Dawn Baird
Published: February 22, 2006
SPRING BREAK HISTORY
Just how did this whole party tradition get started? Spring break’s roots can be traced back to ancient Greek and Roman rituals. According to hotelstravel.com’s newsletter, before the rise of Christianity, young men and women welcomed back spring the season of fertility and rejuvenation with yearly rituals. That tradition still exists today.
We’re lucky enough to live in Florida where some of the most sought after spring break destinations are located. Whether you prefer to spend your vacation on the beach with thousands of other college students, spend quality family time, or slip away to a nature lover’s paradise, you’ll find the perfect spring break vacation in Florida.
DAYTONA BEACH
Are you budget conscious? Daytona Beach is known for its affordable spring break accommodations; seaside cottages, small motels, resorts, and oceanfront condominiums are available in the center of the spring break action, or you can pack your tent and camping gear and stay in a nearby campground.
Laurie Campbellbaker, from the Daytona Beach Visitor’s Center, said, “The beach is the No. 1 place to be, and 80,000 college students are expected to come from the east coast and the southern states to enjoy it.”
This is not your typical beach; you can drive your car onto the hard-packed sand, or soak up the sun in the “traffic-free-zone.” For an unforgettable view, try parasailing or skydiving.
Daytona is known for motor sports, so don’t miss the Klassix Auto Museum, The Speed Zone’s go-kart action, or Daytona USA’s interactive exhibits.
Tuck your wallet away; many hotel pool decks offer free concerts, games, prizes, and contests, but when the sun dips below the horizon, Atlantic Avenue is the place to be. Nightclubs like the Ocean Deck Beach Club, Razzle’s, and 600 North go all out for spring breakers.
If you have money to spend, opportunities abound. PJC employee Larry Brewer says, “I shop for summer attire that you can’t find in Pensacola.”
Save airfare. Gather your friends and pitch in for gas money. It’s only a 450 mile drive from Pensacola to Daytona Beach.
For Information and rentals contact:
Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Phone: (800) 854-1234
Web site: www.daytonabeach.com
PANAMA CITY BEACH
“It’s wild, out of control, and has a really fun atmosphere,” PJC student, Leah Crawford, said.
It’s no wonder The Travel Channel named Panama City Beach the worlds’ No. 1 most popular destination for spring break, predicting that 500,000 college students and visitors will flock to Panama City Beach this year from across the globe.
Club La Vela is the largest nightclub in the U.S. and Panama City Beach’s most popular location. Its numerous music theme clubs will satisfy every music lover, but the fun intensifies poolside where contestants compete for cash and prizes in bikini, wet t-shirt, and male hard-body contests made world famous by MTV.
Enjoy a live rock concert at the Spinnaker Beach Club, or slip away to one of the many smaller clubs like Harpoon Harry’s, Schooners, or Chubby’s Bar and Grill to experience local beach music and ambiance.
For the most daring, ride the “Vertical Accelerator” at Bungee Mania, take a wilderness cruise through the everglades with Airboat Adventures, or speed across the Gulf on the world’s largest speedboat “Sea Screamer”.
If a slower pace is your style, watch dolphins aboard the Shell Island Shuttle, or take advantage of the many opportunities to dive, fish, parasail, and golf.
Whether you want to dance the week away, soak up the sun, play in the gulf, or meet beautiful people, you’re sure to take home memories of a lifetime.
For vacation information and rentals contact:
The Greater Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce
Phone: (800) 722-3224
Web Site: www.pcbeach.org
SPRING BREAK TIPS
Bring your insurance information
Bring your identification
Bring emergency contact information
Bring warm clothing along
Tan in short intervals and wear a sun block
Wear sunglasses with UV protection
Remember Florida’s legal drinking age is 21
ORLAND
Spring break is the perfect time to spend quality time with the ones you love. Old and young, we all look forward to taking a break from our busy schedules, and lucky are those who have the opportunity to share a vacation with family and friends.
According to a survey by Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau, more than one-third of all American families travel during Spring Break, and 350,000 of those families come to Orlando.
Most come to enjoy the many amusement parks located just minutes away from this lively city, but Orlando is also known for shopping, golf, and fine dining.
The famous Walt Disney World has more than 40 major attractions and themed areas. PJC student Corry Reese said, “Space Mountain was the best ride I’d ever been on, but there was more to do than I had time for, so next time I’m going to stay at a resort in Disney World.”
Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Sea World Orlando, and MGM Studios are just a few of the parks that will thrill you with rides and shows. Check out Web site www.orlandoinfo.com/springbreak for 2006 spring break special events and lodging information.
You could spend every day of your vacation doing something different because Orlando and the surrounding area are filled with a multitude of things to do.
For Information contact:
Orlando Chamber of Commerce
Phone: (407) 425-1234
Website: www.orlando.org
KEY WEST
Do you love nature? Imagine your paddles quietly slicing through calm emerald water as your kayak winds through mangrove passageways on a guided eco-tour. The unspoiled eco-system of the Florida Keys’ wildlife preserve is a nature lover’s paradise.
If a faster pace is more your style, take a guided wave runner tour around the island, or explore the island yourself on a rented scooter.
Make sure you include a trip to The Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson, assessable only by boat or plane and snorkel or dive among the unique coral formations.
Don’t bother packing fancy clothes. Shorts, swimsuits, and flip-flops will do. Key West is laid-back and casual. Norma Cummings from Adventure Travel Agency said, “It’s like a tropical Caribbean island instead of Florida.”
Tennessee Williams and Ernest Hemingway have called Key West home, and it still abounds with creativity. Check out website www.keywesttravelguide.com/theater_arts.html for information on live theatre performances and Broadway style shows.
After you’ve enjoyed a day in the tropical sun, spend a night of island-style debauchery on Duval Street which is filled with shops, restaurants, nightlife, and people, lots of people. This island is packed with fun seekers during spring break.
When asked upon your return, “How was your Spring Break vacation?” just smile and hum “Margaritaville” on the way to your next class.
For Information:
Key West Chamber of Commerce
Phone: (305) 294- 2587
Website: www.keywestchamber.org
Lodging information: www.keywestfinest.com
FT. LAUDERDALE
The movie “Where the Boys Are” and the song “The Strip” put Ft. Lauderdale on the spring break map back in 1960; today it remains one of Florida’s most popular destinations.
Where will the expected 250,000 Spring Breakers be? Basking and playing in the sun, of course, along Ft. Lauderdale’s 23 miles of Atlantic shoreline.
But there’s more to do than work on your tan and people watch. Take a ride on the Jungle Queen Riverboat, enjoy an Airboat Tour, go sport fishing, check out the Antique Car Museum, see the Flamingo botanical gardens, or fly a S2B biplane with Aerobatic Rides.
Tell Mom and Dad it’s a cultural trip. Stroll along The Riverwalk Park promenade. Explore the Museum of Discovery and Science, Old Fort Lauderdale Museum of History, the Museum of Art, The Historic Second Street, and Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.
“Although Ft. Lauderdale is larger than Pensacola, it has its small town atmosphere,” said Hattie Morris with Around the Globe Travel.
Special events and activities welcome spring breakers. When the sun sets, the city revs up with hot parties. Nightclubs like Atlantis, a multi-level dance club with an indoor waterfall, the Baja Beach Club with a swinging live mermaid and nine bars, and the Elbo Room with live music throb with the beat of Spring Break.
Whether you stay in a resort or a beachside hotel these websites will help you find the perfect place to stay: www.ft-lauderdale-hotels.org/ and http://springbreakhotels.biz
For vacation information contact:
Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau
Phone: (954) 756-4466
Web Site: http://sunny.org