Planning to go to Spring Break this year? Maybe your destination is South Padre Island or Panama City or Fort Lauderdale. Or maybe you’ll catch a flight to Cancun or Jamaica. You and hundreds of thousands of other young people will be welcomed at any of these Spring Break destinations.
While many people might be headed to these places with the idea of heavy drinking and drugs, wild nights and promiscuity, what about getting a group of friends and doing something that is truly fun and adventurous? Who says it always has to be about getting drunk or high?
It make take a little creativity, but there are many things you can do on spring break that can be just as exciting without all the misery that comes from a week long binge. For the more adventurous, you might even want to try some extreme sports such as skydiving and rock climbing.
Here are just a few ideas for drug and alcohol-free activities in some prime Spring Break destinations that will create memories you can enjoy for years. Instead of hazy memories of upsets, tears, hangovers and fights – or worse.
Spring Break Adventures
Cancun: Take an ATV tour of the jungle canopy near Cancun, followed by ziplining through the trees or into a water-filled crater in the middle of the jungle. If you prefer, swim with dolphins or tour some of Cancun’s coral reefs.
Fort Lauderdale: Scuba, free dive or snorkel along coral reefs or investigate underwater wrecks like the 325-foot Copenhagen. Just about any watersport you can think of is available, such as paddleboards, waverunners, kayaks or jetpack rides. Or take one of those cool airboats through the Everglades.
Jamaica: Your favorite activity here might be just chilling on the white sand beaches or soaking in the turquoise waters. But there’s much more to do than that: Ziplining, paddleboarding, jungle tours or tubing down a river are all available at Montego Bay in Jamaica. Or go horseback riding on the beach or IN the surf.
Panama City: It’s all about the water so look for waverunners, parasailing over the surf, snorkeling or dolphin encounters. Or check out those amazing flyboards – stand on a small platform with water jets pointing downward that send you soaring into the air.
Go sober this year and have the time of your life. You’ll be able to come back with plenty of stories to and some vivid memories of your 2015 Spring Break adventures.
Behind the Scenes at Spring Break Destinations
If you’re sold on the idea but need some help convincing others, here’s a look at what’s occurs each year at these spring break destinations:
1) Drug dealers in these areas are stockpiling hundreds of kilos of cocaine, Molly, marijuana and synthetics that they want to get into your hands and into your body.
2) Bars and party venues are printing out posters and working up offers that will result in the maximum amount of alcohol consumed in the shortest amount of time.
3) Emergency medical technicians and emergency rooms are making sure their ambulances are fully stocked with all the supplies they will need to bring you back from a Molly, alcohol or other overdose or a drug-related injury such as a fall off a hotel balcony.
4) Social services and law enforcement are preparing themselves to deal with injuries, heavily intoxicated people, overdoses, rapes, assaults and other Spring Break related problems.
When you look at that picture, the traditional spring break looks more like marketing opportunity for alcohol companies and drug dealers who have virtually no concern for your welfare. Why not invest your time and money in something that supports your well being instead of their bank accounts?
So go ahead, get a group of friends and create a real adventure that you are sure to remember for years to come. When you come back, tell the rest of your friends about your wonderful adventures seeing things you would never have seen back home or from the inside of a night club. Maybe they’ll travel with you next year and see how great a drug-free and alcohol-free Spring Break can be.
See also: Twenty Sober Activities That are More Fun than Using Drugs or Drinking