During spring break pre-Covid-19, many people traveled and enjoyed their break with family and friends. However, for most people, that is no longer possible, even after a year of quarantining. Instead, many will be spending this break at home. Here are 20 fun things you can do close to home that are still Covid-safe!

1. Learn how to bake: Many people love to bake, but how many people can bake something entirely from scratch? Perhaps you can use this vacation to recreate one of your favorite desserts, whether it be macaroons, brownies, or cake. Take the time to make it yourself instead of using a mix or buying it straight from the store.
2. Read a book: Most of the time, many students do not read unless it’s a book for English class. With all the extra time over break, you will have the chance to revisit your favorite book series or even begin to discover a whole new genre of books.
3. Go on a bike ride in the Harbor: As spring grows closer and closer, the weather continues to get nicer. Soon, we’ll even be able to go back to the beach. But until then, you can spend your time biking to Hewlett Harbor and going to the bridge. It’s a good workout, too!
4. Go on a virtual college tour: Maybe you want to spend your break doing something productive but still having some fun. One way to do that is to go on virtual college tours. It’s never too early to start looking, and it’s definitely more entertaining than doing the math homework your teacher assigned over the break.
5. Start a journal: People say that it takes 18 days to form a habit. An 11-day break is the perfect time span to start a good new habit, including journaling. This mindful practice can help you focus and mature emotionally. Giving yourself a little bit of time each day to jot down your thoughts can bring you plenty of peace of mind.
6. Cook a fancy meal: Many haven’t been to an actual restaurant since before Mar. 13, 2020, and at this point, you might miss the atmosphere of being in a restaurant. A great option is to create your own restaurant atmosphere: make your favorite dish, or a dish you’ve never tried before, and dress up like you’re going out.
7. Have a TV marathon: What better time to watch a bunch of TV than a break where you can’t go anywhere? You can watch your favorite show or a movie series you’ve never watched before, but a day in front of the TV watching entertaining movies can never go wrong!
8. Go on a run: Despite the break, most students involved in athletics still have sports. Some may not have practice over the break, and others do. If you don’t have practice, you could go on a run to make sure you stay in shape for when sports continue after break.
9. Virtually visit a museum: There are thousands of museums that are currently offering virtual tours. If you like art, try and find a new museum you’ve never heard of. It is much easier to view the world’s art from your own home than to travel around the world to see some art. You can get to see new styles you’ve never heard of or get a peek at some of the classics.
10. Start a garden: For people with a green thumb, break is a great time to start a garden. As winter ends and spring begins, it’s the perfect time to start or revive your garden. You can also try planting vegetables such as peppers, zucchini, or even melons.
11. Solve a puzzle: Have you ever thought about learning how to solve a Rubik’s cube? It’s easier than one might think. Perhaps you could spend some time during this break learning a cool new trick or puzzle. It could be a crossword puzzle, a logic puzzle, or even a math puzzle.
12. Begin learning a foreign language: Is there a language you’ve always wanted to learn or a country you’ve always wanted to visit? Spending time this break teaching yourself a new language, whether you use an app or learn on your own, could help sharpen your mind, or it could just become a short afterschool activity to occupy your time with.
13. FaceTime your friends: No one likes spending time away from their friends, especially not as much time as Covid has forced us to spend apart. Luckily, we have technology to aid us in our communication. Whether you do a fun activity like a bake-off competition with your friends or just enjoy each other’s company, having your friends around, even if it is only virtually, is a huge mood lifter!
14. Write something: Most of the time, people only write when they need to, whether it be for an English assignment or a social studies essay. However, writing something other than a nonfiction recounting of American history can be a lot more pleasant than you might expect. It allows your imagination to grow and even helps with your writing skills in those classes you do need to write essays for.
15. Take care of yourself: Most of the time, many students spend their days running from school to sports to other activities. Not a lot of time is left for yourself, so the break is a perfect opportunity to relax, slow down, and take care of yourself. 
16. Spring cleaning: As summer grows closer, the weather is getting warmer and beach days are coming closer. One way to spend your break is to go through all your clothes and start gathering your summer clothes. It’s better to do it now than when you want to spend time in the pool instead!
17. Visit the city: Although a lot of the common activities in the city are closed, there are still plenty of things you can do, especially now that the weather is getting nicer.  You can walk the Highline, visit Central Park, or just walk around the city streets.
18. Paint something: Painting is always a fun way to pass the time. Try recreating a landscape or painting a portrait of one of your loved ones. Painting is known to improve creativity, communication skills, and problem-solving skills. Your painting can also be a great gift for someone you love!
19. Bake bread: Baking bread can be seen as a daunting task compared to other baked goods, especially with the addition of dealing with yeast. However, when you find the right recipe, it really isn’t that difficult. Homemade baked bread is the best kind of bread, and it doesn’t hurt to try!
20. Plan your next vacation: Although we may not currently be able to go on vacations, hopefully, everyone can eventually go back to travelling the world. Until then, you’re stuck inside. So, instead, you can use your time to plan a dream vacation to take when the pandemic is finally over.