A whole semester has passed, and the holiday season is upon us. With a little over two weeks of Christmas vacation [seventeen days to be exact], there is plenty of time to relax, have fun, and celebrate the season. For those who are not exactly sure how to spend this time of recreation, here are 10 exciting ideas to keep yourselves entertained until school is back in session: 

1) Disneyland –            

What better way to kick off the holidays than with a day or three spent at the happiest place on earth? Disneyland is equipped with a fireworks display, a festive parade, a gigantic Christmas tree, and their bright snowy castles set up especially each night throughout the season. After such extreme efforts to make a stay at Disneyland as special as possible, why not stop by to witness the incredible holiday spirit firsthand?

 2) Snowboarding/Skiing –            

Because snow is not an option in Southern California, we must do a bit of driving if we are to have a white Christmas. Big Bear and Mammoth are great places to rent a cabin for a few days with friends or family, enjoy the surroundings, and take part in various snow sports. Also, this is an opportunity to build your very own snowman or –woman and take pictures to capture these wondrous moments.

 3) Ice Skating –            

Another activity closely associated with the whole winter frenzy is ice skating. A surprising majority of people have never stepped foot on the icy rink. Though it takes a while to get the hang of, the whole experience is memorable as well as enjoyable. Here’s an opportunity to do something new and shorten your list things yet to be done before the year ends. 

4) Concerts –            

No matter what kind of music you are into, there is usually a concert to suit your needs. Certainly everyone enjoys a good live show. Your parents cannot object to it being a school night, so you can stay out till the wee hours of the night indulging in a thrilling performance by the artist of your choice.

5) Hollywood –            

There’s always something going on in Hollywood. Even walking down the streets can be an adventure in itself. There are so many unique shops, theaters, and dining spots in and around that area, so you can never once find a bored moment.

6) Shopping –            

This is basically a given. Even once you are through with all your Christmas shopping, you can hit the stores for some post retail sales. Take advantage of the time off to possibly spend newly acquired gift cards or cash at your favorite stores.

7) Visit old friends –            

It’s never too late to catch up with those friends that you hardly see anymore. Sometimes it isn’t easy trying to make plans during the school year, because either one seems to always be busy. But during the holidays there’s no excuse. Forget about the stress that is usually taking place and put it all aside for some much needed quality time with an old friend.

Get a job –            

After spending all that money on gifts, you are going to need a way to earn it back. Also, you might want a steady foundation to start the New Year. It’s always better to be prepared, so you can try for a job in retailing or even babysitting…anything to rake in the dough.

9) Catch up on sleep –    

Not exactly a way to spend your vacation, but a good idea nonetheless. Even if you want to go out and stay up late, just remember to make up for it in the morning. You definitely want to be well rested during the break; we have all undeniably deserved it. 

10) Try something NEW!       

Close out the year with a bang.

             Whatever you do end up doing, just have fun and enjoy these moments while you can. Vacations never appear to last long enough, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make them seem long enough.