How to Learn About a New City

To get to know a city you intend to visit on spring break or at any other time may be called deconstruction by some student travelers. It may seem as if it would be a warlike act, when your intent could be actually just the opposite.

You should seek to deconstruct a city not by breaking down actual stone walls, but to break down cultural walls between peaceful traveling students and the people who live there. You need to find places within the city you can enjoy, fit into your travel budget and allow you to blend in.

If your aim is to accomplish it in five hours, first you need to do some homework before you arrive in the city. Surf the web for the official city site, as well as others that describe lodging, restaurants, entertainment, night life and other offerings you may want to explore.

Look for ads, coupons and other items you can print and bring with you that could get free services, bargains or discounts. Check out social sites that list meetings, exhibits, classes and other sessions to attend where you can meet and mix with city inhabitants.

Then, once you've made the best choice of hotel, motel or hostel and have arrived in town for your spring break, moved in and settled down, it's time to do your five hours of search and enjoy. Whether by yourself or with a student deconstruction gang, get out into the city and experience as many of the major features as you can on arrival day.

If you have a car, use the city map to make your way around. If not, hire a taxi or limo service and have the driver show you the sights, and offer suggestions about food, clubs, entertainment, social and other happenings. Stop at various sites and do some exploring and sampling before continuing on your deconstruction mission.

If you need to stop for awhile to eat, try a recommended fast-food or take-out restaurant. Sit and munch with your gang in the city park or on the beach while you plan your next moves. If you don't have a car, find out if the public transportation system will get you from your hotel to all the spots you intend to visit during your stay.

Be sure your five-hour exploration includes all parts of the city you may want to visit during your stay for the days as you'll be there. Then, following your five-hour deconstruction effort and are back in your hotel, work out a daily schedule. Make it a well-planned series of fun activities to assure you that this year's spring break will be an event you'll long remember.