Remember Spring Break, when you were cycling around San Francisco or stuffing your face with guacamole in Mexico? Now, hands up if you’re just itching to explore again?
While there’s still over a month of spring semester to go, there are some sneaky ways you can feed your wanderlust. Here are five tips to help you beat the post-Spring Break blues and keep that pesky travel bug in check.
1. Start planning another holiday
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The end of semester (and finals!) is right around the corner, which means your next getaway can be too! Instead of complaining about the fact Boston seems to be locked in a never-ending winter and there’s still a mountain of assignments to plow through before freedom, why not have fun with the planning process? Follow Instagram accounts that focus on the type of travel or destination you’re craving, make a Pinterest board of inspiring travel photography (and try not to get sucked into a blackhole of finding vegan banana bread recipes and tattoo ideas), read blogs to find the best places to eat, or buy a travel guide from your local bookstore.
2. Explore Boston
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Nineteen million tourists flock to Boston each year to scope out attractions that many locals ignore. If you fall into this category, now is a great time to play the role of tourist by walking the Freedom Trail, catching a Celtics game at the Garden, or gathering some friends together for an evening of ice-skating at the Frog Pond. Even if you have ticked off the must-do Boston attractions, there are likely still some well-kept secrets to discover. Check out Atlas Obscura’s wonderfully bizarre list of 84 Cool and Unusual Things To Do In Boston – my favourites are the hidden Bodega on Clearway Street off Massachusetts Avenue, and the Mapparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library.
3. Book a weekend getaway
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Even a 48-hour trip can be a super affordable and satisfying way to get your travel fix! Wanderu is the home of amazing bus deals, making even our glamorous neighbour New York a realistic option on a college student’s budget (seriously, I bagged a return trip for less than $20). If you’re after some R&R, Portsmouth, New Hampshire and York, Maine are fantastic nearby options while Hartford, Connecticut is so close it makes for the perfect day trip!
4. Immerse yourself in a new culture from your couch
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Itching to explore Latin America? Try downloading Duolingo and teach yourself some Spanish to feel like you’re already a local and prepare for your next trip! Netflix also has a chunky catalog of travel documentaries so vivid you’ll feel like you’re actually riding a rattling train in India or sampling flamiche in France. We live in the age of the internet, people, live it up!
5. Make friends with Mother Nature
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According to the Matador Network, nearly 1 in 10 people say the best thing about travelling is embracing the great outdoors, something that definitely doesn’t require you to hop on a plane. To get a taste of the wilderness at home, try going for a mindful walk in the Fens or even jumping off the T a few stops early and take a scenic route to your destination.