8 Alternative Budget Spring Break Destinations

Spring Break may be fast approaching, but non-essential travel is still kind of frowned upon, and you probably don't feel comfortable visiting a place that's packed full of drunken tourists. We all want to get away from home and have some fun, so if you're trying to take a trip that's somewhat safe and also budget-friendly, here are 8 options for you: 

• Washington, DC - With Covid restrictions finally lifted, most of the museums have reopened. The weather is generally nice during the spring, so eating outside will be pleasant, allowing you to dig in to the rich foodie scene. If you want to eat inside, right now you will need to show proof of vaccination. Here are some of the things we did on one of our previous trips.
• Phoenix/Tempe - Arizona isn't at the height of its hot temps in March/April, making it an ideal vacation destination. Get amazing hotel rates or spend a little extra for a luxury resort that may be offering up to 40% off. There are a lot of cool things to see and do there, and tons of delicious Mexican food, too.
• Palm Springs - While not as exotic as much of the rest of this list, and known mostly for their golfing, Palm Springs is a nature-lovers’ desert oasis. From hiking, horseback riding and swimming, there is something for everyone who loves to be outside. Steeped in Native American and Mexican culture, the city is now a resort paradise that draws regular travelers and celebrities alike. You can find great deals on accommodations, entertainment and even dining and spa services. Whatever you’re looking for, you can find it – and find it for less – in the desert of Palm Springs.
• Austin, Texas - While the city may be weird, it's also romantic and unique. Learn to get down and lose your two left feet on Saturdays at the White Horse for free with lessons from Two Left Foots. The Blanton Museum of Art stays open late on Third Thursdays, so it's the perfect post-dinner activity. The New Movement has free and affordable comedy shows all week long. And what's cooler than a speakeasy? Behind a false bookcase in Firehouse Lounge, you'll find a secluded bar for a drink with your travel companion(s).

• Los Angeles - California has some fantastic weather much of the year, or at least better than other parts of the country. I've never turned down a trip to LA, because Disneyland, Universal, Hollywood, delicious foods, amazing art. I mean, the list goes on and on. Couple that with flights that are almost 25% less than other times of the year and you really can't go wrong. My friend and I spent two days in LA last year when we did theme parks and we were never disappointed by what we found to do.
• New Orleans - I've traveled to New Orleans and have written several posts about it. With Mardi Gras behind them, Spring is a wonderful time to visit. Not only do you get to take advantage of the warm weather, but you also aren't wading through hoards of tourists.  Save on your trip to New Orleans with the Power Pass. Starting as low as $28 per day, gain entry to the must-see attractions of the city. Choose from places like the Musee Conti Wax Museum, Audubon Zoo, Cajun Pride Swamp Tour and much more! Available in 1, 2, 3 and 5 day durations. Add a 1-3 day MealTicket to eat at awesome restaurants for one low price. If you know you’ll be stuffing your face with étouffée, jambalaya and other Cajun deliciousness, this is definitely the way to go!
• San Francisco - This may seem like a really expensive destination, but if you look for hotels in the Union Square area, you can find rates as low as $120 for a 4-star hotel. Find awesome, and affordable, things to do there using this 48 hours post.

• Las Vegas - As long as you don't gamble away your savings in the casinos, you can totally make a trip to Sin City cheap. Rates at the MGM Grand can run you under $100 per night, and you can spend less at a less-luxurious hotel. Not sure how to keep your money in your pockets? Here are free and cheap ideas and what you can do if you have kids in tow.

Right now you'll find a lot of great airfare deals for the next several months. I've seen some really affordable Alaska flights, starting at just $59 each way, so if you're planning to take a trip, now's the perfect time to start booking airfare and accommodations for it.

Where are you hoping to go this Spring?

Happy Lunar New Year

Cung Chúc Tân Xuân (or Gracious wishes for the new Spring in Vietnamese). It's the Year of the Tiger! I'll be doing Lunar New Year festivities this whole weekend, and I'll be following up with several posts. You can see my posts from last year here and here. If you are also looking to celebrate, here are some things to know and do:

I know this shows old years. Last year was the Year of the Ox, and next year will be the Year of the Rabbit

So, Saehae bok mani badeuseyo - May you receive lots of luck in the new year in Korean - and I'll be back with my local festivities soon. You can follow me on Instagram to follow along in real time.

Do you have a favorite way to ring in the New Year, Lunar or otherwise?

Tucson In Food Photos

Before I left for Arizona, I put out a call to my Tucson friends to give me their favorite places to eat in the city that wasn't Eegee's (because I was already going to go there). They, honestly, did not disappoint me and gave me way more suggestions than I had time to eat at. That's okay though, because I had a list of options for wherever I was, and I appreciate that.

