In 1999, I went to St. Petersburg for Habitat for Humanity spring break. It was an awesome experience being able to work alongside a family that would occupy the house. Most of our time was spent building a house. But we did get to go out to Johns Pass and Treasure Island and too Madiera Beach (sp). And we went to the Salvidor Dali Museum. There's always plenty to do in Florida.
Onto a more typical college break:
South Padre was an absolute blast.
(Warning: long story ahead that really has no point other than to recap my Spring Break experiences)
I went in 2000 with two friends. We took a car from Southern Illinois Friday morning early. That night we made it to Houston to visit my friends aunt one night. Saturday, we spent the day in Galveston. Then the next day after church with my friends aunt we headed to San Antonio (3 hour trip) to see other friends then to Padre for the remaining 5 days (a 5 hour drive from San Antonio.
If you decide to drive somewhere, bring tons of cds. The entire road trip, we listened to great music (tons of Jimmy Buffett, some Snoop, Dixie Chicks, Garth and George, DMB). So, certain songs bring me back Spring Break memories.
We had no hotel when we got down there (I don't recommend doing that), and at gas stations people were saying we'd have to get a hotel room 3 hours away. Well, we lucked out and found a room at the Budget Host Inn 2 miles from the Island. There were tons of people staying at the hotel (greeks included) and it had a hot tub and pool. We ended up paying $199 a night, but between three people for four nights it was not too bad for not having any place to stay. If you are really adventurous, you can camp on the beach. The weather was alright. I think we had one day of not so nice weather, the rest were 80 and 90 degrees. There were tons of people there and many different clubs to go out to at night. I also went horseback riding on the beach for $20 one morning. Our days were usually spent at the beach. There are venues set up for spring breakers and a stage, games etc. That area is usually packed, and then there are miles of beach up and down both sides of the island.
We would usually wake up around 10 or 11 and head to the beach, lay out, etc. About 4 or 5 we would make it back to the hotel and lounge in the hot tub and pool with other people at the hotel. Then we'd head out to the clubs at night. The Tuesday we were first there we went to Charlie's, a large indoor/outdoor club. Young MC ( who's famous for Bust A Move) performed, and I met the most gorgeous guy I have ever met in my life. For the life of me and the alcohol I consumed that night, I don't remember his name. Blond hair, nice body and a PIKE tattoo on his right bicep. He was from Wash State U but wore a backwards Morehead State white hat. He rescued me from a way too friendly slimy guy. We danced and kissed, but I wasn't about to follow him back to the HoJo he stayed at. I know better than that.
The next night we also went to a club called Tequilla Frogs ( I think) and too Louie's, which were also fun. The best had to be our trip to Mexico. Texas has a law where people can drink in a car as long as you are not driving and its a 30 minute drive to the border. Mexico is an entirely new experience. When you cross the border in Brownsville you are bombarded with people trying to sell everything from cigarettes to jewelry. We went with people from out hotel and went to a club callled Tabu at the end of the road in Metamoras(sp). It looked like an abandoned buildig that just opened each Spring for all the break crowds. The floor of this place was covered in sawdust and the only served three drinks - mexican beer, a fruity mixed drink called a Kamikaze(not the shot) and tequila shots. And then there's the chair - a dentist type chair that you pay $$ for they sit you down, pour alcohol down your throat, spin you around and throw you back up. I did not try it, but friends did.
By the end of the week, we were sunburned and tanned, exhausted and broke. But the last day we all decided to get tattoos (me I got a flower on my ankle). All in all, it was an awesome week. We got to see neat things - went to the Strand in Galveston (by Houston) and shopped, saw a Jimmy Buffet band in an outdoor courtyard. In San Antonio, we went on the river walk, and in the Tower of the Americas and went to El Mercado. And then we also had your college spring break experiences in Padre. If you plan ahead, Padre is a great Spring break destination. You could also swing by New Orleans or LSU if you drive.
If I had to do it over again. I wouldn't do anything different - well, maybe I would've gone with the PIKE hottie from Charlies.
Spring Break!
FYI: New Texas Drinking Law
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