The Spring Break Countdown

March has arrived and with it the infamous Spring Break. This is the second installment of my Spring Break posts, and this time I'll be covering the exciting places you can go on your trip. There are hundreds of places where college students can go to celebrate their week-long hiatus from classes, but there are select locations that are the most commonly visited during this time of year. The most popular Spring Break destinations:

Panama City Beach, Florida: After the oil spill last year, many hotel owners and businesses along the panhandle worried about how many students would come to Panama City Beach for Spring Break. Luckily for them, it looks like that catastrophe has not deterred people from coming to the city. With some of the best beaches in the country, exciting bars and entertaining concerts, Panama City is a great stateside destination for Spring Break. All hotels are student friendly, which means guests can expect non-stop activities. Most of the clubs are 18 and up, so even students who are not of age can still go out and party. Covers can be pretty steep, anywhere from $10 to $30, so be prepared to dish out some cash. You can purchase a Panamaniac Card, which will get you into all the clubs, without having to pay the cover. Panama City Beach has plenty of great restaurants, stores and attractions for students to enjoy. It's also one of the more affordable Spring Break destinations.

Daytona Beach: Another relatively inexpensive location for some Spring Break fun, Daytona Beach has tons of student-friendly hotels. They have a lot of daytime activities, plus areas around for some lounging and relaxation, cause Spring Break is a time to take it easy. But it's also time to let lose, and Daytona has an exciting nightlife with clubs and DJs and bars for all personalities.

South Padre Island: Just off the Gulf Coast of Texas sits Padre, one of the best Spring Break locales. All the hotels are conveniently located along the beach, as well as within walking distance of the nightlife action. Head over to Louie's Backyard for some non-stop dancing and crazy contests. Clubs here are also pretty expensive to be get into, anywhere from $25 to $60, so you might want to look into some party packages or expect to carry around a lot of extra cash.

Cancun, Mexico: Known as the place for non-stop Spring Break partying, Cancun is a guaranteed good time. Unless you are looking for some quiet time, a majority of the hotels are located right in the center of the action, so don't expect a lot of time to rest, or sleep. Cancun is full of swanky clubs, casual bars and endless dance parties. As much fun as lounging on the beach, drinking and dancing can be, sometimes you need to experience something else. Cancun has a number of historical sites located away from the beach that you can visit for something different.

Las Vegas: This is a better destination for college students over 21, because, let's face it, you'll want to gamble just a little bit and enjoy a cocktail while you're at it. There are some reasonably priced hotels, and many of them are offering great deals for Spring Break. Also, many accommodations have all-you-can-eat buffets, which is perfect for hungry college students. The nightlife is super crazy and thrilling, but lines outside the clubs can get very long and covers are pretty expensive, so be prepared to get there early or wait a while.

Negril, Jamaica: While partying on Spring Break is expected, some students are looking for something a little more relaxing. Negril caters to those who want a little bit of both. There are a number of open-air bars where students can go to mingle, and hundreds of restaurants to grab a bite. The scenery offers more than something beautiful to look at, it also gives you some exciting excursions to go on, including canopy tours and river rafting.

So whether you head to an international location, or stay in the U.S., you will find some amazing places to go to celebrate your spring break. Just remember, stay safe and have fun!

"Slow Motion" in Milwaukee

Sitting bare-foot on a tiny stage in the skylight room of Mi-keys restaurant in downtown Milwaukee, Third Eye Blind front man Stephan Jenkins reminisces about his childhood in the small Midwest town. He recalls his first memories were of skating on a pond somewhere outside the city. Milwaukee clearly holds a special place in his heart. Listening to him speak fondly of the city he spent only 5 short years in, I can't help but relate to his feelings.

I spent 4 years there as I attended Marquette University for my undergraduate education. And--as cliche as it sounds--they were some of the best years of my life. I met my best friends there, studied til the wee hours of the morning, drank until good judgment went out the window, and discovered a new part of myself. Going back this weekend for the Third Eye Blind concert, I expected to remember memories from my middle school years, when the band's albums came out and I spent weeks replaying "Semi-Charmed Life" until my family couldn't take it anymore. But instead, the experience awakened thoughts of college. Seeing good friends again who I used to hang out with on a daily basis was bittersweet. I reveled in the chance to catch-up, laugh, gossip, and recount our past days at MU. But it made me sad to think that, even though I only live 1 1/2 hours south of them, I don't get to see them on a regular basis. And despite the proximity of Milwaukee and Chicago, we're still far away from each other.

As I sat in the Riverside theater listening to 3eb, I heard a song I hadn't heard in close to 10 years..."Motorcycle Drive By." And, needless to say, when you're 12, the lyrics don't mean nearly the same thing as they do when you're 22.

And this is our last time
We'll be friends again
I'll get over you, you'll wonder who I am
And there's this burning
Just like there's always been
I've never been so alone
And I've never been so alive

Sure, the song is probably about a romantic relationship, but the beauty of songs is that they are open to interpretation by the listener.

Obviously, I will go back to Milwaukee. I have too many friends--and memories--there not to visit. It's sad that I'm not near the people I lived with for so long, but I'm in the next stage of my life now. And I'm happy with where I live and what I'm doing. It's all a part of growing up.