Spring break, while a much needed break from school, can sometimes get a bit boring. The week can be long and tedious if you don’t have anything to do. However, because The Campanile doesn’t endorse R-rated activities such as those seen in the movie “Spring Breakers,” here are some suggestions to make your spring break a little more interesting without getting arrested.
The Beach
Even though it’s an obvious choice, it’s hard to resist going to the beach during spring break, especially when the weather starts getting warmer. Try going to beaches like San Gregorio or Moss Beach that are uncrowded and more suited for exploring, though they’re likely to have some fog. Alternatively, drive down to Capitola for a sunny, sandy beach with a small beach town for walking around. Another close by is Santa Cruz: a large, somewhat crowded beach, with the Santa Cruz Boardwalk attached. The rides on the boardwalk can provide entertainment for those who quickly find the beach boring.
San Francisco
San Francisco is a good day trip if you start to tire of Palo Alto and the activities around the city. If you take the train in the morning, you can have enough time in the city to return any time. Go exploring through the city, and even visit some of the museums if you’re feeling really cultured. Try thrift shopping in the Haight-Ashbury district, or for an even more inexpensive activity, walk across the the Golden Gate Bridge. Try out any of the numerous restaurants in San Francisco, stopping by the Ferry Building for its extensive selection of stores to buy food from.
Hiking
There are countless hiking trails to try out close to Palo Alto, and what better time to spend a day hiking than a day during spring break? For a shorter trip with less driving, try out local areas like Arastradero or the Stanford Dish. If you’re more adventurous and looking for something new, try heading north to Muir Woods or the Marin Headlands for more interesting hikes and views. For a hike somewhere in between, challenging but not too far, is Windy Hill. Try packing a picnic and planning out where you’d like to hike, so you can spend a while there.
Camping
Camping is a great alternative to staying in the suburbs of Palo Alto. Leave behind any technology and just enjoy the outdoors. Book a campsite, gather some friends and spend a night outside, even whipping out some old Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts skills and building a bonfire. Treat yourself to some s’mores! There are plenty of inexpensive campsites to choose from, but a couple that are conveniently located are Big Basin Redwoods State Park and Butano State Park, both about an hour away.
