away from the cold midwestern spring. While spring break began relatively recently, it has become a cultural landmark, with some students looking forward to it all year. This year at Grandview, the science department is offering a trip to the Galapagos to see the birthplace of evolution. Grandview’s French and Spanish departments are also known to offer trips to countries that speak the language, though there is not one from either department this year.
The concept of spring break began in 1938, with a swim coach taking his athletes down to Ft. Lauderdale for some sun and a break from the cold, cold spring. From there, it blossomed outward, becoming a cultural phenomenon where college students went on trips to beaches and imbibed in substances they were otherwise hesitant to take part in. A book that helped increase the popularity of spring break was “Where the Boys Are,” by Glendon Swarthout, which depicted an average spring break for some college students. Spring break celebrations peaked in their wildness around the mid 1990’s, and have been cracked down on much more in recent years.
While spring break began, and is still mainly for college students, it has evolved to become more family-friendly. Families now go to beaches, such as San Diego, Palm Springs, and the Florida Gulf Coast seeking the cool water and warm sun. International locations are also popular, with people going on vacation in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica for their beaches and climate. Those who seek a more exciting trip might go to cities, namely New York City, Washington D.C., and New Orleans, or national parks like Yosemite or Grand Canyon.
But not everybody will be traveling for spring break, or if they do, it might not be with their families. Some people will stay home, and spend time with their friends and family. They can go to parks, pools, picnic, or on hikes, watch movies, or read a book. If going on a trip with friends, most of the family friendly options apply. Friend groups can also go to nearby beaches, amusement parks, or on road trips. Even if there is not a trip planned, people can go on trips to Cincinnati or Cleveland, for a change of scenery.
This year, Grandview has an exciting trip available for students to go on. It’s run by the science department, and lasts 8 days. The trip will mostly be spent on the Galapagos Islands, but the first few days will be spent in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, the country that the islands are located in.
The first day of the trip is just spent getting to Quito, and getting settled in the hotel, while the second is spent around Quito, seeing some of the architectural and historical buildings there. On the third day, those partaking in the trip will take a 3 hour flight to Baltra where they will travel to Isla Santa Cruz, and explore the natural spaces there.
The next 3 days will be spent in the Galapagos, snorkeling, observing giant tortoises & other animals, hiking, and visiting a research center. On the seventh day, the group will fly back to Quito, and spend the rest of the day exploring the city. The eighth and final day will just be the 9 to 10 hour flight home.