After a series of extended weekends and snowy weather, everyone is beyond ready for a break where the weather permits for outdoor activity without fear of losing toes to frostbite. Spring break might finally provide that opportunity. With two weeks off school and comparatively warm weather in sight, spring break begs outdoor adventure. With spring sports’ preseasons also vying for possession over these two weeks, it is simply the perfect time for day excursions.

Only a short drive away, Philadelphia is always a popular destination for eating, shopping, and socializing. Philadelphia boasts a wide range of activities making it impossible to run out of places to go and things to do. Maddie Fruchtman ’15 said, “I like being able to walk freely around the city and going to art museums and stores!” As most destinations in Philly can be reached in a short walk, the best choice is to find a parking lot to leave your car, and travel by foot or subway.

To begin a possible day trip itinerary, head over to the popular Philadelphia Museum of Art, which opens at 10am and is only $14 for students in high school or with a college ID. During spring break this museum will be presenting its highly appraised exhibit, “Marc Newson: At Home”. This exhibit contains some of the most fascinatingly designed household appliances, and as odd as it sounds, it truly is more interesting than renaissance paintings! After exploring there, the next practical thing to do would be to grab lunch. Only a few blocks and a short walk outside Center City is an interesting little restaurant called Cheu Noodle Bar.  Behnaz Varamini, upper school Spanish teacher, explained, “It is not an authentic Asian noodle place, and doesn’t claim to be, but it’s delicious and has a great vibe inside!” Then, another short walk away is the underground Reading Terminal Market for shopping enthusiasts. It also hosts plenty of charming stores that sell unique products such as Amazulu which sells handmade jewelry and Terralyn which sells high quality handmade skincare products. Finally, a day in the beautiful city of Philadelphia can conclude with a trip to the Comcast Center, located in Center City. Not only does it provide the best view of the city, the Comcast Center brags an amazing eight story “Winter Garden” and a 2,000 square foot LED wall with extraordinarily realistic images! With all these attractions located within the same general vicinity, these activities can all be done within a day and the proximity of Philadelphia makes it possible to be home by the end of the same day.

There is more than one opportunity for adventure during spring break, so after a trip to Philadelphia, there is still time to visit the incredibly popular New York City. As one of the most favored vacation destinations, New York City is the prime location for shopping, dining, and exploring! Bill Gordon ’14 agreed, “New York City seems like there’s always a lot going on and so much to do!” Traveling by foot and Subway are also the optimal modes of transportation, so leave your car in a car park at the start of the day! Spring break should provide relief from the freezing snow and ice, so it is a perfect time to enjoy the warm temperatures in the friendly atmosphere of Central Park!

The Great Lawn is a perfect space in Central Park for a brunch picnic, so pack some sandwiches and ‘Oreo’ cookies for a warm and pleasant meal. After brunch take one of the final opportunities of the winter season to go ice-skating in the iconic Wollman Rink, which closes on April 7th, or explore the many beautiful trails and lakes! Brooke Winfield’15 said, “I love ice skating, and ice skating here with a warm cup of hot chocolate is a great experience!”. After the Central Park visit, get on a subway and head to SoHo in the lower parts of New York City to find an abundance of name brand stores. SoHo is the one stop location for all kinds of shopping ranging from AmericanApparel to Versace. Caroline Wren ’16 said, “I like shopping in SoHo because there is a very interesting assortment of places to shop, and last time, I saw Mindy Kaling!” Once all the shops have been scoured, head to the famous Bosie Tea Parlor, about a fifteen-minute walk away, to relax with warm tea in a cozy atmosphere to end the day!

Spring Break presents the time and weather to enjoy these outdoor excursions, so it is only practical to take the opportunity! Visiting Philadelphia and New York City for the day can be inexpensive and worry free because there is no need to book hotels, and its proximity makes it possible to be there and back in the span of one day. This spring break, plan an early morning and head out to one of these cities for a day adventure!