Spring Break is within reach, and you can almost taste it. Here at the UP, we’ve come up with a guide for how to spend your Spring Break where everything is pretty much right by campus and, best of all, affordable. This isn’t your typical Spring Break guide filled with the usual destinations – but don’t worry, we’ve thrown in a few beaches and bars just in case you just can’t stand the thought of a sober, fully-clothed Spring Break. So have fun, go nuts and let’s stay out of jail, shall we?

Boca Raton:

1. Soak up the sun at Spanish River Beach

Spring Break and the beach go hand in hand, like peanut butter and jelly — and if you’re into the beach, look no further. Sure, it might be more exciting to go to Panama City Beach or Cancún, but chances are you’re broke and can’t afford a flight that would cost a minimum of $600. You’re probably also not in the mood to die of alcohol poisoning — save that for your forties. Spanish River Beach is off, as you probably guessed, Spanish River Boulevard. It’s clean and not too crowded. Plus, you’re also bound to run into a fair share of college students on their own mini-version of a Cancún-style Spring Break.

Address: 3001 Florida A1A, Boca Raton

2. Have a cold one at Biergarten

You don’t have to travel far to get a good price on beer and other delicious drinks. Biergarten is an authentic German bar where a domestic beer won’t cost you more than $10 a bottle or pint. And if you start to get a little hungry, they do offer authentic German menu, as well as the traditional burgers and fries if you’re not feeling adventurous. So give in and drink a little, or a lot –– just don’t drive.

Enjoy happy hour every Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. where draft beer costs $3, specialty cocktails cost $5, and selected wine costs $6.

Address: 309 Via De Palmas #90 Boca Raton

3. Hookah at the Funky Buddha

Maybe you’re like the caterpillar from Alice In Wonderland and want to spend your time doing hookah. If that’s the case, then come on down to the Funky Buddha, where you can choose from 40 different shisha flavors. And if you’re feeling like you need to get in your deed of the day, the Funky Buddha also holds an Open Mic Night every Wednesday for charity where you can give a $3 dollar donation or two canned goods.

Hookah will cost you somewhere between $16- $20, but every Mondays and Tuesdays or between 5 to 7 p.m. during the rest of the week, they offer $10 hookah . And if you get thirsty, the Funky Buddha has a happy hour that runs from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday with a two for one deal on beer.

Address: 2621 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton

4. Water-ski like a pro

Skiing on a snowy mountain can be overrated, so ski on a lake. Ski Rixen, in Deerfield Beach, the town right next to Boca, is a water-ski haven for newbies and pros alike. $25 will get you an hour pass and it includes the rental of the skis and life jacket. But if you and, say, 14 of your closest friends all want to water ski, a pass will cost $20. It’s pretty cheap and you’re getting taught by a pro.

Address: 401 South Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach

5. Catch an independent movie at the Living Room Theaters

You finally finished your instant queue on Netflix, and Safe House or Wanderlust at the local movie theater just doesn’t do it for you. I understand, but most importantly, the Living Room Theatre understands. You can catch screenings of foreign films like the french comedy period piece, The Women on the 6th Floor and if subtitles aren’t your thing, catch a screening of the the funny drama Thin Ice, which is about an insurance salesman looking for a way out of Wisconsin. If you’re feeling particularly fancy, you can dine on salads or paninis while drinking a glass of wine (if you’re over 21) before, during or after the movie screening, right in your seat.

A student ticket cost $6.50 but if you go on a Monday or Tuesday, the price is lowered to $5.

Address: 777 Glades Road, Building CU-97, Boca Raton

Fort Lauderdale/Davie:

1. Drive in theater

Nothing screams old-school more than a drive-in movie theater and luckily for you, this one is one of the largest drive-in movie theaters in America. The Swap Shop Drive-In may be old but it screens any current movie that the local movie theater is playing. Tickets cost $3.50, and since the theater has no speakers, st  through local FM radio stations. If you’re looking to kill some time before the movie, the theater hosts a daily flea market, and who knows what kind of gem is hidden in there?

Address: 3121 West Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale

2. Make waves at Fort Lauderdale Beach

Ah, the beach. For a place that is made up of sand and water, it provides us with hours on end of fun. What a dream. So gather a group of friends — maybe even muster up the courage to ask that babe from your 2 o’clock class to tag along as well — and head for the beach with some beach towels and a volleyball. Oh, and don’t forget to bring the music. Babes love music.

