Not every spring break has to end with a sunburn and a hangover. Believe it or not, there is much more to do on spring break than just party it up at the beach. So if you don't want to end up looking like a lobster, as well as getting sand in everything, consider some of these alternative spring break ideas.
Washington, D.C.
Visiting Washington, D.C. gives you a chance to explore America's history in its finest. It is probably the most educational of all trips on this list. Not only will you get to vacation and travel, but you'll find yourself experiencing things you have never seen in person before. A trip to D.C. also means exercise, as you will be doing plenty of walking as you explore all of the museums and monuments in the area (as if you didn't get enough walking in between classes). If you haven't paid a visit to Washington yet, you should do so soon.
Canada
While many spring break partiers head south for the week, heading north across the border may be another option. Although you won't get the warm weather, it gives those aged 19 and over a legal way to party and consume alcohol if they choose to do so. While the exchange rate isn't what it used to be, a good time and nice hotels can be found for a good price.
Festivals
Festivals usually involve many individuals just like yourself who are looking to have a good time. Perhaps the biggest festival that goes on around spring break is South by Southwest down in Austin, Texas. South by Southwest (or SXSW) is the largest music festival in the United States, with over 1500 bands and artists performing. This year the festival runs March 12-21 and also includes an interactive and film festival. One could almost kill two birds with one stone by also going to check out various jobs and internships available in the city of Austin. If you weren't aware, Austin is one of the best places for starting a career after college.
Travel by Amtrak
The big advantage of traveling by train is getting to see the countryside; something you don't get to see up close when traveling at 30,000 feet. When riding Amtrak, it doesn't matter where you are going; getting there is half the journey. Unlike a road trip, you leave the driving up to someone else, giving you freedom to do whatever you like while traveling. Sure travel by train will (almost always) be slower than by airline, but it is a very relaxing way to travel. You can get up and walk around rather than being confined to a compact airline seat, and you don't have to deal with all the security hassles at the airport. Spring break only lasts a week, so if your destination is far away you should probably fly, but consider Amtrak for anything relatively close.
Spring Training
Sure, some people think baseball is bloody boring, but here you combine a sporting event and warm weather that every sports nut enjoys. Here you can see your favorite baseball stars on the cheap as tickets to spring training games are typically cheaper than the regular season. Going to spring training down in Arizona would be ideal for those living up in the Pacific Northwest who don't always get the nicest of weather during the month of March. This is good, clean fun with warm weather that is away from the gambling of Vegas and the debauchery on the beaches.