Remember how glorious Spring Break was during school days? The escape from the daily grind was the perfect boost through the remnants of winter. Well, there’s no reason not to experience a Spring Break-esque getaway as an adult – and add a dash of adrenaline, to boot. Here, a few of our favorite picks.
Pacific Rim Whale Festival, British Columbia, March 6-14: Forget the madness of the Olympics and opt for a more chill way to enjoy the rugged beauty of British Columbia – and its majestic sea mammals. Each spring, Pacific Grey whales migrate north along the coast of Vancouver Island to their summer feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. Take advantage of free viewing stations in Ucluelet and the Pacific Rim National Park, with other viewing spots along the rocky headlands between Ucluelet and Tofino. Or book a whale-watching trip with a local charter boat or float plane for a more up-close look.
Rat Race Adventure, Bristol, UK, June 5-6: Think you have the chops for the Amazing Race? Get a firsthand taste for the task with the Rat Race in Bristol (races are also held over the summer in Edinburgh and London). This urban adventure will have you and your teammates scaling steps, pole-dancing and devouring street fare like chili dogs from minute to minute – all in the quest to get to the finish line first. Choose between Saturday’s three-hour Mean Streets event, in which you cover 10 kilometers of the city on foot, or Sunday’s more demanding bike- and kayaking-based Nine2Five challenge. Or be a total bad ass and take on both.
Chica Brava women-only surf camps, Nicaragua, most weekends beginning in March: ‘Bros aren’t the only ones who can bond over the waves. Learn to rip it up with some of the top female surfers in Central America at this women-only surf camp and surf school. In addition to personalized instruction, there’s also yoga, cozy digs and a free one-hour massage. Surf packages start at $790 per person for a week, including lodging, meals, instruction and yoga.
Twilight Criterium and Festival, Athens, Ga., April 23-24, 2010: Join a boisterous crowd of about 30,000 who come every year to watch top cyclists rip around 1-kilometer course in downtown Athens, a funky college town that makes for a great getaway on its own. Dubbed the “most insane criterium in the world,” the race, in its 30th year, culminates with the men’s and women’s top divisions beginning at 7:45 p.m. on Saturday. Get in your own workout by competing in the inaugural Twiathlon, which includes a 5k and a ride.
