Best Spring Break 2015 Destinations Near Pittsburgh For College Students
The snow is melting and you're just itching to get out of your house, condo or apartment. Read this list, jump in the car and head for one of these destinations that will cure you of your winter ills. All are within easy driving distance (read: lots of highway driving) of Pitt, CMU, Duquesne and even Penn State, and are totally affordable for the college student on a budget.
Clearfield County
Visit Clearfield County
511 Spruce Street Suite 8
Clearfield, PA 16830
(866) 469-4537
www.visitclearfieldcounty.org
Approximately 2.5 hours from Pittsburgh, Clearfield County, the Backwoods, Backroads and Backwaters is a great place to enjoy your long weekend. Clearfield boasts Wapiti Woods, an area where an intrepid traveler can find some great cabins, located in beautiful Elk Country. In addition, the brand new Elk Viewing Visitors Center will guide you anywhere you need to go, and The Inn at Narrows Creek is a beautiful B&B with plenty of availability. Tons of hiking is available at these locations, and events abound for the most adventurous member of your party.
Lancaster, PA
Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau
501 Greenfield Rd.
Lancaster, PA 17601
(800) 723-8824
www.padutchcountry.com
If hiking and camping isn't your thing, try visiting Lancaster County, Pennsylvania's Amish Country. There are plenty of B&Bs in Lancaster, as well as overnight accommodations on working farms. This trip can be combined with a visit to Hershey, Pa, where one can stay at the historic Hershey Hotel or even at Hershey Park, America's favorite candy-themed amusement park. Wherever you go in Lancaster, you're sure to enjoy a quiet, relaxed respite from the chaos of everyday life.
New River Gorge
330 Meadow Creek Road
Sandstone, WV 25985
(304) 466-0417
www.nps.gov
The New River Gorge area of West Virginia is just the spot for water enthusiasts, and is within a two-hour commute of Pittsburgh. The New and Gauley Rivers provide everything from flat water for canoeing, to some of the best Class 5 white water rafting in the country. The area also offers hiking, kayaking, rappelling, mountain biking, climbing, zip lines and horseback riding. Plenty of cabin rentals are available to suit your needs, as well as some gorgeous B&Bs for the hedonist at heart.
Related: Best Spring Break Destinations For Students On A Budget
Cleveland, OH
5th Street Arcade
530 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44114
(800) 321-1001
www.thisiscleveland.com
Breaking away from the outdoor destinations on this list, Pittsburgh's neighbor, Cleveland, offers tons of fun things for a city aficionado to enjoy. A few suggestions are the Rock and Roll Hall of fame, great art museums, Jacobs Field and a Little Italy so authentic that it rivals that of New York's. Cleveland also has all of the lodging options you'd expect in a city, with price tags that certainly won't break the bank. Bonus: Cleveland also has a thriving LGBT community and plenty of bars and events to suit your needs, and even offers a printed copy of the Cleveland LGBT visitors guide, which can be requested online.
Cedar Point
1 Cedar Point Dr.
Sandusky, OH 44870
(419) 627-2350
www.cedarpoint.com
Forget Kennywood when Cedar Point, The Roller Coaster Capital of the World, is right in your backyard. A mere 2.5-hour drive away, Cedar Point, located in Sandusky, OH, has consecutively been rated "America's Best Amusement Park" for eight straight years. From death-defying roller coasters and amusement rides, to a sandy beach, nightlife and live entertainment, you'll be so wrapped up in your trip that you won't want to ever return to school. Plan your visit around Cedar Point's calendar of events, and keep checking back for special discounts and price breaks just for spring breakers.
Nikki Tiani-Moroney is a full time mum of two boys, wife of a professional poker player/photographer/amateur pencil-sharpening competitor and writer from Pittsburgh, PA. When she isn't studiously neglecting her housework in favor of a good book, she's out simultaneously fighting crime and picking up sidewalk litter while savoring an occasional cigarette. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
