Wow, spring break is finally here, which means students can finally take a short hiatus from school. Then the tragic revelation comes forth: school consumes most of students’ time. With so much free time, many are unsure what to do in the absence of it.

Yes, students could always spend the break binge-watching Netflix and Youtube or texting their friends until 3 a.m., but there are so many other things that are great to do this time of year.

As the weather improves, plenty of outdoor activities seem more appealing. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of these activities.

Ranging from museums to events, there are plenty of things going on this season that students won’t want to miss.

For one, the Dali museum, located in St. Petersburg, is temporarily holding an exhibit of Walt Disney’s work. With $10 admissions for visitors ages 13-17 and $24 for visitors ages 18-64, this place is family-friendly with some events and games for children and extraordinary exhibits and scheduled tours.

The Dali museum is open from 10:00 a.m. -5:30 p.m. every day, except on Thursdays, when it stays open until 8:00 p.m. Filled with intriguing artwork, this place is definitely something students should check out.

Yet another interesting museum and historic walkthrough is Heritage Village. Located in Largo and open Wednesday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., and  1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. on Sundays, this interesting historic site is home to some of Pinellas County’s most historic buildings dating back to the mid- to- late 19^th century. Plus, this place is free to explore.

Another great place to pay a visit is the Florida Botanical Gardens. Also located in Largo, these beautiful walkthrough gardens are open from 7:00 a.m. until sunset, and there’s no admission fee.

Taking it up a notch, Celebration Station, located in Clearwater off of US Highway 19, is a fun place to visit for people of all ages. With go-kart races, a laser tag arena, a mini-golf course, and more, this fun center is one students won’t want to miss.

Open from 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. on Fridays, and from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Celebration station is an exciting place that students should add to their bucket lists. With various deals for specific days of the week and differing admissions depending on which activities are paid for, this place has a variety of exciting activities that students will surely enjoy.

Lowry Park Zoo is a must-see for those interested in animals. With tours, activities, several exhibits, this zoo will leave students with animal encounters that will not be forgotten. Open from 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with admission fees of $29.95 for all visitors over age 11, this family-friendly place is another spot that’d make for a great trip this Spring Break.

Also, since Florida is known for its beaches, there are several nearby that might prove worth paying a visit to.

Fred Howard Park, Sand Key Park, Indian Rocks Beach, Honeymoon Island State Park, Caladesi Island State Park, St. Pete Beach, Fort DeSoto Park, and Clearwater Beach are all nice beaches that are relatively nearby.

And speaking of beaches, there are plenty of interesting things to be done, aside from lounging at the beach. There are plenty of aquatic activities, such as boating, jetskiing, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, waterskiing, parasailing, and more.

Also, there are plenty of upcoming events this month.

Even before Spring Break starts, there are a few interesting events that students might want to check out. First of all, the Strawberry Festival is going on from March 3^rd to the 13^th with a $10 for all attendees ages 13 and up. This festival, open at various times, is great for strawberry lovers, offering entertainment, contests, and more. Also, from the 11^th to the 13^th, the St. Petersburg Grand Prix will be held. This grand event has varying ticket prices and times for different days and seats, but, in general, it sounds like an interesting event that’ll appeal to many racing fans.

One event, going on during the break, to look out for is the Florida Renaissance Festival in Fort Lauderdale, featuring jousting, entertainment, and more. This medieval festival has admission rates at $12 per student and is open weekends from February 23^rd through March 27^th from 10 a.m. to sunset.

On Friday, March 18^th from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., the annual Chili Blaze festival will be held in England Brothers Park. It is free to attend and helps raise funds for the Tampa Bay Area Muscular Dystrophy Association.

And for those students interested in races, on March 19^th, the 7^th Annual Cycle for Autism bike race will be held in Pinellas County. Later, on March 26, the Hillsborough County BT5K Tampa Bay Run & Walk race will also be held.

Also, soon after the break is over, the Relay for Life, which helps raise money for the American Cancer Society, will be held at PHUHS on April 1^st from 6:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m.

In the long run, there are plenty of things to do this break.

Students could go see upcoming movies or hang out with friends, but when they’re finally free from school, although it’s just for one week, there is no shortage of things students can do to battle back the nagging boredom.