by FOMO Girl
American college students have participated in a travel vacation away during the spring break vacation period since the late 1800s, but it was not until the late 1950s that college students from all over the country were flocking to the beaches of Florida in March and Fort Lauderdale became the first Spring Break destination.

A student interviewed by Time Magazine at the time said that she had come to Fort Lauderdale because "this is where the boys are." This simple comment set the scene for the 1960 movie - Where the Boys Are, which premiered at Fort Lauderdale's Gateway Theatre on Sunrise Boulevard on 21 December 1960. The movie was a massive success and promoted across the country the annual mass migration of college students to the beaches of Fort Lauderdale. The "invasion" in March of 1961 saw over 50,000 college students arriving in Fort Lauderdale, overwhelming the 80,000 local residents.

In the early 1980s, Fort Lauderdale residents became upset at the damage done by Spring Breakers and in 1985 the local government passed laws restricting parties. As well, this was around the time that the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was enacted in the United States, which meant that Florida raised its minimum drinking age to 21. This encouraged many 18 to 20 year old spring breakers to travel outside the United States for Spring Break. By 1989, the number of spring breakers heading to Fort Lauderdale fell from 350,000 at its peak, to just 20,000.

However, a new hot spot was emerging just up the Florida coast in Daytona Beach. This was mostly because of MTV's first Spring Break from Daytona Beach in 1986. In the following few years up to 200,000 students headed to Daytona Beach for Spring Break. Daytona's local government undertook similar measures to Fort Lauderdale and the crowds of the mid-1990's and early 2000's had fallen away.

These days Panama City Beach is the destination of choice for Spring Breakers, making Spring Break a major factor in the city's economy. Panama City Beach in Florida has become the most popular Spring Break destination due to its relative proximity to many southern colleges, as well as the fact that the locals welcome Spring Breakers.

Other major Spring Break destinations in the USA are South Padre Island in Texas, Las Vegas, Miami's South Beach and Daytona Beach has reamerged as a Spring Break destination.

Spring Break international destinations, with their lower minimum drinking ages, are a major factor for the increase in Spring Breakers heading overseas for their vacation.

Internationally popular Spring Break destinations include Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatln, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco in Mexico, as well as the Bahamas, Jamaica and other Caribbean islands.

For the must-do event on any college students calendar do not forget Spring Break.

By Grace Charvin
Last year I went to Rio De Janeiro for the Carnival.  A few of my friends had gone to the Rio Carnival the year before and I had heard them say it was one of the best experiences they have ever had.  We stayed in Rio De Janeiro for the Carnival for a whole week.  

My friends and I rented an apartment that was slightly more expensive as compared to what other people were paying in hostels, but it was so worth it.  One important thing that you have to remember about Rio Carnival is that you have to make your arrangements for accommodation early because of the number of visitors who throng to the city for the Rio Carnival celebration. The general prices for accommodation are pretty expensive, but hey, this is a once-in-lifetime must-do experience.

Accommodation facilities in Rio are up to date. The apartment we booked was in a safe area and had a very helpful front desk staff that helped us out whenever we needed suggestions for things to do. Generally, the services in the facility were good and I really liked and enjoyed the week with some of my friends.

I was fascinated with the Carnival in Rio, the street parties that took place each day were huge and I really loved getting involved. It is amazing, especially when you are among the hundreds of thousands of people who drink and party in the street every day and night for almost a week.  The mood was really exciting and every person was out to get the best from the Rio Carnival. My friends and I were really mesmerized with the samba dancing. We went to the Sambadrome one day and I had grandstand tickets and sat in sector 9, which gave us a great view to listen and see all the samba school songs and dances.  I have to say if you go to Rio Carnival then getting tickets to one of the events in the Sambadome is well worth it.  The experience was so much more than I expected.  

What I liked about Rio de Janeiro is that the city seemed pretty safe. There was no single time I felt insecure in this fascinating city, although admittedly we seemed to be in a bit of an upmarket area. There are plenty of high-class hotels in Copacabana and Ipanema.  The apartment we stayed in was next to a beach and we were at the beach a lot where we mingled and chatted with the locals who seemed eager to help us out. We spent many days on Copacabana Beach, were hundreds of girls were practically naked!  On the beaches, there was virtually everything you may wish to buy.

I really loved and enjoyed my stay in Rio De Janeiro for the Carnival.  I think everyone should really consider getting to this amazing festival held in February or March every year.

by FOMO Girl
It has traditionally been part of the winter social season in New Orleans and at one time "coming out" parties for young women and debutante balls were often held during this time of the year. It is of course the annual festival held in New Orleans, Louisiana called Mardi Gras. The New Orleans Carnival season has its history with the Christmas season and starts after the Twelfth Night of Christmas, or the Epiphany (6 January). During the carnival season there will be numerous parades and balls.

The celebration of Mardi Gras was brought to Louisiana by early French settlers. The exact starting date for Mardi Gras in New Orleans is not known, but it is known that in 1743 that organised balls around this time of year were taking place.

Depending on when Easter is each year, Mardi Gras can fall on any Tuesday between 3 February and 9 March. Mardi Gras is composed of various events such as balls for social clubs in the New Orleans area, but the main event is simply a street festival, open to the public.

The Twelfth Night Revelers, one of the festivals oldest krewes, holds a masked ball each year on 6 January to mark the commencement of the festival. The main parade season starts some three weekends before Fat Tuesday (or Mardi Gras in French). Fat Tuesday is also commonly known around the Christian world as Shrove Tuesday and it is the day before Ash Wednesday. There is usually at least one parade every night starting two Fridays before Mardi Gras, but many days have several large parades. The largest and most elaborate parades take place during the last five days of the season. The population of New Orleans more than doubles with visitors on the weekend before Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is a day to be remembered in New Orleans. The city comes alive and celebrations begin early on Mardi Gras Day, but the city parties all day until the stroke of midnight. A number of people will be out wearing masks and disguises.

The formal end of Mardi Gras arrives with "the Meeting of the Courts", a term describing the ceremony at which Rex and His Royal Consort, the King and Queen of Carnival, meet with Comus and his Queen at the ball of the Mistick Krewe of Comus, New Orleans oldest active carnival organization. The Meeting of the Courts happens at the conclusion of the two groups masked balls.

Promptly at the stroke of midnight at the end of Fat Tuesday, New Orleans police officers make a show of clearing upper Bourbon Street where the bulk of out-of-town revellers congregate, announcing that Mardi Gras is over, as it is the start of Lent, commencing with Ash Wednesday.