Travelling during Spring Break

​Spring Break is one of the favorite holidays of students at Boston University because it happens generally after midterms and feels like a well-deserved break. Usually, Terriers go home or spend it in a warmer place outside of Boston. If you live in dorms, most students will leave, so if you want to do something, it is the perfect time to travel. It is a great opportunity to see what Massachusetts or other places have to offer outside of Boston.
 
I spent my Spring Break in Cape Code with two friends. The weather was sunny, but it was still a bit cold to swim. We rented an Airbnb in Yarmouth and a car for the week with the company Enterprise to drive around and discover natural beaches. There is also an application called Turo, which is basically the Airbnb of cars, where you can rent cars for very affordable prices. You have to check if the country that issued your driving license is listed as authorized in the application though (France wasn’t but if I could have used it, I would have because it is really cheap).
 
I am originally from Brittany, in the Northwest of France, and I have to say that the landscapes of Cape Code were very similar to where I live. I almost felt like I was at home. The houses were mostly made with wood which, was a big change from the redbrick houses of Boston. Many people walked on the beach with their family, their dogs, or just by themselves. I met a man at Ridgevale Beach who told me that he used to come here to play and relax with his family when he was five years old. I felt it was a beautiful thing to do to come back and still have the same warm and family-friendly feeling Cape Code gives to its visitors.
 
This is Ridgeval Beach with beautiful wooden houses in the back: 

​We also drove along the sand dunes to Provincetown to visit the harbor and seashore, and to get a sense of the culture here. If you love art and good food, this is a great place to visit.  The streets are packed with art galleries and restaurants where you can taste the best lobster rolls. At this time of the year though, not everything was open, but still, we felt that Provincetown had a cosmopolitan population with many LGBTQ cafés, restaurants, and a familial atmosphere around Commercial Street - the main street of the town. Provincetown is a must-do because, after all, it was the land where Pilgrims first touched ground at the beginning of the 17th century and you can feel the history covering the walls of the different houses and monuments.
 
We stopped at The Canteen, a small restaurant with an amazing décor, to eat a little snack before heading back to the house: 

​Spring Break can also be the occasion to go on a trip to New York. The easiest and cheapest way to get there is by bus with companies like Greyhound or Peter Pan. It usually costs around $60 or $70 for a round-trip. You can also rent a car because it’s just a 4-hour drive from Boston, but you will have to pay to park once you arrive in the Big Apple and it does not come cheap, especially if you stay for a few days. For accommodations, I would recommend an Airbnb in the Queens or Brooklyn neighborhoods with an easy access to the subway, because then you can stay in a calm environment with not a lot of traffic or people and still easily get to Time Square in 15-20 minutes. Before going to New York, I would also advise you to get familiar with a map of the city, just to get a sense of how the streets are displayed. New York is not like a “regular” city with small and crooked streets. They are extremely long and it can take hours to walk from the beginning to the end of one of them. So be aware of time and space of the city while you plan your days there. Also, prepare a budget for the subway. One ticket is an expensive $3! But you can buy a card and add on it the value you want.
 
I went to New York for Christmas and here is a list of some of the to-do-things we did that you can try:

• Take a picture in Time Square (free)
• Walk through the Winter Village (free) and do some Ice skating ($20) at Bryant Park
• Visit the MET museum (you actually choose the price you want to pay since it is a foundation, I would advise you to pay between $8 and $12) and Central Park (free)
• Admire the view at the top of the Rockefeller Center ($30)
• Walk along The High Line
• Visit Greenwich Village, SoHo, Little Italy, Wall Street and the 9/11 Tribute Center (free)

 
This is my friend Pauline and I at the top of the red stairs in Time Square! 

You can also travel outside of the US. I have been to Montreal several times because some of my French friends study there and a good friend of mine is also from there. It is an 8-hour bus drive from Boston, so take music, movies, or books for entertainment because it is quite long. Prepare for the border patrol with all of your official documents. It can either take 20 minutes or last 2 hours… I experienced both and I hope you don’t go through the latter. Montreal is a mix of France and the US and it is probably one of my favorite cities right now! You have to taste a real Canadian poutine, walk through the old city, and visit the Mont Royal Park. If you can afford it, try to attend a real Canadian Hockey Game because it is the official sport and it is quite spectacular, but the prices are very expensive.
 
I took this picture from the Mont Royal Park back in October:

​Studying at Metropolitan College at Boston University gave me the opportunity to plan some travels because my schedule allowed 3-day weekends. Whatever the destination you choose to study, you should take this chance to explore different cities in your spare time. Even if it’s just a one-day journey, get out of your comfort zone and be an adventurer!
 
Spring Break or other holidays are the perfect times to live new experiences and bond with your friends while traveling!