The annual break in the U.S. college year varies from school-to-school but, overall, it begins as early as Saturday, March 2nd and ends as late as Sunday, March 31st.

During this free-from-studies period young men and women head for getaways where they can travel with friends and have a lot of fun in warmer weather while sunbathing, swimming, drinking, dancing and meeting new people. In my research for US Spring Break destinations, I came up with six destinations that sounded pretty good to me. Let’s have a look.

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA

Apparently, this white-sand beach is quickly replacing Daytona Beach as the top Spring Break destination in Florida. I have never visited this fabled spot so I’ll take their word for it and say that, “it’s a great place for a break.”

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Yes, I totally agree, this is a terrific place to relax and enjoy oneself. I’ve been there a couple of times and can vouch for it. You can play the slots, see shows, walk down The Strip and take in the sights or just sit by the pool at your hotel and work on your tan. There are umpteen places for drinking and eating. You can also rent a car and tour Red Rock Canyon on a one-way 13-mile scenic drive or you can go out and view the gigantic Hoover Dam – a spectacular sight if there ever was one.   

MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA

I’ve been through Miami Beach a couple of times but that’s it. Apparently it’s one of the hottest Spring Break destinations on the east coast. We found South Beach with its high concentration of Art Deco buildings really interesting. And, of course, you’ll find white-sand beaches that stretch for miles. There’s no shortage of places to sleep and eat, that’s for sure.

KEY WEST, FLORIDA

We visited Key West by driving down the 113-mile Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys. About halfway we stopped at Islamorada, a fisherman’s paradise, for lunch and watched as a fierce rainstorm whipped the palm trees – it was very dramatic. Key West itself is great. Just walking down Duval Street is an experience in itself.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

I’ve been to the west coast a number of times but never visited San Diego. However, I understand that it’s a Spring Break favorite year-after-year with its cool, casual, laid-back atmosphere. I did spend time in Redondo Beach on a vacation with my family (it’s about two hours from San Diego) and it was terrific: hot sun with a white-sand beach and the Pacific crashing in.

HONOLULU, HAWAII

One of my all-time favorite spots in the entire world – my husband and I drove all over Oahu, then flew over to Kauai for a once-in-a-lifetime helicopter trip down the Nã Pali Coast on the north shore. Hawaii offers endless sunshine, many places to stay, excellent food, beautiful beaches – the list is endless. This is a perfect Spring Break choice.

THE $64,000 QUESTION: WHAT ABOUT NOLA?

No, you won’t find a white-sand beach but there’s plenty to see and do in charming, friendly New Orleans. If you stay at the Rathbone Mansions you’ll find a pool and a hot tub plus access to many fine restaurants, bars and clubs with music pouring out. Trust me, you can gamble in the casino, go on an airboat ride, visit a famous graveyard, cross the Mississippi in a ferry, tour a plantation -- the list is endless.

COME AND ENJOY THE BEST SPRING BREAK OF YOUR LIFE

Shaun Nelson-Henrick