Students have been waiting for this much-needed time off, and textbook-weary collegiates plan to spend their Spring Break in different places and in different ways.

“I plan to work all week, but hopefully I’ll get some time off,” said, Carol Muzny, a second semester student majoring in Psychology at Palo Alto College.

Spending time with family and friends is how many Palo Alto students plan to spend their week. Many students have a certain “spot” they go to every year, and plan to do the same thing this year.

Fiesta Texas will re-open March 6 with a new water ride, The Tornado. It is a 60-foot tall water tunnel that contains a 75-foot cruise in the air, and a blast down a 132-foot long tunnel. It then leads to an open-ended tunnel that contains 5,000 gallons of water. Right now Fiesta Texas is offering a $15-off online special for a limited time. The season and daily passes may be purchased at the park as well as any H-E-B location.

SeaWorld will also re-open March 6 with all-new shows, rides and animal attractions. Admission passes are also available at all H-E-B locations.

“I like water parks like Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld. They are fun to go to. I like the shows and rides,” said Plata.

“Malibu Grand Prix is a fun place to go. I like the game room and sprint cars,” said Marcus Martinez, a third-semester student majoring in Elementary Education at Palo Alto College.

Malibu Grand Prix has a total of five attractions. It has miniature golf, which contains two challenging 18-hole courses, a batting cage, which contains levels from beginner to expert, a game room filled with more than 80 video and redemption games, sprint cars and bumper boats. It is located off the IH10 and Loop 410 interchange.

Paintball is another favorite. Krossfire Paintball, which is located off of Elmendorf and LaVernia roads, has 12 fields and more than 45 acres of paintball action. They also have group rates and special packages that include equipment use and all-day play.

Visiting lakes and parks is another way to spend Spring Break.

Canyon Lake, which is located near New Braunfels, is a popular destination, and it offers opportunities for swimming, tubing, canoeing and other water sports. Sailing, powerboats and jet skies are also permitted. Students usually spend time at Canyon Lake enjoying the water and having a good time with friends. There are also designated hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails. Overnight facilities are also available.

Another state park not too far, is Garner State Park, located in Con Can, Texas, along the Frio River. It is approximately 30 miles north of Uvalde. Hundreds of visitors come here each year for a great time. Activities include swimming in the clear water of the Frio River, canoeing and tubing. You can also rent a paddleboat and go hiking through Texas’s Hill Country. During the evenings, folks gather around the concession building for some jukebox dancing. There is also a miniature golf course available.

Out of all the Spring Breakers at Palo Alto, the number one hot spot to be this Spring Break is the all-time favorite South Padre Island.

“ I plan to go to South Padre, and have a good time with friends,” said Plata.

There are many attractions and events to take place on the island during the Spring Break week. All through the day there are activities like horse back riding, which includes a ride through the sand dunes along the beach. Water sports, such as banana boat rides, jet skies, wave runners, parasailing, scuba diving and surfing are also available. South Padre is recognized as one of the windsurfing destinations. There are also day trips to Mexico available, where you can experience a different culture along the border of Matamoros.

“I like seeing my friends and going to the parties and events,” said Justin Casas, a Criminal Justice major at Palo Alto College.

The main attraction this year will be the Sprite-Remix Beach Stage. It is a multi-level, MTV-style contest stage that will be constantly running contests and giving away free t-shirts, towels, coolers and tons of free Sprite-Remix gear.

Even though Spring Breakers have plans to party in South Padre Island, some students dream of a more distant beach.

“I think the ultimate Spring Break would be to go to Cancun, because I have never been,” said Martinez.

Whether you stay close to home or venture out miles away, Spring Break will give you a chance to re-charge your batteries, so that you come back refreshed and ready to finish off the spring semester in good shape.