Can't hang with the MTV gang?

Can't hang with the MTV gang? Try Palm Springs or Havasu.

It's that time of year again. The time when students (who are lucky enough to get off of work) have to decide what to do for Spring Break.

As usual, money can be a major factor in deciding on a destination. Few college students can afford to travel cross country to South Padre Island, Daytona, Panama City or Freaknik '96. I'm sure everybody would like to go hang out with Daisy Fuentes, Idalis, Peter King and the rest of the MTV gang in Florida, but price is a factor with most congregation points popular with the masses of college students east of the Continental Divide.

The two major hot spots on the left coast include Lake Havasu and Palm Springs.

One town trying to make somewhat of a comeback is Palm Springs. Once known as the west coast mecca for Spring Break, businesses in this desert town are realizing how much money they have lost since partying students were driven from the city, beginning in the late 1980s.

SF State student Caine Esteban, a Palm Springs native and former Chiller's Bar and Grill door host, says "The city wants the kids to come back. The stores aren't making money anymore."

In the past, the main strip which leads you into Palm Springs has been closed due to the crowds of party-minded college students, but this year all the streets will be open.

"We encourage any age group to come here. Right now we have a good mix of people here, older retirees, students and families," said Val Augburn , a member of the Palm Springs Downtown Development. "The streets will remain open for the first time in three years."

The attraction to this city is the close proximity to the Los Angeles area (about 100 miles), the weather (usually in the mid-70s in April) and the vast array of things to do. One drawback could be the cost factor, with most lodging in the moderate range. One of the cheapest places to stay in Palm Springs is the Mira Loma Hotel, rooms are $45 a night. A lot of college students stay at the Dunes Hotel which offers a rate of $49 a night, with two outdoor swimming pools and an oversize Jacuzzi.

Attractions during Spring Break include a classic car show, a tennis tournament and a Native American cultural exhibit.

Most of the night life centers around Chiller's and Zelda's. The former is famous for its frozen, Slurpeelike cocktails and the latter is the local dance club. Affordable cuisine is available at Bit of Country (breakfast) or the Burger Factory (lunch or dinner).

If Palm Springs sounds a little too pricey for the wallet, a less expensive alternative lies about two hours to the northeast. Lake Havasu is a 45-mile-long lake fed and drained by the Colorado River. One other fact to note is that Lake Havasu City is located in Arizona.

In Havasu, campsites and houseboats replace condos and hotels as the lodging of choice. One drawback to the area is that a boat is almost mandatory to have fun during daylight hours. According to Havasu Springs Resort employee Lynn Schulze, a houseboat costs about $850 to rent for three days and usually must be reserved a in advance.

One of our crack Gater researchers found last year that passage on a vessel is easily booked by asking the respective Captain Stuebings "Hey, ya want somebody to party with?". If that avenue fails, fill your cooler with the cheapest beer you can find and offer to share it with the crew of the boat.

The campsite of choice for Spring Breakers is the aptly named, Crazy Horse campground, while the Windsor Inn offers less-earthy adventurers more refined lodging. The Crazy Horse campground has 75 first-come, first-served lakeside campsites which cost $10.

Popular watering holes in Havasu include; Kokomo's, Cahooter's and the Nautical Inn (home base for MTV's 1995 Spring Break coverage). The Sundance is an option for those willing to travel outside of the city limits for evening entertainment. Spring vacationers faced with the identity problem commonly associated with people under the age of 21, retreat to the campsites or one of the dozen hotels for social interaction (Houseboats must remain docked after dusk).

These two cities are some of the less-expensive destinations if you have the time to get there. For those of you who can't go too far to get away, Lake Tahoe, Reno, Santa Cruz or even a day at Great America are always a safe bet for some much deserved R and R.

[ Golden Gater Online March 28, 1996 ]

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