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Spring, the time of year when everything begins to awaken. The days are longer, life begins to bloom and animals come out of hibernation. Mainstream media and commercials are eternally promoting the sun-streaked beaches with bright blue water shimmering in the background. Granted it's pretty, but sometimes you just yearn for something new, but what to do?

Rather than take the cliche spring break trip to the proverbial beach, why not try something a bit different? There is literally a whole world outside your door that's begging for exploration.

*Road trip. What's more fun than an old-fashioned tried and true road trip? Call your best friend, or if it's a family spring break, gather up the kids and hit the road. Pack the bags and your favorite tunes; hit the ATM for some emergency or "mad" money and you're good to go. You can do this in two ways, pre-select your destination or randomly drive and let the highway be your guide. Let passengers take turns picking the highways to travel until you come upon something interesting. These days GPS systems make it even easier if you're concerned about finding places to stay or eat, just punch a few keys and voila. If you're really up for something exciting, pack your tent too.

*Visit a city you've always wanted to see. Open the map, take a gander and choose the top three cities you've always wanted to see. Examine your budget, time and desires and then choose one. Maybe you want to tour historic Colonial Williamsburg, stroll along the San Francisco Bay, or tour the landmarks of New York City and come dusk, eat at one of the fine restaurants and dance til dawn in the midst of the Big Apple's night life. Think about what type of trip you'd enjoy and then discover which cities offer the social, cultural, or historical features you've dreamed of experiencing.

*Go camping. This isn't everyone's bag. Personally my idea of camping is a nice comfortable hotel room, but my husband really enjoys the great outdoors. Even I must admit, heading off to a remote destination and breathing in the crisp clean air is rather enticing. The beauty of camping is you can customize it to meet your own preferences, you can go rustic or choose a more modern facility. Some grounds are set up in a community structure or you can choose a more isolated location. During the day you can explore the woods, hike, swim, hunt nature with your digital camera, and in the evening you can toast s'mores and hot dogs by the campfire.

*Head to the mountains. Rent a quiet and tranquil cabin nestled serenely in the mountains. This is a great alternative, especially if traditional camping isn't your bag because you can still enjoy the nature that surrounds you and then in the evenings retire "at home". You also get the modern conveniences you don't necessarily find in the campgrounds. Many areas have activities such as horseback riding or white water rafting. The sky's the limit, and heading off to the mountains gets you as close as possible to that sky.

*Amusement parks. These are always fun if you enjoy a thrill; spend your days riding the faster than lightening coasters, or if the water is warm enough, hit the water parks. Many theme parks offer shows and other kinds of entertainment to have fun with.

Beaches are nice, but sometimes a change is warranted, and there is a world of possibilities either in your own country or head across the border to experience the beauty residing in other countries. Try something new, something you've never done before and you'll come home with a plethora of wonderful memories.

Learn more about this author, Leigh Goessl.
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