Not going to Mexico? How to spend your break in Logan

By Jordan Parrish

March 7, 2008 | Throw the books in the closet and head for the South! Students across campus will be heading out of town Friday, March 7, the beginning of Spring Break. But what about those who have to stay and work here in Logan? Is Spring Break a bust? Not if you don't want it to be. To keep those lucky students engaged in relaxation and fun, a schedule has been made.

Friday and Saturday, March 7 and 8, right after your classes let out; try the Cache Valley food tour. Head over to Aggie Ice Cream and True Blue Cheese for a scoop or two of one of the 30 flavors of ice cream. While there, you can take a tour at 2:30 p.m. If you'd rather save this for another day, tours run at that same time, Monday through Friday. If you are feeling green, check out Caffe Ibis, an organic and nature friendly coffee house. Tours run at 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., make sure to make a stop at the Cache Valley Visitors Bureau on 199 North Main. They have a variety of valuable pamphlets that contain a wealth of information on what to do during your break. Their brochures include the Cache Valley food tour, Hiking Trail Guide, Fishing, Biking, and much more. Their website is full of ideas and schedules of cultural events and business hours. Visit www.tourcachevalley.com and see the many gems Cache Valley has to offer. Their gift shop not only has souvenirs, but also comprehensive guides on many outdoor recreational activities like hiking, fishing, and more.

Sunday and Monday, March 9 and 10, is a great day to relax and visit with family and friends. Holly Swenson is a native of Cache Valley. As a student of the Management Information Systems Major, on her second bachelor's degree, she said she will be hanging out with friends, catching up on Netflix, and getting in touch with her creative side during her spring break when she's not working. Today is a good day to do just that. Consider taking your friends along with you on a scenic drive through Logan Canyon. Since you stopped at the Cache Valley Visitors Center, you may have the Logan Canyon pamphlet with all the campgrounds, picnic areas, and other attractions outlined for you. Head through to Garden City, next to Bear Lake, and stop for the famous Raspberry shake.

Tuesday and Wednesday, March 11 and 12, can be well spent at the George S. Eccles Ice Center. They offer public skating Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and Sundays from 2 till 4 p.m. Its inexpensive at just $4 for an Adult. Check out their skating lessons too. If ice skating isn't your fancy, then head over to the Cache Valley Fun Park in North Logan and try their roller skating rink. With bowling, laser tag, arcades, and more, you'll have a great time.

If you're more of an outdoors kind of person, Beaver Mountain Resort is the answer for you. With a full week of no classes, you might try skiing or snowboarding. It may not be as exhilarating as it has been when you skip a class to go, but the slopes are still powder fresh. Beaver Mountain Resort is a close drive from campus and is open throughout spring break. Beaver Mountain's webpage said $50 will get you private ski or snowboarding lessons for the day. It includes rental equipment, a day pass, and lessons beginning at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. You must arrive and sign up at least a half hour in advance. For pricing and other information, visit www.skithebeav.com or call 435-753-0921.

Thursday and Friday, March 13 and 14, look back on the rich heritage of the area. Take the 45-minute self-guided walking tour of Logan's historic Main Street. You start at the Cache County Courthouse, where the Visitor's Center is located. You can pick up the pamphlet and follow the trail through about a six square block area, ending up back where you started. Attractions include the LDS Tabernacle, several historic theatres, Logan's own historic ZCMI, and many historic banks. This certainly can be relaxing way to spend your spring break. Also consider the heritage driving tour. You can pick historic locations across the Cache County Valley. Mike Bullock of the Cache Valley Visitor's Center said Hardware Ranch is a beautiful trip in the winter. They offer sleigh rides right into the midst of hundreds of elk and it's only $5. Visit their website at www.hardwareranch.com.

Saturday and Sunday, March 15 and 16, consult the Cache Valley Travel Guide, found in the Visitor's Center, to find all the restaurants, shopping venues, and arts in Logan and surrounding cities. Throughout the duration of spring break, many performing arts opportunities will be playing. Beauty and the Beast will play at the Old Barn Community Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on March 7-8, 10, 14-15 and more. The Emperor's New Clothes will be performed at the Kent Concert Hall on March 8 at 5 p.m. Celtic Night will be performed at the Ellen Eccles Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on March 15.

This is one of many possible itineraries for your Spring Break of 2008. The Cache Valley Visitors Bureau is the authority on events in Cache County. Jessica Cox, sophomore in Speech Language Pathology, said her spring break is a time to catch up and relax. What better way to spend your break!

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