Great Wolf Lodge
The Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos Mountains is a family resort which houses one of the largest indoor water parks in America. Open all year round, Great Wolf Lodge is ideal for college students who are looking for thrills while staying close to a budget. With various discounts and deals for online members, Great Wolf Lodge guests can experience comforts from home, while still exploring an indoor water park, delve into the arcades, or shop at a nearby mall just five minutes away by car. If reserving a night is too expensive, available passes to the indoor water park and arcades provide day guests to enjoy the resort's amenities without paying a steep price.
The newly constructed water slide called "The Double Barrel Drop" and arcade area "Race Zone" are a few of the upcoming attractions at the Grand Wolf Lodge. As a six story slide, "The Double Barrel Drop" sends guests into an adventure filled with terrifying drops and twist-turning funnels. The "Race Zone" provides students with access to build their own race cars while having a chance to race them down the track. If an 84-degree water park, arcade, and race track are not enough or too juvenile, Great Wolf Lodge offers discounts for ski areas such as Shawnee Mountain Ski Area located in Shawnee-on-Delaware or The Crossing Premium Outlets for shoppers just off Interstate 80, Exit 299.
Father Winter is almost leaving and as we shed our winter coats what better way to start out the new season than by soaking up in Great Wolf Loge? With its six slide water park and various activities, having fun may not only be fun, but affordable, too. With discounts and savings, room rates can be lower than $300, even less for just a day trip.
Katia Diaz can be reached at katia.diaz@student.shu.edu.
Boston
Boston is an excellent spring break spot for college students seeking fun in a pinch. The BoltBus service running from New York Penn Station to Boston's South Station offers tickets for about $20 a piece. Featuring Wi-Fi on all buses, $1 fare deals and new extended leg-room, the BoltBus can carry you to Boston in a mere four hours.
Once there, the city is yours for the taking. Newbury Street is the prime destination for an urban day out in the city. Home to many shopping and dining experiences, Newbury Street runs east-to-west from the Boston Public Garden to Brookline Avenue. Around the intersection with Mass Avenue, Newbury is richly populated with diverse shops housed in old brownstones, ranging from bohemian and delightfully off-beat to chic, top-notch boutiques.
One of the most popular places to see while visiting Boston is Faneuli Hall Marketplace, also known as Quincy Market. There are plenty of places to shop, eat and find entertainment. Some of the stores found in Quincy are similar to ones found in a mall, including Nine West, Urban Outfitters and Coach, but also includes venders with Boston souvieners and other interesting finds. An entire strip inside Quincy Market includes Asian cuisine, Mexican, cafes, delis, etc.
If shopping and spending are out of your budget or simply not desirable, Boston offers a host of historical and inexpensive activities. The Freedom Trail, a 16 stop trail guiding you through the entire city, takes you to just about every essential destination for the Boston tourist. Guiding you from Boston Common to Bunker Hill, the trail is every history buff's dream come true. It's free to follow on your own, or you can hire an 18th century costumed tour guide. Advisory: They stay in character no matter what. Other museums and sites to see in Boston include Paul Revere's House and Trinity Church.
You can find another, less historical, character experience at Improv Asylum in Boston's North End. An improvisational comedy troupe, Improv Asylum opened in 1998, has been featured on HBO and has performed shows across the nation.
Going to Boston, especially for students from the New Jersey-New York area, can be a thrilling and practical experience. Particularly during our spring break at Seton Hall, there are several high-profile concerts playing at the TD Bank North Garden. The city has decidedly prominent historical value and very rich offerings in arts and entertainment, from theatre to galleries and museums that offer free admission. On top of all this, Boston also offers awesome nightlife, as is inherent of most metropolitan destinations.
Samson Mobashar can be reached at samson.mobashar@student.shu.edu and Patrice Kubik can be reached at patrice.kubik@student.shu.edu.
Riviera Maya
If you want to spend spring break enjoying tropical coral reefs or jungles, then Riviera Maya, Mexico is the perfect place for you.
Riviera Maya is the new hot spot for college "spring break-ers". It's affordable, fun and has beautiful weather.
Fly into Cancun's airport and head south to Riviera Maya to find the second largest barrier reef in the world, beautiful lagoons that are perfect for snorkeling and cenotes (natural pools of clear water that are completely swimmable). Also, don't forget the nightlife.
While enjoying a few days of fun-in-the-sun, spend a day interacting with Mexican culture in the theme park, Xcaret, snorkel in Xel-Ha, the largest natural aquarium in the world, and tan on the Akumal beaches.
