Staycation or break on a budget? Cheap ways to get away this spring break

Take a staycation in Seattle

With many Seattle University students preparing for a mass exodus after finals end next week, what will be left for those students staying in Seattle? Well, just about everything.

Seattle U students spend a lot of time in one of the most vibrant neighborhoods near the heart of the Emerald City, but few have the time to take advantage of it during the term, which is why I opted to take a "staycation" in Seattle instead of traveling elsewhere for spring break. I plan to thoroughly love my city for a week.

Being a tourist in your own town is a strange activity in that it is not uncommon to hear townies complain about obnoxious tourists. So, how can you let loose from some of that shame that comes with participating in activities reserved for out of towners? Be a polite "tourist" and be selective about which attractions you spend your money on.

If you have lived in Seattle for more than a year and still haven't made it to the top of the Space Needle, go right on ahead. If that doesn't sound appealing, the Seattle Center has a lot more to offer. The Pacific Science Center is always a good time, including such attractions as butterfly room (be careful where you step) where you can watch butterflies from around the world flutter uninhibited in a green house, the naked mole rat exhibit (featuring naked mole rats gnawing through concrete) and other slightly less odd and slightly more educational exhibits.

The Experience Music Project is a fun one time visit for the audiophile and its neighbor the Science Fiction Museum is delightfully full of weird. After a couple laps around the museums, maybe hop on over to the original Iver's on the pier for lunch. The seagulls, while vicious, will appreciate any diners sharing their fries.

These are just some of the more acceptable tourist staples. Doing these activities ironically is also acceptable. However, riding the Ducks—ironically or not—is never acceptable for the native Seattleite.

For the staycationers feeling a little more Seattle savvy, neighborhood hopping might be a little more appealing.

A trip to the International District will satisfy any foodie. Try avoiding familiar offerings like chow mein or General Tso's chicken. While these can be tasty, they are most often there simply to appease customers unfamiliar with traditional cuisine. Head over during lunch time for a traditional Chinese dim-sum experience (Don't be turned off by the chicken feet). Even with the most authentic fare, there is something to please every palate. The various Asian markets in the district will offer another unique adventure for those looking to add some spice to their home cooking experience. Beware the spiky fruits.

Ballard is another great neighborhood often overlooked by students, somehow being attractive to both up-and-coming 20-somethings and a more refined but still "with it" crowd of individuals around retirement age. Its quirky shops offer a shopping experience more unique than one might find in the commercialized University District. Be aware, however, that most attractions in Ballard close by 7 p.m.

For the homebodies, Capitol Hill is still a great place to explore with diverse culinary offerings, several independent theaters, concert houses and a myriad of bookstores. Walk in almost any direction on the Hill, and you are sure to find something worth your time.

To avoid staying home all spring break, try to schedule expeditions into the city a day or so in advance. The weather is getting nice again; don't waste the weeklong respite from classes in your bathrobe.

Take the ferries to a closeby paradise

The Washington State Ferry system boasts cheap fares and picturesque vistas guaranteed to sate every adventurous appetite.

At $6.90 for a round-trip ride to Bainbridge Island, there is really no reason not to go. Stormy seas or sunny skies, the 35-minute ferry ride alone offers stunning views of the Seattle skyline and Puget Sound evergreens.

The ride across the Sound is lonely in the winter with very few boats daring to risk the cold waters and winds, but the spring brings out sailors of all varieties. Tugboats, sailboats, cruise ships, barges and ostentatious yachts share the seas with the famously green and white Seattle ferries.

Sea legs are unnecessary on most of the ferries, which are large enough to handle the relatively mild Sound. The quiet rooms and galleys all ensure that the most brutal of tempests will not disturb the serenity of the rider.

Riders may even be treated to whale sightings if the time is right. Though Seattle is an urban, concrete jungle, it is also surrounded by lush scenery and wildlife. This becomes evident on the water when the skyscrapers and cell phone towers shrink away and the gentle harbor at Bainbridge comes into sight.

Once on Bainbridge, the adventurous spirit has myriad choices for recreation, further travel or relaxation. Simply escaping the congested, overwrought city lifestyle for a few hours or days is enormously liberating.

But don't expect sunbathing or sandals to govern your island experience. The downtown tourist area is posh and prices are high for food, hotels and activities. Encouraging, however, is the wide array of recreational activities available for little to no costs. State parks and nature reserves span the island, though these are difficult to access without personal transportation.

Easy to access is a small park beside the island's ferry terminal. Benches bathed in warm sunshine look out across the harbor and into the vast Sound. Read, finish those finals or simply soak in the Vitamin D, an island vacation does not need to be complicated.