Fast break: Student can find last minute Spring Break destinations close to home

By Courtney Thomas

Spring Break is less than a week away, but not all UK students will be lying on the beaches. For some, hitting the road to go South is not an option, and more local places are hoping to pick up where warmer destinations leave off.

“There are local cities in Kentucky as well as the surrounding states that would be perfect for a weekend trip for those who don’t have plans,” said Arty Estes, a travel consultant for The Travel Authority.

Kentucky and surrounding states offer fast and easy spring break getaways for students who cannot afford to spend much on vacation this year.

Kentucky has many natural landmarks that are perfect for a weekend of camping, such as the Red River Gorge and Mammoth Cave, located near Bowling Green, said Christopher Oakford, a spokesman for AAA.

Louisville and Covington, two of Kentucky’s larger metropolitan areas, are great weekend destinations for college students looking to have fun. Louisville’s Fourth Street Live is known for its great dining, entertainment and retail businesses. Home to a Hard Rock Cafe and over ten bars, Fourth Street is likely to have a lot going on.

Covington, located on the riverfront and separated from Cincinnati only by the Ohio River, is home to three large malls and several famous restaurants, including Jeff Ruby’s Waterfront and Behle Street Café.

Newport is just a five-minute drive from Covington and is the location of Newport on the Levee. The levee has a movie theater, dozens of restaurants and shops and is surrounded by several high-end bars.

Surrounding states, such as Tennessee, also have options for an easy vacation from campus.

“The city of Nashville draws a lot of college students because of its thriving nightlife, shopping and Opryland,” Estes said. “There is a lot of entertainment, and that’s what college students want.”

Nashville is known for its  music scene. From concerts to karaoke to the famous Coyote Ugly bar, visitors have a variety of entertainment activities to choose from.

Gatlinburg, nestled in the Smoky Mountains, offers many attractions for visitors. It offers great outlet malls and has hundreds of souvenir shops. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Dollywood are also popular attractions, Oakford said.

West Virginia’s premier ski resort, Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort, is always popular and offers cheap ticket sales and various forms of entertainment for all spring breakers, said Rebecca Johnston, sales associate for Snowshoe.

In the central region of Ohio, Cleveland and Columbus have shopping and nightlife. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland is always a popular attraction to get caught up on your rock and roll history, Oakford said.

“The great thing is that any of these places can be visited for a long weekend for as much as $500 depending on how much you do and want to spend,” Estes said. “Warmer places are nice to visit, but with this economy, it makes it hard for college students to afford and places like these offer a cheaper version to spring break.”

Staying close to home for Spring Break can be fun and cheaper than heading for the warmer climate, said Bethany Durham, a marketing junior.

“I am staying home in Lexington for Spring Break, but I am going to be going out in Louisville a lot,” Durham said. “It’s nice, I don’t have to spend the money on Spring Break, but I can still have fun.”