Living in a small town like Mackinaw, you might think it’s difficult to find something to do over Spring Break if you aren’t going out of town. This list will give you plenty of ideas for things to do such as outside activities, sporting events, and things to do inside as well. Look at the list below to see many things different journalism students recommend you do if you are staying in town over break!
Hiking: During our spring break, the weather will have warmed up and Starved Rock State Park is only about an hour and a half away from Mackinaw! It is a wonderful spot to take your family, friends, and whoever else you want to go for a nice walk. The park has a trail you can hike with many amazing views. This is a great opportunity to get outside and out of the house on your spring break!
Shopping: For those of you looking to spend time inside shopping is always a good option. There are many stores locally in Peoria and Bloomington. You can find clothes, jewelry, food, home decor, and many other things in these areas. If you are looking for something a little bigger with more options, the Chicago area has many indoor and outdoor shopping malls with many more options. These will be anywhere from an hour to three hours away but well worth the drive for the many more options you will be getting while you are there.
Prom Dress Shopping: Prom is coming up right after Spring Break. With the whole week off of school, this leaves tons of time to look for prom dresses. There are places in Peoria, Bloomington, Lincoln, Springfield, and Champaign all with very large selections. This way your 2026 Prom look will be completely figured out by the time Spring Break is done and you will have no need to stress about it.
Baseball games: If you’re looking for a more local sporting event, the baseball team has 2 home games against Brimfield and Richwoods. They are on Friday April 3rd and Saturday April 4th. This is a great way to get outside and support the high school boys team as their season begins.
Hockey Games: The Peoria Rivermen’s Hockey team has multiple home games the week of our spring break!! This is not only a way to get out of the house, but is a local sporting event that only takes place some times of the year. This is also a great way to support the sports teams in the area towards the end of their season.
Pickle Ball: Pickle ball is a new and upcoming sport. It has gained tons of popularity over the last couple of years. There is a court at Brock Lake located in Mackinaw. There are also places to buy pickle ball paddles and balls around the area like Dicks Sporting Goods and Target. There are also places available to rent pickle balls, paddles and balls at. If you’re looking for something to do in a group with some friendly competition, this is a great way to do that and also get outside.
Spring Cleaning: With summer just around the corner, getting on top of cleaning your house is very important. Spring break is the perfect time to clean your house, clean out your wardrobe, and reorganize things around your room/ home. This will make room for new summer clothes, give you an opportunity to clean out and clear spaces, and also allows you to go into the last 9 weeks of school with a clean space.