When we lived in Tucson, we were very close to a couple of places, and one of my favorites was a 50s-style diner called Little Anthony's Diner. Needless to say, they had a lot of new stuff on the menu, including these enormous, ridiculous milkshakes. You know I had to try it out. 

This is called the I Want S'more Rama Lama Ding Dong Shake, because it had toasted marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate, and a full Ding Dong on it. It took 20 minutes or something to make and it came with a sparkler like it was my dang birthday. I was all in. 

Eric and I did our best to take it down, and we did a pretty good job, but there were still some casualties, because we still were trying to also eat food we ordered. Eric had the Hatch Green Chile Cheeseburger and my mom and I split Elvis's Favorite - a fried peanut butter, banana, and bacon sandwich with honey and fries. 

Almost, literally, across the street is an Eegee's, a local chain that serves hoagies and specialty drinks called Eegees that are like a cross between a Slurpee and a Slushy, but made with real fruit. Everyone wanted strawberry (the best one, in my opinion), so I just got the biggest one they serve. Do you think it's big enough?

Yes, we did go straight from dinner to get take-out from somewhere else, because we ate really early and I knew we'd be hungry later, but wouldn't want to go back out. So, here's my turkey sandwich, too. I thought in 20 years, my brain would have remembered it being way better than it was, but I wasn't disappointed with it either. I wolfed down my half at 9pm while checking email and uploading photos.

I had looked up best places for brunch in Tucson and my Facebook friend Liana recommended LaCo, which I was already looking at, so I knew that was going to be a winner. They are right downtown, so easy to find and close to a bunch of things. We took a shady table in their courtyard and were served by a woman who had a very Portland vibe about her. She used to live here, so that made a lot of sense. 

I ordered the Potato Tacos, which were veggie soft tacos with tater tots in them. They were so good. Eric got the B.A.T. L.E.G. sandwich that was bacon, avocado, tomato, lettuce, fried egg, and herbed goat cheese, with balsamic reduction served on sliced sourdough.

My high school friend Kate mentioned a ton of places, including a BBQ joint called Brother John's that's on the outskirts of downtown and has been awarded Best BBQ in Tucson. We had eaten a lot of heavy things, so we went a bit light here. Eric got the Wedge Salad with brisket. 

I ordered the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Salad and my mom decided on the Potato Skin with pulled pork, which turned out to be half a baked potato heaped with meat and cheese. All of it was awesome and I can see why they are highly recommended.

Even though I was full, I saw they had Beignets on the dessert menu and asked for an order to go. They were delicious, but the chocolate dipping sauce was just Hershey's chocolate sauce and a big let down.

You know I love a good brunch. Liana also recommended checking out the Mercado, which is a block of independent shopping and eating establishments, so one morning we headed over, got an awesome coffee at Presta Coffee and then walked across the courtyard to order and snag a table at Seis Kitchen. All the restaurants share the outside seating, but there's quite a bit. 

My mom just got a bean and cheese burrito, but Eric ordered the Chorizo and Potato Breakfast Tacos, while I got the Plato Mixto - eggs scrambled with cheese and green chiles and bacon, beans and breakfast potatoes, served with tortillas. I could only eat half of it, so I took the rest to go and enjoyed it the next evening while we were watching a movie.

While looking for a place that was open after 7pm in Oro Valley (where we were staying) and not driving 30 minutes to get there, Eric picked a place down the street called Harvest Restaurant. It had outdoor seating, and we sat in the area that was covered, but still sort of outside. We were able to get in on happy hour and view the sunset, too. 

We got the Arancini risotto balls (above), I ordered the Short Rib Tacos, Eric got the Short Rib Nachos, and my mom ordered the Sweet and Salty Salad - chopped kale & roasted butternut squash in maple balsamic dressing w/ candied pecans, brie cheese, craisins & diced apples. Everyone swooned over their food. 

We had a lot of food, but there were two desserts that were specials that sounded fantastic and we asked the waiter to choose his favorite. Between the Coconut Carrot Cake and the Peppermint Cheesecake, he recommended the carrot cake, so we ordered one to go. It was beautiful, but we didn't realize until we opened it later that it was half pineapple. Citrus does not like me. I loved it, but I also had the worst heartburn that evening. If that's not an issue you have, I'm envious, but I also recommend that cake. 

It felt like we spent a lot of our time walking and eating, but that's okay. We had a great time doing both. I hope you enjoyed this virtual tour of our dining adventure. I'll be following up soon with things we did on our trip.

What are your favorite food cities, or even just your very favorite restaurant (and what do you order there)?