Beaches will be packed, clubs will be hopping and barbecue pits will be grilling come March 13, the beginning of Spring Break for Palo Alto College. 

Whether traveling out of state or making your

vacation local, now is the time of year to spend with friends and family while enjoying the new season. 

Why is there a Spring Break? Why not a Fall or Winter Break? Answers may vary. It may be the welcoming of green grass and fresh blooms or of the summer to follow. 

It could be that it is the only time of year when the weather is semi-perfect, and  we take the time to enjoy it. Either way,  a quick vacation with a little rest and relaxation is the traditional way to spend this annual break. 

A trip to South Padre Island seems to be the first choice for most Palo Alto students because of its convenient location. Also, it is a good place to meet people from the surrounding area. 

Kristy Sanchez, a sophomore at Palo Alto majoring in Education, said, “I’m probably going to South Padre this year. It’s not too far, and I’ve had fun there in the past.” 

The beach, however, is not always the first choice. A few students are spending quiet time outdoors.

Freshman Maria Huerta, a double major in English and Political Science, said, “My Spring Break vacations in the past have been in the city, like Dallas or Houston.  This year, we are going camping.” 

Trips to the beach, snow skiing, camping or various hot spots like Daytona Beach, Fla., the Grand Canyon or the Bahamas are not always accessible to everyone. 

Tessa Blaine, a sophomore Business major at Palo Alto, will be moving into her first apartment over the holidays. “I recently bought new furniture and have been painting.  Once I’m fully moved in I’m going to invite friends over for a barbecue. I can spend time with people I care about,” she said. 

Whether you plan to travel or stay home for Spring Break, keeping a budget is necessary. Angela Borja, a freshman at Palo Alto majoring in Communications, plans on keeping her break local. She said that as long as she escapes from the house for a little while, she’ll be okay. “I still have to budget myself,” she said. “I usually cut back on shopping, eating out and small things like that.” 

If you plan to stay in San Antonio, take in some sights you haven’t yet seen or haven’t seen in a while. Take a boat ride on the River Walk, soak up some creativity at the San Antonio Museum of Art, or visit historic sites like the Alamo and the surrounding missions. 

If entertainment is more your speed, why not see a movie at the IMAX, located in Rivercenter Mall. In the same neighborhood, two new clubs have recently opened, Sunset Station and Polly Esther’s. 

Looking for a place to take the whole family? Check out the two major theme parks located in San Antonio: Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Sea World. Fiesta Texas will be open everyday from March 13-21 for Spring Break before going back to weekends only.  There's a $10-off discount on special edition Coca-Cola cans.  Also, you can purchase tickets at Albertson's for a discounted price of $19.95. 

Six Flags will have similar discounts to that of Fiesta Texas.  There are no special discounts up front, but you can get five dollars off admission from either Taco Bell  or cans of Pepsi with the “Steel Eel” logo. Traveling to the surrounding region outside San Antonio could also be a good idea. Take I-35 North toward New Braunfels and visit the Natural Bridge Caverns and Wildlife Ranch, or travel up I-35 to Austin and visit the newly remodeled capitol. 

Finding places to venture and planning the trip in advance may be a time- consuming and frustrating situation. Try surfing the web or reading your local newspaper for ideas. 

Two web sites on Texas are http://www.traveltex.com and http://web2.airmail.net/
danb1/Txtourism.htm. Using these sites, you can search different cities, including San Antonio, for tourist sites and places to lodge. The sites also provide ways to budget yourself while on vacation. 

If you don’t have time to surf the web, pick up a local San Antonio Express-News and the San Antonio Current  to get information on where to go and what to do. 

Some students at Palo Alto said they don’t like to plan ahead for their vacation, opting for spontaneity instead.

Chris Salmon, a sophomore with an undeclared major at Palo Alto, said: “Me and my friends like to just get up and go. Plans don’t always go as planned. To avoid the disappointment, we just  go  with  the  flow.  If we go, we go. If not, we  find something to do.” 

So, whether you’re tanning in front of the ocean, dancing away at a club or cooking some steaks on the grill, Spring Break is a time for a little rest, relaxation and fun. Enjoy!