With mid-term break just a few weeks away, it may be time to start making some last minute travel plans.
You don’t necessarily need to be bathing in the sun on a beach somewhere to have a good time. Despite the odd timing of the university’s “spring break,” there are plenty of easy, close, and affordable travel destinations that students can look forward to visiting.
Chicago:
If you’re someone who likes to tour big cities and take pictures in cool places, then Chicago might be the perfect place for you and a group of friends to explore over break.
For someone who’s never been to Chicago, there are a number of popular tourist attractions to see at least once. Cloud Gate (better known as the giant bean), located in Millennium Park, is a neat piece of art to see and an even better sight to take pictures in front of.
Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, has its famous skydeck glass box that hovers 1,353 feet in the air on the side of the tower. It’s the ultimate way to get a view of the whole city, especially if you’re someone who likes to live life on the edge — literally.
With a drive time of 5-6 hours from Columbus, Chicago is pretty close and has so much to offer anyone who loves the excitement of city life (although it may be cold).
Pittsburgh:
Even though Pittsburgh’s iconic rivers might be frozen over during mid-term break, there are still plenty of things to do and see in this city that’s only 3 hours outside of our own.
There are many exciting restaurants to try out in Pittsburgh, so you’ll definitely be satisfied if you’re a foodie. If you’re also a fan of visual arts, the Andy Warhol Museum and the Carnegie Museum of Art are both located in the city.
If you don’t mind spending a bit of time outside, Pittsburgh also has Boyce Park, which offers ski, snowboard, and snow tubing slopes. There’s also a great place to skate in Schenley Park Ice Rink.
Nashville:
Nashville, otherwise known as Music City, is the capital city of Tennessee and has a lot of charming historical spots to explore.
If you happen to be a fan of country music, or if you’ve always been interested in historical places, then you might consider visiting either the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum or the Grand Ole Opry. Why not both?
The home of former U.S. president Andrew Jackson, known as the Hermitage, would be another neat museum for history buffs to visit in Nashville.
Nashville is also a 5-6 hour drive from Columbus, but it would be well worth it to visit this picturesque city and experience its many museums and iconic music venues.
Hocking Hills:
If you’d prefer to spend your trip somewhere outside of a big city, or just simply don’t want to venture outside of Ohio, then Hocking Hills might be a great place to escape to with a group of friends.
You could gather a group of friends and split the cost of one of the many cozy cabins in Hocking Hills, making for a fun and affordable getaway. The area is known for being very relaxing and scenic.
The region has more than 300 miles of hiking trails, so if you don’t mind bundling up to go outside and explore, then you’re in for a stunning experience in nature.
Hocking Hills is only an hour outside of Columbus, so taking a trip down there with your friends could be both convenient and memorable.
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