Spring Break is finally here, and while educators, kids and parents all over Gwinnett County have been counting down the days to some much-needed time off – Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful has been compiling a list of ways to enjoy an eco-friendly adventure close to home. Not everyone will be beach bound this April, but – fret not – there’s still lots of fun to be found right here in our big, beautiful backyard. By sticking close to home and not making the 300+ mile trek to the shoreline via car or plane, your Spring Break is already a lovely shade of GREEN. Here are six sunsational Spring Break ideas to help you make your staycation even greener…
1) Explore One or More of Gwinnett County’s Fabulous Parks: The Gwinnett County community is blessed with an award-winning parks and recreation system. In addition to opportunities to enjoy some awesome aquatic facilities and get your swim on, or wander down a tree-lined trail, or swing and slide to your heart’s content, several parks will play host to day and special interest Spring Break camps for a week to remember. To learn more about the parks near you, visit Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation Online.
2) Become Reacquainted with some of Gwinnett County’s Coolest Attractions: Our community draws more than 2 million visitors each year – many of whom come for the events and attractions that we might sometimes take for granted. While killing time around town, why not spend it at an attraction or two that enhance our community – such as Southeastern Railway Museum or Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center. Nearby, we’ve also got Lanier Islands and Stone Mountain Park – both of which have fun Spring Break happenings for the whole family. Bear in mind, these destinations don’t have to come with a price tag – many of Gwinnett’s town centers are vibrant areas just begging to be explored.
3) Catch a Hockey Game or See a Show: Infinite Energy Center – home of the Atlanta Gladiators hockey team – will have two home games during Spring Break: Wednesday, April 6 vs. South Carolina and Saturday, April 9 vs. Greenville. For those who prefer Hamlet over hockey, a trip to the Aurora Theater is sure to please. Aurora will have a number of presentations of Stephen Sondheim’s musical – Into the Woods – over the course of Spring Break week, as well as a special theater workshop for aspiring young actors called Drama Beach.
4) Take the Footloose and Fancy Free Challenge: Depending on where you live, you might want to challenge your family members and friends to spend several days as “car-free” as possible. Ride your bikes or simply walk to shops, restaurants and other destinations near your home. While you’re at it, see how long you can go without your electronics/mobile devices, too.
5) Take MARTA, it’s Smarta!: The City of Atlanta offers a lot of appeal to a staycationing family – Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, SkyView Ferris Wheel, Centennial Olympic Park and more. With Gwinnett County Transit running to and from the MARTA Doraville Station regularly, it’s easy to hitch a ride into downtown. The XPRESS System offers another great transportation option with Park n Rides as far north as Hamilton Mill, Mall of Georgia, Dacula and Sugarloaf Mills. Discover the cool way to carpool with the whole family to save on gas and reduce emissions.
6) Take Part in the Great American Cleanup – Gwinnett Challenge: Spring Break offers families and groups of friends the ideal opportunity to really make a difference for their community. Dedicate one or two days of your break to complete a Great American Cleanup project of your own choosing. Simply register online, complete the project, take and submit photos with your project completion report and YOUR PROJECT may be selected to win cash prizes!!!
From all of us here at Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, we hope you and your family have a wonderful Spring Break!
