Breaking With Tradition

Different Trips for Different Folks

Volunteers Sam Aguirre of Illinois State Univ. and Megan Hanson of Univ. of Wisconsin-Stout work at a Collegiate Challenge build hosted by HFH of Russell County, Alabama. (Habitat For Humanity)

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Help Out Hurricane Victims

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Even those who usually would hit South Padre wearing Oakleys are putting on old jeans and heading to the Gulf Coast this year to lend a hand to the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort, which in some places is still in the cleanup phase.

With tons of work to do, a diverse group is thankfully heeding the call. For one, there's "Katrina on the Ground," a far-flung effort organized by hip-hop artists, that's recruiting everyone from "community colleges ... to the Ivy Leagues."

U.S. Sen. John Edwards, meanwhile, is leading a group specifically to New Orleans called "Opportunity Rocks".

Of course, many church groups, like Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

Secular schools, too, are organizing trips, either to Louisiana or Mississippi, formally through their campus's "alternative spring break" program, or informally, through outside groups. Hamilton College, Stanford University, Northwestern University, University of Pittsburgh, Utah State University, Carnegie-Mellon University, and Williams College have all announced student plans to head to the Gulf.

Cruise the Caribbean in a Sailboat

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Has "Lost" made you obsessed with tropical islands? Well, instead of flying and crashing to one, you can travel there by boat, a 29-foot sailboat to be precise.

Tropical Discover Services of Miami will rent a sailboat that fits four, including a captain and a cook who will take care of all the heavy lifting for $3,000 for a week.

Powerboat people can rent a 29-foot cabin cruiser -- that's the smallest available size -- that also sleeps four, but it will cost $5,000 for a week.

Once you're at-sea, chart a course to the Florida Keys or to the Bahamas, where you can snorkel or sea kayak with the boat as your home port.

If you want to save money -- and one of you is over 21 and can prove she's a decent sailor -- you can forego the captain altogether and take the wheel yourself. And even though the company can't guarantee beer-bongs or mud-wrestling (or even a steady breeze, for that matter), it's enthusiastic about spring-breakers coming aboard.

"Instead of paying for a hotel," said Ken Layton, Tropical Discover's general manager, "you have your own resort on the sea."