Where to eat? Ah Cacao Chocolate Café serves food directly from the Mayalands of Mexico and was featured on the "Rachael Ray Show" and Ajua Maya is a five star dining setting featuring fresh lobster, USA Angus Beef and 100 percent authentic Mayan and Mexican cuisines all served live by Wild Fresh Mayans to the music of Terra Verra.
For four days, four friends can stay at the Iberostar Paraiso del Mar for only $555 per person and enjoy the luxuries of not just one resort, but four. Guests are welcome to dine, visit and watch shows at either the Paraiso del Mar, Paraiso Beach, Paraiso Lindo or Paraiso Maya, which are all in walking distance of each other.
In addition, guests receive full access to the common areas with a shopping center, modern spa with humid areas, Temazcal, hair salon, 28 cabins for treatments, the Underground, a convention center and a golf course.
For an even more affordable trip, you can try the Real Playa del Carmen for $459. Real Playa del Carmen is the best four-star hotel around, providing its guests with every opportunity to totally kick back and relax and all within a tropical village-style resort.
The hotel is located right off of 5th Avenue, a lively pedestrian strip boasting trendy boutiques, art galleries, cafes, jewelry stores and the hottest night clubs in Riviera Maya. The private beach club is a quick 10 minute walk from the hotel or a short complimentary shuttle ride away and provides guests with kayaks and snorkeling equipment.
Whichever hotel you choose, Riviera Maya is the perfect place for all spring break adventures.
Laura Masino can be reached at laura.masino@student.shu.edu.
Mountain Creek
With Seton Hall's spring break within the winter season, skiing is a fun, recreational and inexpensive destination.
Mountain Creek Ski Resort in Vernon, NJ is an excellent spring break choice for students who want to get away and have a good time with friends. Not only is it enjoyable and close to South Orange, but it is inexpensive too.
Mountain Creek Ski Resort offers the "ski and stay" until March 19, which is an affordable vacation package for anyone on a budget. It's priced as low as $69.80 a person per night and guests can stay from one to five nights. The special offer also includes free breakfast and a free twilight lift ticket for people staying longer than two nights. Twilight hours begin at 3 p.m.
Mountain Creek Ski Resort is surrounded by snow covered hills and mountains. Snow tubing and snowboarding are options for those who do not ski. Lessons are also available for those who have never tried a winter sport before.
When the slopes close, there is nightlife to enjoy as well. The bar, Kink, is known for attracting people who are looking for fun. Kink provides a DJ from New York City to keep the hotspot alive throughout the night.
Mountain Creek Ski Resort is only a little over an hour drive from South Orange. To find out more about the Mountain Creek Ski Resort in Vernon, NJ, visit the website at www.mountaincreek.com.
Amanda Monteleone can be reached at amanda.monteleone@student.shu.edu.
Atlantic City
For those who are looking for something a little more exciting than home and a little more affordable than Florida or out of the country, Atlantic City is a great alternative.
About a three-hour drive from South Orange, Atlantic City has something for everyone with its "baby Vegas" boardwalk design. For those who are old enough and enjoy a good party, the clubs and bars in Atlantic City are always promising. If you're interested in gambling, the numerous hotels are complete with casinos and there is an array of concerts and other shows.
For the sports lovers, Atlantic City will host the Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship.
Artists like Brian Mcknight and Jay-Z are also set to perform over the break, another way to enjoy some fun minus the sun.
Five star restaurants are in abundance, including Ruth's Chris steakhouse, where you can enjoy a relaxing evening over a juicy, t-bone steak.
If sports and concerts aren't your thing, the endless shops on the boardwalk will possibly be your best bet in Atlantic City. A variety of clothing and shoe shops line the streets, including outlets offering deals on some of your favorite items. There are also a number of malls that also have great restaurants and stores that are sure to gain anyone's interest.
Still not sold? The spa services offered that will make you quickly forget about the beach as you relax to some soothing sounds and great massage services. A number of antique shops, museums and cultural attractions also can be found in Atlantic City in addition to an aquarium for those who are dying to get near some water this spring break.
Whatever your vice is, Atlantic City is sure to fulfill it, with its endless activities and affordable hotel and attraction packages. While it isn't Vegas or Miami, Atlantic City gets the bang for your buck and you are guaranteed to have tales to tell your friends once school reconvenes.
Kristen Hardy can be reached at kristen.hardy@student.shu.edu.