Address: 521 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale

3. Down a few beers at Original Fat Cat’s

You’re thirsty and water just won’t do it — what do you do? Having a drink with some friends might be a solution to your problem. They offer over 76 — that’s right, 76 — different beer choices to choose from and none of them are $10. The bar is open everyday until 4 a.m. and offers live music every night.

Address: 320 Southwest 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale

4. Explore your need for speed at Xtreme Indoor Karting 

As much as you would like to pretend you’re NASCAR drivers or part of the Fast and Furious movie series while we’re going down I-95, the dreams end when we get to our destination or when a cop pulls you over. But if you go to Xtreme Indoor Karting, South Florida’s largest indoor karting track, you can live out the fantasy a little longer. Besides indoor karting, they also have a mini golf course ($6 a game), a sports bar with big screen TVs, and a pool table.

An eight minute session will cost $19.50, and an 18 minute session will cost $36.50.

Address: 5300 Powerline Road, Fort Lauderdale

5. Climb a rock wall

If you’ve never been daring enough to rock climb, Spring Break can be your chance. Have a go on an indoor rock climbing wall at Coral Cliffs. A one day pass will cost you $19, and a pair of climbing shoes and a harness are $6 each. And if rock climbing isn’t enough, you can try bouldering, where you can climb an indoor boulder without a harness.

Address: 3400 Southwest 26 Terrace, Fort Lauderdale

Jupiter:

1. Relax at Juno Beach Park

Nothing is more relaxing than spending the day at the beach where it’s not only clean but has a lot of space to spread out since it’s not very crowded.So if you need a breather, you can actually have one. But what makes the beach at Juno Beach Park even cooler around this time is that sea turtles start their nesting here. Just don’t bother approaching or try to touch these nests; it’s illegal.

Address: 14775 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach

2. Spend the night with Mother Nature

Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and other social networking sites probably take up all your free time, so maybe you should consider a technology detox with some good old-fashioned camping. Gather a group of your friends, tents, sleeping bags and anything else you might want to take, and head towards the Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound. During the day, you can ride bikes or hike on the trails, go swimming or canoeing. And if you’re not completely fond of the idea of peeing in the bushes, the state park offers the option to camp with the full facility (meaning, there will be electricity and bathrooms). It’s all free but you’ll need to call ahead to reserve a site for you and your friends.

Address: 16450 Southeast Federal Highway, Hobe Sound

3. Take a crash course on Sea Turtles at the Loggerhead Marine Life Center

As much as Disney would like us to think that sea turtles are a bunch of cool, surfer-dude-like animals that speak with an Australian accent, it’s not true. Dr. Logger at the Loggerhead Marine Life Center, is ready to set the record straight with an audience interactive 30 minute show on sea turtles. And if that isn’t enticing enough, every Tuesday and Friday at noon, you have the opportunity to feed some of the sea turtles at the Marine Life Center.

The show is free and takes place every Saturday at noon or 3:30 p.m.

Address: 14200 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach

4. Drinking at Pirate’s Well 

Pirate-themed anything can either be bad ass or tacky. And in this case, it’s just bad ass. If the pirates aren’t a selling point for you, then the spectacular deals that even the biggest penny pincher won’t be able to pass up might be. Really, all you have to take with you is a handful of pocket change and you’re set. This college kid’s paradise is the perfect place for buddies to hang out on Spring Break.

On Tuesdays, they offer 25 cent pitchers of Bud Select, on Wednesdays they have $3 Captain Morgan, and on Thursdays they offer Pabst Blue Ribbon on draft for 5 cents.

Address: 9477 Highway Alt. A1A, Lake Park

5. Bowl a 300

Bowling is the perfect game to play to pass time with a good group of friends. Jupiter Lanes is relatively cheap and has good deals. A game per person costs $5 but what’s even better is that on every Friday and Saturday, $15 gets you unlimited bowling and shoes from 10 p.m. until 1 am, and on Monday nights, if you’re over 21 you bowl for free and under 21 bowl unlimited for $10. Friendly tip: Make things interesting where loser buys the next game.

Address: 350 Maplewood Drive, Jupiter