Spring Break has long been sold as a bacchanalia for youth, a week of sun, fun and booze that's a must-do while in college. According to my extensive research (I read Mental Floss) Spring Break's first iteration in this country began when Fort Lauderdale opened Florida's first "Olympic" pool back in 1928. Competitive swimmers would come down for training in March, and over the years, it became a combination training camp/social event for student athletes from across the country.
Needless to say, other students noticed their peers returning to campus with tans and big smiles on their faces, and in 1960 the modern version of Spring Break became a defined by Where the Boys Are which I've never seen, but which sounds like a bit of a downer (spoiler: boys can't be trusted and girls who have sex get sideswiped by cars. Good girls get George Hamilton!) The scenery was terrific, though, and it started a rush to beaches all up and down Florida's Gold Coast, followed by Key West, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, etc. etc.
I don't remember ever doing Spring Break myself. My parents were extremely open-handed about anything to do with education, but a trip to Florida with 10,000 other college students wasn't the kind of education of which they approved. The Smithie spent one Spring Break having fun with friends in New York City - one set of parents had a pied-a-terre - and another getting extra hours at her work-study job. In my circle nowadays, if kids are going on a warm-weather vacation, they have to do it without access to the parental pocketbook. As one mom told me, "If I could afford a trip to Cancun in March, I'd take it myself!"
Which make me think - maybe what we need is Adult Spring Break. Let's face it, in 90% of the continental US, late March is a trial, ranging from "when is the grass going to get green" to miserable snow and sleet. There's no better time to get away to some place with warm, flower-scented breezes and drinks in coconuts.
As adults, we can afford our getaway - we don't have to ask mom and dad to help out. And we'd be much better guests for tourist destinations: we tip well, we stay in hotels with good mattresses, and we'll never bother the locals with loud partying at 1am, because we all go to bed at 10. Instead of spending money for our kids to swan off to tropical islands, we can pay them to house sit. "Don't forget the cat's special allergy food! See you in a week!"
Reds, do you have any memorable Spring Break experiences? And what do you think of my idea for Adult Spring Break?
JENN MCKINLAY: I worked all through college so I usually worked all through spring break, but I did take off to the Bahamas for spring break during my sophomore year and it was a blast. My favorite part was hopping on a bus and taking an unofficial tour through the non-tourist parts of the island. It was on a Sunday, so the ladies all had their church hats on and there were chickens scrambling through the aisle. Oh, and the accents. Caribbean accents are just divine, aren't they? I am raising my hand in favor of an adult spring break. Take me away!
HALLIE EPHRON: When I was in college, I never had the money to go exotic places on spring break, and I couldn't go home because it was on the opposite coast, so I pretty much stayed at the college or visited friends whose families lived nearby. Or maybe the concept "spring break" simply hadn't yet been invented. As a grownup, I once had the misfortune of once (accidentally) being in Key West during spring break. Lucy can talk about what a bad idea that is. It is my firm belief that spring breaks should be taken in the dead of winter.
RHYS BOWEN: At college in England we had an Easter break but I remember using it to study hard as exams were in June. My kids certainly did cool spring break things, going on the combined UC ski trip to Aspen and Whistler. I'm not sure where the money for that came from. Certainly not from me. But they did have jobs in college. I'd rather have an adult summer camp, or rather mommy' summer camp where we can hike, swim, do crafts, relax on hammocks, cook marshmallows and laugh around a campfire with plenty of good food and wine. Who is in with me?JULIA: My kids went to an amazing summer camp, and I told the director for years if she opened a week for adults, she'd be booked in five minutes.
LUCY BURDETTE: Seems like all of March in Key West is now spring break. At this point we try to work around the busiest places--forget about the beaches, bars, Duval Street--and make any reservations well in advance. I think the worst is the crazy people on scooters with no helmets racing around town. We always leave a little extra time to get anywhere!I don't remember going on spring break either--it must be a newer invention, and yes! I'm in for adult spring break, though can we write a little too? I'm behind on everything!
JULIA: Maybe for folks in tourist-heavy vacations, Spring Break can be a (frozen) lakefront cabin in Minnesota!
DEBORAH CROMBIE: No spring breaks for me, I'm afraid. It seems like I was always studying through any sort of breaks in college. In any case, I couldn't have afforded it, and my parents certainly wouldn't have paid for it. But, yes, I'm all for adult spring break! I'm imagining a bunch a writer friends, getting together for a couple of days visit with some sightseeing, good food, and walks on the beach. I'd be thrilled with a hammock and a book, too.
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Debs, absolutely. Spring break. Spring Break....did we have that? I know there were movies about it, with, like, Annette and Frankie Avalon, and that was when I was about 13. But when I was in college? I have no memories, not one, of spring break. We used to mourn the winter in what we called the January Flats, the horrible bleak January in Ohio. And yes, then there was a February break. Huh. I remember now. Sort of. Okay. I think---I stayed at school? Or maybe--went with my family somewhere? But "spring"? Oh, gosh, scary, I have no spring break memories. I'll call my sister.And I was just thinking today about how I'd love a little vacation. Somewhere sunny. But vacation to me means I can work! Just in a warmer place where there are margaritas at night. So yeah, I'm in!
JULIA: How about you, dear readers? Any good Spring Break stories? And do you want to start planning for Grown-Up Spring Break '20?
