The cool breeze of ocean air, sinking your toes into the warm sand, the sweet smell of salt in the air as you layer on sunscreen in preparation for a well-spent day of spring break — it’s the way most college students like to dream of their spring breaks and for good reason.
But what many do not realize is that they do not need to spend thousands on a trip to Cancun or California to get this kind of spring break getaway. The opportunity is in Oregon’s own backyard.
The Oregon coast proves that you don’t need summer weather to have a great spring break. The coast is also a cost-effective solution, seeing as fun vacations are not included in student fees, possibly making it the only thing students don’t pay the University for.
But there is one glaring problem that keeps many Oregonians from flocking to the Pacific every March.
“It rains. That’s a bit of an issue here in Oregon most of the year and spring break isn’t guaranteed to be sunny,” said junior Grant Baker@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Grant+Baker@@.
But the opportunities of the Oregon coast are not limited to the fun and sun of a sandy beach. There are still numerous activities available in case the weather isn’t ideal.
If you head over to Newport there is plenty to do for an affordable price. It’s a great location on the historic Yaquina Bay with great attractions for visitors. One of the main stops is the Oregon Coast Aquarium@@http://aquarium.org/@@, which provides visitors with hands-on opportunities to interact with sea life as well as see many of the more popular creatures of the ocean. The entrance fee is only $15, which is affordable by tourist attraction standards.
Junior Jake Foster@@https://www.facebook.com/JakeDFoster?ref=ts@@ has visited the aquarium several times and claims “there’s always fun and interesting stuff to see there. There aren’t many places like that in Oregon.”
After that, head an hour north to Lincoln City, a town a little bit bigger and busier but still has the beach-town feel. If the weather doesn’t cooperate there is plenty to do, especially for those interested in shopping.
The Tanger Outlets@@http://www.tangeroutlet.com/lincolncity@@ has over 60 different stores ranging from Nike and Under Armour to American Eagle.
Freshman Mackie Donaldson@@I can’t find this person in the directory or Facebook@@, a self-proclaimed smart shopper, said “I love the outlets because there are so many options and you can find whatever you could want there. Plus the prices aren’t too bad either.”
You may be more likely to spend money in Lincoln City just because of the shopping, but if you can limit your impulse buys it is an economic way to enjoy spring break.
Pacific City is another popular coastal destination. A very laid-back beach town, it’s a great place to relax and find some peaceful time for vacation. If mother nature decides to pull a groundhog and decides winter isn’t over yet, there is an arcade to entertain on a rainy day.
Also, the city of Tillamook is just a short drive away where you can take a free tour of the cheese factory and get great ice cream.
Priceline.com is a great place to start when looking for places to stay. For a weekday, you should probably aim for something between $50 and $75 per night depending on the city, which is very good for a hotel on the ocean.
Most college kids want the same things from their spring breaks: to get away from schoolwork, have fun and not spend a lot of money. The Oregon coast is a great solution for all of these desires, and when spring term rolls around you’ll be ready to go with a nice, relaxing vacation under your belt.
A sunny spring break can be found on Oregon’s coast
Daily Emerald
February 22, 2012
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