Making spring break memories

By Amy Bennett | February 26, 2019

Last week, from the hallway, I heard some traditional students discussing their spring break plans as they waited outside one of the classrooms. I heard one freshman say that this was her first “real” spring break. Not sure what that means. Maybe her first spring break without her parents? Or perhaps her first time going away for spring break week? Nevertheless, she was counting on the trip to Panama Beach being “epic”!

I’m jealous. It’s the middle of winter in Indiana, and it would be nice to have a trip in March to look forward to. Wouldn’t it? Warm weather, sandy beaches, no work, and maybe a margarita or two. But, I don’t have any tropical vacations coming up, so I asked some of my co-workers to tell me about their most memorable spring break vacations:     

Melanie – spring break, 2006

When I was a sophomore in college, my best friend and I took a trip out to San Francisco. It was one of the first trips that I planned and took on my own. We did all the touristy things like the Golden Gate Bridge, rode the cable cars, went down Lombard Street, etc. What made it memorable is that it was one of the first steps to doing things on our own as adults and finding our way in the world.

Sandi – spring break, 1991

I vividly remember a spring break camping trip down at Lincoln State Park near Santa Claus, Indiana. My two oldest sons were in elementary school and my youngest was only ​two. We visited the homestead of Abraham Lincoln which is a working historical farm. While we were there, a little boy was out whittling on a piece of wood. He started talking to Nick and Andy, and then they started playing a game of checkers. We found out that this little boy played young Abe Lincoln in the summer production at the amphitheater at the state park. I told the boys they could go back to school and tell their classmates they played checkers with Abe Lincoln!

Amy – spring break, 1998

My son was in the third grade, and he was terribly disappointed because I couldn’t take off work for an entire week to go to Florida for spring break like the majority of his classmates. Since we only had a long weekend, we went to St. Louis. He was in a funk the entire drive there. Missouri in March isn’t quite like Miami in March. I get it. But, once we got to our hotel, I revealed that it was the Cardinals’ home-opener and I had tickets for us to the game​—his first major league baseball game. Suddenly, he perked up and I was “the best mom ever”! I’ll never forget the look on his face. Besides the pre-game festivities and the game itself, we also went up in the arch, went to the zoo, and took a ferry ride down the Mississippi. 

Kyle - spring break, 2018

My wife, Kimberly, my 10 year old daughter, Kynleigh, and I took a road trip last year to Fort Worth, Texas to visit my side of the family including my 89 year-old grandmother.  On the way back from Texas, we stopped in Little Rock, Arkansas to show Kynleigh where she was born and spent the first 5 months of her life. That was the first time she got to see her birthplace!  We also got milkshakes at one of our favorite restaurants during our college years called, “The Purple Cow.” 

Lynn – Spring Break, 1965

I fondly recall a family trip when I was 10 years old. My parents, younger sister and I went camping, in a camper my dad had built on the back of our pickup truck, to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This was our first family vacation, and seeing mountains for the first time, amazed this farm girl from the Midwest. But the most memorable experience was seeing all of the wildlife… specifically the huge growling black bears with their adorable baby cubs who wandered into our camp site each night. 

Helen – spring break, 2016

To be honest, one of our best spring breaks was a staycation right here in Indianapolis. We limited the use of technology, so we didn’t have the usual distractions, and we just had time as a family! My two children, Makenna and Korbyn, rotated turns each day choosing our activities. We visited the Children’s Museum, Zip City, the Indoor Park in Zionsville, and went to a couple of movies. I was along for the ride as their chauffeur and their ATM! 

Liz – spring break, 1999

I was never the type of college student stereotypically portrayed in the movies. I can admit it, I was (okay, am) boring. My life was structured and predictable. I avoided spontaneity. Then one day, my sister guilted me into driving to Florida with her and her friends for spring break—I really should have known better. For the most part, I’ve been able to block out the series of unfortunate events that followed. However, upon arriving in the Sunshine State, we discovered the free place where we had planned on staying, had fallen through. Luckily, we made friends with some locals we met at a club that night and crashed at their apartment. Naturally, we were also broke. After putting aside enough gas money to get us back home, we literally had to choose between eating that day or drinking that night. By the end of the second night, I had had all the living-on-the-edge, carefree lifestyle, and sand that I could handle. My sister and her friends were having a great time, but for me, this was a 911 type situation. I, at 23 years old, called my mommy and begged her to send me a plane ticket home. So, the one and only time I tried to do the “spring break thing,” it didn’t work out so well... At least now we can laugh about it. It didn't feel so funny then.

Whether you plan to go to San Juan, Sarasota, or Shelbyville over your spring break, stay safe, have fun, and enjoy some down time. Know that the MAP office will be up and running while you’re away—just in case you’re bored and want to call us from some tropical island. We’d love to hear the waves crashing against the shore.