Spring break is just around the corner and I, for one, am ready for a vacation. My family truly enjoys our annual tradition of packing our bags and hitting the road every March.
However, we knew our plans were going to have to change the morning we looked out our front door and saw water spewing from our driveway. After our $5,000 water main repair, we were faced with the realization that we needed to think outside the box and create a different option for spring break this year.
So, instead of spending our week sitting on the driveway and staring at our expensive new piece of concrete, we decided to come up with affordable and unique ways to spend time together during our week-long break.
After much deliberation we settled on three fun spring break ideas to make us feel like explorers right here in Iowa.
Pirate Day
Put on yer finest pirate gear, grab yer maties and go lookin’ for some booty! Start the day by downloading a geocaching app on your smartphone. Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt that uses GPS coordinates. When you open the app, you will enter a world of digital treasure maps. Follow the real world maps and clues to find your geocache treasure.
A geocache is typically a small plastic or metal container that can withstand the elements. Sometimes it is completely camouflaged into its surroundings. When you open the container, be prepared to sign a tiny log showing you’ve discovered the cache and leave a tiny trinket to trade with other geocache hunters. Not only do you get to explore as a family, you also join an international community of other treasure hunters!
When yer tuckered from a long day of treasure huntin’ head on over to yer favorite sea food restaurant and enjoy the catch of the day. Long John Silvers offers free pirate hats and Joe’s Crab Shack has a great outdoor playground for the kiddos.
And, don’t forget to compose a rousing sea shanty to sing while playing with boats during evening baths!
A Day in New York City
Spend your day living like a real Broadway performer! Hop aboard a city bus, travel to the Des Moines Young Artist Theatre, and attend a Broadway audition camp. Students will work with theater professionals on the acting, singing, and dancing skills needed for real world auditions.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite be sure to head over to your favorite New York style pizzeria and grab a slice before taking a stroll through a local park. Des Moines Parks and Recreation has a listing of all the great bicycle and walking trails around the city. You can visit them at https://www.dmgov.org/Departments/Parks/Pages/Trails.aspx
End your afternoon by stopping for a pretzel just like the NY locals do. And remember mamas, there is a coffee shop on every corner in NYC. Feel free to channel your inner New Yorker and sip on a hot beverage while you finish up your day in the “Big Apple.”
Spontaneous Day
The first plan for Spontaneous Day is to make no plans! Pack an overnight bag and jump in the car. Set a timer and each time it rings, a different rider chooses which direction to turn. You will want to set up a few guidelines, of course. Make sure you discuss how far you are willing to travel, how many hours you want to spend in the car, and how many stops you might want to make.
You may end up discovering a little Iowa town you’ve never visited or a tiny restaurant off the beaten path! You’ll take roads you’ve never driven on and possibly interstate exits you’ve driven past for years. Just remember to program your home address into your GPS so you can find your way back home!
And now, with three days worth of activities for my family, I am ready to start planning our 10 day break. I just have a few more exciting days to plan.
