Many students will fly out of Denver International Airport for spring break destinations. (CU Independent file/Morgan Hofmann)
With spring break just around the corner, many students are staying within city limits while others are planning to travel beyond Boulder’s borders in search of fun.
The recent recession is definitely playing a factor in some students’ ability to travel this spring.
Kate Masterson-Newman, a 19-year-old sophomore integrated physiology major, said that the current economic dip has taken a toll on her pocketbook and spring break plans.
“I’m staying here over break and going snowboarding for a few days,” Masterson-Newman said. “[The recession] has definitely affected my ability to leave. I have no money and jobs are hard to find in Boulder.”
Jay Willis, a 25-year-old graduate education student, said he will also be staying in Boulder.
“I’m just going to do a lot of [school] work over spring break,” Willis said. “I will probably go away on the weekends for a few days and ski.”
Willis also said that it’s a trend among his friends to stay local this year.
“My friends are staying in Boulder over break too,” Willis said. “We may all go to Summit County.”
The Fox Theatre on the Hill is offering students staying in town this next week some entertainment options. The Fox is putting on many shows over break, including, “Zoso—The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience” on Thursday, March 25 and “Hell’s Belles with Prima Sonic” on Friday, March 26.
Breckenridge, Colo. is also hosting many student-friendly attractions over break ranging from arts and culture activities to typical resort-style skiing and snowboarding camps. The resort is going to be featuring many live bands, free movie nights and Shakespeare theater productions over the holiday.
Carly Grimes, the director of public relations at Breckenridge, said that there are many spring lodging and lift packages available as well as a discount book that provides many activities for free or under $20.
“The spring break coupon book can be picked up at the Welcome Center at Breckenridge,” Grimes said. “It has discounted ski and snowboarding rental coupons as well as Happy Hour discounts and specials for Breckenridge’s bars.”
Grimes also described the resort’s Bar Party Competitions that are happening over break.
“The Bar Party Competitions are really geared towards college students,” Grimes said. “They started last weekend. Each night a different bar has a different themed party and people who come to the bar parties are encouraged to dress up according to the theme. There are games, giveaways, and lots of fun stuff going on.”
For more information on the activities going on at Breckenridge visit their Web site.
Some students are journeying out of town this year through CU’s Outdoor Program.
Sam Breadner, a front desk clerk for the Outdoor office and a trip leader, described the outings his groups will take this year.
“We’re taking two trips this year,” Breadner said. “We’re going to the Canyon Lands for seven days to teach the fundamentals of backcountry living. Another group of people are headed on a four-day canoeing trip around Colorado.”
The students and faculty trekking with the Outdoor Program this break signed up last week for the trips and paid the required fee to travel. Breadner said that the prices for these annual trips are reasonable because they cover the transportation costs, food, gear and rentals needed for the entire trips’ duration.
Other students looking for an outdoor adventure are headed to the Saguaro Wilderness and Catalina Foothills, east of Tucson, Ariz., and the Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. Both trips are headed by the Boulder Hiking Club on-campus.
The group backpacking in Arizona will be gone for eight days and could possibly get into some rock jumping adventures as well as day hikes and camping at night. Students who are hiking in Utah will be traveling for nine days and trekking 55 miles a day through national parks and backcountry.
Kate Mohr, a 20-year-old sophomore integrative physiology major, said the trips are terrific opportunities for students to travel.
“I think they are both awesome opportunities because it’s cheap prices for a week of traveling,” Mohr said. “You get to hang out with a bunch of cool people too.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jenna Fredrickson at Jenna.fredrickson@colorado.edu.
