“So! What are you doing for Spring Break?”
Easily, THE MOST dreaded question you could’ve asked me in middle school to high school. It always felt like the easiest thing to do was say, “Aaahh! Well, y’know, just some stuff! I’ll be-oh hey what’re YOU doing for spring break?” (you know, as a “subtle” deflection).
But seriously, when I was a kid, new video games were coming out, Apple had just dropped its newest model for the 7th time, and it felt like all the world could be found online! Now, you didn’t want to say you were just going to spend it all indoors because that would be frowned upon, but that’s how so many of us spent our spring breaks!
Nowadays though, it feels like everything is TOO online. Every day I scroll through my twitch streams, my TikToks, my updates on the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef, etc. But in today’s world, sometimes life isn’t about how “in the know” or “up to date” or “chronically online” you can be. As entertaining as our screens can be, there’s so much of the real and tangible to explore, and we’re in danger of missing it! Take it from me; my pastimes include video games, YouTube videos about video games, and watching movies (only about 20% of them are video game related, I have standards).
No, no, sometimes, we have to break out, get off the couch, and go have fun!
As one couch potato to another, let me give you my top 10 ways to unplug this spring break!
Let’s start with the obvious ones:
1. Go to the beach
Ah, the beach. You can enjoy the sound of waves crashing, hear the joyful (and a little scared) laughter of children trying the water, and taste the mouth-watering beverages before you even put your toes in the sand. Speaking of sand, beach volleyball, anybody? But seriously, the beach is great for everyone; exploration and creativity for the kids, rough housing for the teens, and mom and dad get to eat the forbidden fruit; napping. Alternatively, parents can always school the kids in beach volleyball. Regardless, the beach is a classic choice.
2. Bum it in mountains
We’ve all been there: feeling the primal urge to lace up the hiking boots, grab that backpack, some salty and sweet snacks, and HIT. THAT. TRAIL!
Get away from it all in the mountains. Far from it being “just a bunch of rocks” mountains are THE place to adventure, learn about our country’s history and unique geography, watch wildlife, hammock, play some Spikeball, have a bonfire (please pay attention to any burn bans and Leave No Trace), or challenge your muscles against the land itself in a hike! A personal pro tip: see if you can find a river and go tubing with your friends!
3. Hit the slopes
As our good friends Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye put it in White Christmas: Snow, snow, I want to wash my hands, my face and hair with snow! That’s right, it’s always snowy somewhere! Learn how to ski or snowboard, chill in the lodge, or even just get in a snowball fight with the kids! The best part about ski days is that you can go at it solo and help avoid lines, or have a group (the more people to laugh at when they fall face first, the better)! My wife and I went for the first time this past year and I know I can’t wait for the fun to start!
“Now hold on, I said I was a couch POTATO. Not a couch Dragon Fruit (so zany and out there). Travel and crazy sports just aren’t in the cards for me!”
I hear you, believe me! So here, let me give you some more concrete jungle examples that still get you on your feet and invested in the world!
4. Edumacate yourself with some museums
On a more scholastic level: sometimes to truly “unplug” and get away, you have to go see something real and tangible. Artifacts from the past are a great place to start! One of my favorite ways to do this is the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. There’s an exhibit there about the African diaspora with real garbs and clothes worn by the people of the past. Seeing how people have lived has a grounding effect. It reminds us what’s real in life and our blessing/responsibility to live well today. Don’t get caught in the idea of museums being “stuffy”— history is made for the present, and observing it can be fun for everyone!
5. Check out some Art!
La Fée Electricité by Raoul Dufy
If you’re anything like my wife and I, sometimes the best way to gain a new perspective is to see what others are making with their talents. Honestly I can never recommend going to an art museum enough, especially over spring break! While others are out and exploring nature, you can go and enjoy a quiet day of looking at a Van Gogh and reconnecting with your creative side. It may seem counter-intuitive, but looking at other perceptions of reality can reinvigorate your own life spiritually, emotionally, and maybe even physically (I can never help but smile when I see some vague piece of art for me to figure out)!
6. Jam out!
Speaking of art, maybe music is more your style! Spring break is when every artist is looking to collab for a bigger, better, and more fun experience (which means a concert with more bang for your buck). The best part is that even if you don’t want to see the mainstream artists, plenty of other aspiring artists will also be doing cheaper concerts so they can get their break out! Pro tip: to make this even more budget and family-friendly, you could go for a drive with the fam and each take turns playing songs that mean a lot to you!
7. Visit the parks!
Of the amusement kind, that is. There’s plenty of big-ticket waterparks and amusement parks that are opening for the season! Sure, lines may be a bit long, but with fast passes and evolving park models, everything can be streamlined. Grab a friend or the kids, pack your water bottles, and get ready for a day of adventure. Make sure to put your hands up!
8. Let your inner foodie run wild!
Maybe you don’t have a lot of time or money for big trips — I get that! But I bet something you for sure have time for is a good meal. Gather the friends and/or the family, dress up, and get to some delectable deviations! The best part about restaurants is that they’ll do all of the work for you. In some restaurants you can even get dinner and a show. Maybe go to a jazz lounge, a comedy club, or even a Rainforest Cafe if you’re feeling adventurous! Or grab a Costco pizza and a board game and have a picnic in your favorite park! The options are singularly limited to your creativity!
9. Pick up a new hobby!
This one is a pretty ace choice! It’s never too late to start a new passion! Have a piece of art in your head that you just want to have formed after all these years? Start now! Want to learn to woodwork? Take your supplies outside and try it out! Spring break is the time to break up any cabin fever you’ve been having, so spend it on some fun challenges! And if you don’t have a hobby you’ve been meaning to try? Test out our winter adventures (tailoring them to spring, of course).
10. Go for a walk!
The quintessential human motion: walking. That’s what this is all about. Getting outside and enjoying the world around you. Unplugging for me isn’t about just going somewhere else, it’s about being in the moment, wherever that is. When you go on your walk, just breathe! No need to multitask. Leave the mental to-do list at home and keep that email app closed! Take in everything around you, realize that you’re here in 2025, and life is a vivid experience. Life doesn’t just meet you where you’re at all the time, you have to go out and experience it. That’s an abstract way of saying this: Life is full of tastes, smells, sounds, sights, and feelings just waiting to be had. You’re not too far ahead nor are you too far behind to enjoy life
So whatever choice you make for your spring break, remember to be present! I’m a firm believer in God making a world for us to live in, not to close off or dissociate from. So get out there, have fun, and be a part of this great big world!
