Ah, spring break. No worries, lots of sun, even more booze. But let's face it, by Wednesday, you'll be burnt to a crisp and incapable of drinking before 6 p.m. To fill those beachless, spring break days that you'd otherwise waste sleeping in some dingy motel room, here are Recess' cultural recommendations for five of the biggest spring break locales:
Some folks are surprised when they learn that Cancun, Mexico, existed long before the advent of Girls Gone Wild. Cancun is, in fact, situated in an area steeped in the history of the indigenous peoples of the Yucatan peninsula.
So if the spirit moves you - that's spirit and not spirits - why not check out some of the amazing pyramids of the Yucatan, all only a cab fare from Señor Frogs. At Tulum, view the scenic Mayan ruins which overlook the blue waters of the Caribbean. Chichen Itza remains one of the best preserved sites with a main pyramid as well as several surrounding ruins. At Coba, you can work off some of those beer carbs climbing the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan.
My advice, set that alarm for 10 one day, get off the bathroom floor, spend a couple of hours clearing the cobwebs and enjoy some of what Cancun really has to offer. Then get really wasted again.
-Jon Schnaars
You go to Jamaica for the beaches, the music and the Caribbean drink-specials. Little did you know it hosts some pretty famous music and arts festivals year-round.
Just your luck none of them fall during spring break.
But if you're in Kingston and want to experience a little piece of the music legend that put reggae on the map, check out the Bob Marley Museum, home to memorabilia, artifacts and original works from the life of the world's most famous Rastafarian. You've probably got his poster on your wall, so pay the pin-up some respect.
-Kim Roller
Spending the break in Wilmington? Only been out to go to Putt-Putt and K-mart? Already driven by the Dawson's Creek sets? Really, kids, there's more to Wilmington than that.
Recently, the city has become a major hub for the film industry and now features such high brow events as this weekend's Cine Noir Film Festival, which will highlight black filmmakers from across the country. If it's not quite warm enough for the beach, head over to the North Carolina, a preserved World War II battleship, or take a tour of the historic Bellamy Mansion and Gardens. You can also visit www.hirchak.com to learn more more about the Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington and the Haunted Pub Crawl. Spooky. Or just saunter downtown to the historic section and see a side of North Carolina's port city that has nothing to do with waterslides.
-Macy Parker
Here kitschy, kitschy, kitschy. It just doesn't get tackier than the Daytona Beach "arts" scene - but what's a good spring break without a few lumpy helpings of cheese?
The Seaside Music Theater wins the "Best Opportunity for Unintentional Comedy Award" for putting on the, uh, critically acclaimed "Rocky Mountain Memory Show: A Tribute to John Denver" on Saturday, March 15. It costs $15, but you can't put a price tag on memories like these.
For a legitimate cultural experience, the Museum of Arts and Science is hosting the "Great Asian Dinosaurs" exhibit with "a mind boggling 17 complete skeletons." The two month-old Marine Science Center also offers a diversion for the biologically inclined.
Lastly, you can't go to Daytona without celebrating America's favorite spectator sport: NASCAR. Go to the Daytona USA Museum to test how fast you can change tires in the pit and to take a full tour of the famous track. (Just so you know, this is probably the last time Recess will shed a positive light on NASCAR.)
-Greg Veis
Spring break can be about saying farewell to many things: farewell to school, farewell to winter, farewell to all sense of rationality - farewell to arms? Next to the beaches and frozen-key-lime-pie-on-a-stick, the historic home of Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway is one of Key West's most famous attractions. To keep your mind from completely shriveling in the sun, transport yourself to the time and place that inspired one of America's greatest writers. You can even cuddle with the more than 60 descendants and friends of Hemingway's own six-toed cat; half of them were blessed with extra toes as well. (Is that what happens when you feed your pet Busch Light?)
Nevermind that the Key West Chamber of Commerce misspelled "Museum" when advertising one of the party island's more refined destinations. Perhaps that's merely a reflection of what Key West vacationers are doing when they're not visiting the homes of dead writers.
-Vicki Kaplan
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.