ONLINE ONLY: Which Spring Break option is best?

Yes! Spring Break has finally arrived. The time is ripe for drunken buffoonery, hanging out on the beaches of the Bahamas, Cancun or southern Florida and becoming intimate with the closest of friends of the opposite gender. Are these "typical" spring break trips the only ones available to IU students? I say no. Lets all explore…\nDuring my freshman year, my two fraternity brothers and I took a six hour drive to Windsor, Canada. Windsor was a fun town, but it was no metropolis. We enjoyed drinking at the bars and learned the fine brewing techniques of Canadian beer (Molson rocked my world). As one my brothers fondly remembers, we also explored the fun life of the Canadian jail and judicial system. That was very educational to say the least.\nLast year, I stayed in B-town and caught up with school work and explored school-work and summer internship/job possibilities. I had my fare share of snoozing around and being lazy as I once or twice woke up late and ate lunch and watched PTI in my pajamas, but in I did improve my grades for the second part of the semester.\nThis year, I decided to sign up for a trip down to Pass Christian and Gulfport Mississippi. One of my favorite phrases is one should "be a man or woman for others." I am using this theme directly when I go down to Mississippi. There, 50 other IU students and I will help build houses for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. This trip is similar to the one I did last December when I was part of the same organization and went to the same towns in order to help clean-up the remnants of the storm. I made great bonds with my "Da Breaker" teammates in December. I think the same can happen with the participants of this trip. Finally, seeing the look on the faces of those we helped was priceless. Hopefully my awesome carpentry skills will make them smile again.\n"Typical" Spring Break trips are often known for large amounts of alcohol consumption. According to adage.com, in 2003 the average male consumed about 18 alcoholic drinks a day while females consumed about 10 alcoholic drinks a day on spring break excursions around the world. According to the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco in 2004, 5220 arrests were made in Florida for underage drinking and alcohol sales to minors.\nWhy are people going crazy with the liquor while dancing their nights away? I personally don't know, but whatever the case is, too much alcohol is never a good thing. Mistakes can happen. My recommendation is that people consider these statistics before they leave on their breaks.\nIn closing, I don't condemn these "typical" trips. Hell, next year I'll probably be on a cruise in the Caribbean sipping on a Long Island Ice Tea and have my fair white skin be destroyed by the sun. All I am saying is that these trips are not just the only options available. I hope all of you loyal readers have fun, safe and relaxing trips wherever you go. Just think about the great and exciting alternative vacations next time. Your grades might thank you later.