You know you want to ride the Chernobyl Ferris wheel….

Ah, spring semester, I love you. Not because the end of the year feels so close, not because of how nice it is to feel the weather gently warm up as the months go by. No, I love you because of one thing, and one thing only: spring break. 

It’s not the actual break itself that excites me so much, it’s the planning around it. Spending hours viewing different airlines and comparing prices, obsessively looking at airbnbs I could never afford before lowering the price point to something reasonable, reading blog after blog on what to do in different cities. Spring break gives me the perfect procrastination activity when I know I need to start my thesis but just can’t seem to. 

The hardest part, of course, is deciding where to actually go. Do I spend a week lounging around on the beach, reading novels and swimming in the water? Do I go on a more historically-minded vacations and tour residents of famous artists and visit museums? Do I, dare I say it, go home? 

It’s tempting to want to do something off the beaten path. If you’re in a similar predicament as I am, I’m about to make your stress even worse—if you wait any longer, those ticket prices are going to climb higher than Columbia’s tuition. I’ll use my endless hours of research to present a comprehensive list of alternative spring break plans, just to help you narrow things down.

The Chernobyl Ferris Wheel

Did you know that there’s a Ferris wheel in Chernobyl? Because there’s a Ferris wheel in Chernobyl and I want to ride it so bad, but doing so will probably kill me. If you like amusement parks, but want a new experience for Spring Break, check out Pripyat.

Point Nemo

Point Nemo, one of the poles of inaccessibility, is a point in the Pacific Ocean that is the furthest spot from land anywhere on Earth. If you’re one of many people who have taken advantage of Columbia’s sailing programs, test out your skills by sailing to Point Nemo this break. Utter and complete nothingness will be a blissful change from the bustling crowd of New York City. 

Donner Party Lake

I’ve been a bit obsessed with reading about the Donner Party lately. Did you know that they were trapped in 15 to 20 feet of snow for months at this lake? They didn’t even get fully rescued until April. If you love history, and have always been interested in historical reenactment, test your luck and visit the Donner Party Lake. 

The Great Blue Hole

Hear me out. Located off the coast of Belize, the Great Blue Hole is exactly that, a great blue hole. Essentially, it used to be a massive cave, but when sea levels rose many thousands of years ago, the ocean overtook it. It’s a natural wonder, and an abyss that I’ve always wanted to stare into. 

Header via Bwog Archives