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Spring Break, Mental Break

This week is Spring Break! Not only do I get a week off from classes but I also get a week off from the newsroom.

When trying to plan out what I was going to do for this week I decided to look online to see what some of the "hot spots" were for this Spring Break. I ended up stumbling upon an article from Thrillist Travel. It laid out the top 12 locations to visit for Spring Break and a little bit of information on each place.

The Top Spring Break Destinations, Ranked

Spring Break really is the great American contribution to leisure travel. A week every year where the youngest, sexiest people in America go somewhere hot, with virtually no rules, and nobody there to recognize them. It's a week where you can be whomever you want, do things you wouldn't dare do back home, and generally enjoy life without much consequence.

While I was looking at the article what I found interesting the most was that Florida destinations took four out of 12 of the hot spot locations. I was so surprised but honored to know that I have some of the most desired and beautiful vacation locations right in my backyard here in Florida.

Although this article did help me learn something about the state I live in, I realized that instead, I should've been looking at some of the hidden gems to visit in Florida so I wouldn't have to worry about crowds or packed locations for my Spring Break.

So, I decided to visit a location I used to go to all the time with my family when I was younger... Longboat Key, Florida. Just a short distance away from Sarasota, Manatee County, and Bradenton Beach, Longboat Key is tucked away in all its glory.


I would spend weeks at a time during the summer with my grandparents and my mom here at Longboat Key. One of my favorite spots to visit while here is called St. Armands Circle. This is a huge round-about with a shopping center wrapped around it on all four sides. It has been over 10 years since I had last been there and was taken aback when I saw how modern and different it looked. The shopping center has over 100 restaurants and shops divided into four colored sections, ranging in menu options and apparel type/styles. While it has seen an upgrade since the last time I visited, it had one place in particular that holds many of my childhood memories - Kilwins Ice Creamery and Fudge Shop.


After visiting St. Armands Circle, I decided to spend a full day out on the beach. One of the main reasons for me coming down to Longboat Key instead of a Florida "hot spot" was because of it's calm and peaceful environment. There is never a crowd or overly chaotic scene on the beach, leaving me to never fight for a spot on the beach. 



Overall, my visit to Longboat Key was extremely refreshing and nostalgic as I got to take a look at some of my favorite childhood locations but now as a grown up. If you haven't had a chance yet to visit Longboat Key yet, I would highly recommend it. 

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