March is the month when most high school and college students celebrate a brief educational respite in the form of spring break. Now almost universally linked with beach-side partying and MTV-style dance-offs, spring break has become synonymous with youthful hedonism.

For Oregon State University and Linn-Benton Community College students, spring break falls on March 24 through March 28. They’ll share that break with thousands of other college students across the country (as well as high schoolers including those in the Corvallis School District).

According to www.tripsmarter.com, more than 720,000 college students will have the last week in March free, and many of them will be taking advantage of warmer climates and flooding the beaches and resort towns of places such as Baja Mexico, Puerto Rico and Hawaii.

Web sites such as www.springbreaktravel.com (which happens to sponsor MTV Spring Break 2008), tout cruises to the Bahamas and seven nights in Cancun. Positively dripping with images of tanned, swimsuit-clad teens and 20-somethings, it implies that every college student is well-off enough to head to the tropics for the week.

But for the rest of us (assuming that you have a spring break, which, I must now inform you, reporters don’t), there are plenty of local options for you to check out. Here are a few:

Oregon Zoo: Can’t head to the tropics for spring break? Come to the Oregon Zoo for a tropical party! Get crazy with crocodiles and party with polar bears during the fifth annual Oregon Zoo’s Gone Wild Celebration March 24 through April 6.

While zoo animals are enjoying themed treats and enrichment activities, visitors can enjoy themed music, animal talks, face painting and more. www.oregonzoo.com

Bend: Within minutes of downtown Bend, visitors can ski at Mount Bachelor, ride the rapids in the Deschutes River, visit the Oregon High Desert Museum, or ride on horseback across the high desert landscape. Microbreweries, hiking trails and boutique shopping abound, and it’s only a three-hour drive from Corvallis. www.visitbend.com

Newport: It might not be as warm as Cancun, but Newport offers ocean-side fun for the whole family. The otters frolic like co-eds at the Oregon Coast Aquarium (and are much cuter), while shopping along Yaquina Bay offers a chance to buy everything from hand-made fudge to blown-glass art to a beautiful kite for beach flying. The city is full of restaurants and plenty of lodging, and because it’s only an hour from Corvallis, you don’t even have to stay overnight. www.newportchamber.org

Belknap Hot Springs: Located on the McKenzie River, about an hour east of Eugene on Highway 126, this resort features a lodge, cabins and gardens. There are also plenty of outdoor activities nearby, including fishing, golfing and whitewater rafting.

A must for visitors are the special massages offered at the lodge. Camping and RV parking are also available. www.belknaphotsprings.com

Compiled by Theresa Hogue