Camping is a good way to get outdoors, get some exercise and find a change of scenery. With the exception of some minor gear expenses, camping is usually free or inexpensive, and its activities can fit into the tightest of schedules. Camping lends itself to other activities such as hiking, fishing, hunting, water sports and even photography and nature watching. Bring a group of friends for a great campfire get-together or even a single date for a romantic weekend in the woods. If you absolutely must do work, the outdoors is a great place to read and study without the distractions of phones, computers and neighbors.
A popular destination for college students, beaches and beach resorts are great weekend trips that offer a blend of outdoors activities with city nightlife. The day brings about surfing, boarding, swimming, sunbathing and even beach sports, and beaches offer a beautiful venue for reading or just whiling away the day. In the evening, beaches often offer nightclubs, bars and shows that can entertain and help remove the stresses of the college grind. Renting a beach house or hotel room with a group of friends makes the trip cheaper and lets everyone get in on the weekend fun.
Museum tours may seem more like education than most college weekend vacations, but the value of relaxation and discovery cannot be understated. Most school museum trips are on tight schedules or encompass the material the instructor or guide wants you to see. A weekend trip to museums lets you decide when and what to see on your terms and can be done on a college budget. The added benefit of traveling to museum areas is the food and culture of the areas you're visiting: city museums are often located near restaurant or historical districts while their rural counterparts can point the way to historical landmarks or local festivals.
Amusements parks, carnivals and county fairs make excellent weekend trips for the college student. Usually inexpensive, these types of places offer roller coaster thrills, games of chance, contests and concerts and a good venue for simply hanging out in the sunshine. Many locations have a full-scale amusement park within a few hours driving distance, and towns and cities hold traveling carnivals and seasonal fairs. Lodging is cheaper in groups, but a single date will let you romantically win a stuffed animal by throwing baseballs at milk cans.
An excellent weekend getaway, traveling to see a sporting event on a big game day is exciting and doable on a college schedule. Though tickets may be slightly more expensive than most college weekend getaways, they make excellent wish list items for birthday or Christmas gifts. A group road trip lightens travel expenses, and some venues provide group-rate admission for cheaper than the standard ticket price.
Live shows, concerts and performances are a good way to get out of town for the weekend and see your favorite band or theater show. Traveling groups post tour dates months in advance, and theater performances run for weeks on a set schedule, so planning a college weekend trip to see a show is easy. For music venues, headliners often bring along lesser-known opening acts and theater troupes strive to put a personal spin on even the oldest plays, so the opportunity to experience something new is great. Plan trips with friends ahead if the venues are seated to ensure your seats are next to one another.
