North Texas Daily

Ashley Salazar / Intern Writer 

Spring break is just around the corner and many students may want to take a vacation and escape the chaos from classes, papers and projects. This can be difficult when you’re on a budget, but you don’t have to put a hole in your wallet to have a good time. Here are a few ways to have some affordable fun during spring break.

Downtown Dallas

For those who are staying local, plenty of activities are available each day in Dallas that will keep your brain flowing from that week away from school. The Dallas Museum of Art offers a variety of exhibits and admission is free. For the week of spring break, there will be family tours, art making and gallery competitions. You could also stop by the Dallas World Aquarium one day and visit the 375 different life species, including penguins and sharks. Tickets cost $21. Don’t forget about the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, which, starting on March 10, will have extended hours for Spring Break and feature a variety of interesting films, experiments and live demonstrations. Admission is free for members and starts at $15 for non-members, but make sure to book in advance.

Denton Music Scene

If you want to stick around Denton, you can kick off your break with some music. In the Valley Below and Wild Ones will be performing at 9 p.m. at Dan’s Silverleaf. Tickets are $10 if purchased in advance and $13 the day of the show. On Monday, hang out on Fry Street and at 9:30 p.m. stop by the Denton Garage for open mic night. The various drink specials include $2 double wells. On that same Monday, singer-songwriter Fred Eaglesmith is playing at 8 p.m. at Dan’s Silverleaf, and tickets are $20. On Tuesday for only $10, you can see Edward James perform as Hamell on Trial at 8 p.m. at Dan’s Silverleaf.

Picnic on the Square

On Tuesday, the forecast is sunny with a high of 75 and no chance of rain, so grab a couple friends or a date and head out to Denton’s Square for a picnic. This is a great, inexpensive way to get out, enjoy the day and take advantage of the Texas weather. Make some sandwiches, pack some chips and snacks and buy a bottle of wine for a relaxing, sunny day. Unfortunately, there aren’t any special events on the Square for spring break, but when you’re done eating, take a walk and visit local shops such as Recycled Books, Records and CD’s. If you prefer a cooler day, the rest of the week is predicted to be sunny and in the 60s. Afterward, you can go to A Creative Art Studio and take a painting class.

The Broken Bow Cliffhouse at Bear Creek

This secluded cabin located in Broken Bow, Okla., is about three hours from Denton and a perfect getaway for a group of friends. The 2 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom cabin sits on a mountain overlooking 40 acres and Lake Broken Bow. The nightly rate runs at about $200 per night, but split between a large group of friends makes it affordable. For example, a three-night stay would cost $600, and if split six ways only costs $100 per person for a relaxing, peaceful getaway.

South Padre Island

Thousands of Texan college students flock to South Padre Island every year to spend a week lying out on the beach. However, it’s also extremely costly if done the traditional “road trip and hotel” way. Hotels on the island run anywhere from $200 per night and only comfortably sleep about two to four people. Gas in a fuel efficient or compact car will cost nearly $200, but camping is an easier, less costly solution. A group of four or five friends can travel to the Valley, and split the cost of gas for less than $50 a person. The price of a camping permit runs from $5 to $8 per night, depending on what location on the beach you want to camp on. Bring your own tent, throw in some food and drinks that can be kept in a cooler and you could get away with spending less than $100 per person for a week in the warm island sun.

Feature photo: Graphic by Nicole Arnold / Visuals Editor