Spring Break is the most important week of the academic year — a week for relaxing, partying and doing anything other than sitting in a classroom. Many students get the opportunity to travel during this week of utopia, but for those remaining in Syracuse, don’t worry – there are endless opportunities, no matter what your Spring Break needs are.

— Compiled by Chelsea Debaise, Feature Editor

The Intellectual

The mind of an unstoppable intellect doesn’t stop during Spring Break. Whether you are a creative type – a right-brainer, as Michael Gazzaniga and Roger Sperry would say – or a quantitative left-brain-learner, there are perfect vacation destinations for you, right in the 3-1-5.

For the right-brainer: The Everson Museum of Art on Harrison Street is one of the most underrated art venues in Upstate New York. The art museum has a modern flair — a little more O’Keefe and Rockwell than Michelangelo and Raphael — but no matter what your flavor, there is an exhibition here that will quell your need for inspiration. Every exhibit offers a discount for college students, so you can get a little culture for cheap.

For the left-brainer: Visit the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology in Armory Square. Don’t be turned off by the parts of this museum that are catered to children — the options inside are insanely awesome for visitors of all ages. The section devoted to aeronautics, especially, gets a little heavy for younger viewers and can be extremely engaging for the college-age viewer wanting to geek out. The gift shop also offers badass Albert Einstein T-shirts, though you may want to opt for a large).

The Outdoorsman

Even though it is easy to complain about the unpredictable weather in Syracuse, there are actually some seriously beautiful areas if you’re trying to get back into nature this break. Step out of the classroom and into the great outdoors.

For the mellow nature-lover: Green Lakes State Park is an absolute must. Green Lakes is aptly named for the appearance the water takes during the spring and summer months: an unmistakable emerald hue. While the lakes might be in the “no-man’s land” stage between iced over and melted, the park’s beauty will be undeterred, no matter what time of year. Take a walk around either lake for some of the best tranquility Syracuse has to offer. Or, if you’re craving a little more activity, jog around both lakes for a lovely little 5K.

For the hiker: Try some slightly more challenging terrain at Chittenango Falls. This destination is about 20 minutes outside of Syracuse, so you may have to suck up to a friend with a car, but it is well worth it. The waterfalls are absolutely gorgeous, so you may want to suck up to a friend with a DSLR camera, as well. The hiking in this area can actually provide something a little heartier than the flatlands at Green Lakes, turning a normal afternoon into an adventure.

The Trendsetter

If you are a trendsetter — meaning your outfits end up being copied by those on The Sartorialist, your iTunes playlist included the “Gossip Girl” soundtrack before it came out or you’re convinced “Portlandia” was loosely based off of you and your friends — there have undoubtedly been days when you’ve wondered if you are too cool for Syracuse. But it may be worth more consideration.

For the coffeehouse crew: The Starbucks on Marshall Street is always packed to the gills, but what is the fun of going to a coffeehouse that’s on every corner? Hop on the Connective Corridor and hit up Freedom of Espresso to get away from the mundane grind of campus. The coffee is good, if a little overpriced, and the environment is chic, relatively quiet and perfect for people-watching or reading a good novel.

For the music junkies: If you are in any way seduced by the retro quality of vinyl, stop into Sound Garden to spend some time flipping through your favorite 12-inch records. Plus, it’s right down the street from Freedom of Espresso — bonus! If you have ever watched “Empire Records” in your youth, this place will be right up your alley. Who knows? You might end up hooking up with a young Renee Zellweger look-alike, if you’re lucky.

The Overworked

College is stressful. Classwork can be overwhelming on its own, and adding any extracurriculars can drive a person to the brink. But you don’t need to do a semester in Tibet to get a little Zen in your life and take some time for you. Go back to the basics this Spring Break.

For the aspiring Yogi: Get your center-finding on at Morningside Yoga on Westcott Street this break. It is located in a small house tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the busier side of the popular street, perfect for some relaxation and connecting of the body and mind. Morningside Yoga offers classes in Hatha yoga, as well as Vinyasa flow. Take your pick and let the stress roll off of your child’s pose. Namaste.

For the just plain exhausted: Make the trek down to East Genesee Street and lose all of your worries in the gloriousness that is SpaZend. SpaZend has everything an overworked college student could ever need: massage services, body wraps, body scrubs and various body rituals.

Published on March 7, 2013 at 3:59 am

Contact Chelsea: cedebais@syr.edu | @CDeBaise124