July 1, 2010
Where We Should Really Be in the Spring
The thing about spring break is that it doesn’t really happen in the spring. It happens when winter is barely-to-not-really over and those of us in the mid to northern states are suffering if not clinically from seasonal affective disorder than definitely from sheer exhaustion at being so cold all the time.
And that’s why spring break trips tend to be at the beach. We pack a couple of swimming suits, a towel, and our winter frustration and get as quickly as possible to Florida’s gulf, Mexico, or Miami, and all we want is sun, sand, and the knowledge that there’s no way we’re going to wake up to snow.
Recently I visited New York City in June. It was my first time, something I’d dreamed about for years, and the weather was so perfect I could have sworn the city was opening its arms to me, wooing me to dig in my heels and just stay there forever. That’s about the time I realized there are better places to visit than the beach when the weather is truly, beautifully spring.
Spring is the perfect time to visit almost anywhere. In Manhattan in the spring I was perfectly happy just walking from one attraction to the next. The subway was, I imagine, much more manageable than in the hot summer months, and we found shade everywhere – from the tall buildings to the trees in Central Park and even from the metal awnings created by scaffolding throughout the city as buildings received their six-year inspections.
And since I’ve mentioned Central Park…Seriously, I can’t think of any place I’d rather be in the spring than there. To disappear into the walkways and quiet paths of that beautiful urban playground while the city bustles around you – there’s nothing better. The park was designed, you know, to gradually descend to the center. Thus the magic of walking in complete serenity only yards from honking cabs, gabbing tourists, and thousands of people on cell phones.
Other things I couldn’t imagine improved upon by the weather we experience in spring included the observation decks, both on the Empire State Building and at Top of the Rock, the water cruise to the Statue of Liberty, and our evening on the terrace of a local pub. New York City was simply amazing in every way. I cringed every time I had to be beneath it in the subway system or if I was trapped too long in its interiors. I wanted to be outside, taking in as much of it as possible, all the time. And spring was the perfect time to do that. (Although don’t get me started on how amazing it would be in the fall).
So although I know you’re going to spin a map and point to the nearest stretch of ocean shore the next time you plan a spring break trip, when actual spring comes around, promise me you’ll consider instead the cities, the mountains, the historical landmarks, and the classic American cultures you’ve always wanted to explore. There’s no better time for discovery.
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