Spring break is almost upon us, and with it comes stories and expectations of a wild trip away.

According to the Chicago Tribune, a study by cheaptickets.com found “more than half of college students plan to hit the road, with many planning trips on a budget to such destinations as Las Vegas; Cancun, Mexico; and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.” While this data may not hold true for EWU students, it does point toward a rather significant national trend.

Out of a group of 10 EWU students asked about their plans for spring break, five stated they would return home for the break to visit with family and friends. Four students said they would remain in Cheney for the duration of the break, and one student, senior Emily Heine, commented that she would head to Leavenworth, Washington, “for some Bavarian food and beautiful hikes.”

For students unable to travel, opportunities exist in both Cheney and Spokane to make sure spring break will be a time of both relaxation and fun.

Mt. Spokane, a ski and snowboard park approximately 36 miles northeast of Spokane, is still open. Along with more traditional slopes, Mt. Spokane offers night skiing, a tubing hill, ski and snowboard lessons and a terrain park featuring “almost a mile of progression-oriented kickers, hits, jibs and more for freestylers of all skill levels,” according to mtspokane.com.

In Spokane, numerous opportunities for entertainment abound. According to Heine, the Garland Theater in Spokane is a great place to visit. Tickets for the theater are $5 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and are $2.50 on Wednesdays.
Other activities in Spokane include going out to eat with friends, shopping at the mall or visiting the zoo — Cat Tales Zoological Park.

Cat Tales Zoological Park is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $8 for seniors and students, $10 for adults and $5 for children under the age of 12, according to Cat Tales’ website. According to the site, the zoo is currently home to several species of tigers, two black bears, African lions, leopards, pumas and a parrot.

Students interested in a bit of outdoor fun close to home can explore a waterfall located just 1.5 miles off a trail near Cheney, according to EWU senior Monica Webber. “I had no idea there was a waterfall near Cheney,” said Webber. “My aunt tagged me in a picture of it on Facebook.”

The waterfall, known unofficially as Hog Canyon Falls, is positioned at the far end of Hog Lake and accessible by the Hog Lake Loop trail, according to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. A Discover Pass is required to park in the trailhead parking lot.
“I would suggest looking up some hiking trips,” said Jacob Mack, EWU senior. “Manito Park on the South Hill is a great place for a walk or picnic, or the Turnbull Wildlife Refuge outside Cheney.”

Other students also recommended hiking and picnics as fun spring break activities. “[I would] check out the Columbia Plateau Trail [or] try hiking at Bowl and Pitcher,” EWU senior David Drollman said.